An angel in the waters

An Angel Over The Waters -Anthony Thanasayan

2333

Details

Created on Thursday, 01 January 2015 07:00

Published Date

Written by Anthony Thanasayan

Category: Columnist

• 
• 

3 Comments

At the time of writing this, the grim numbers of Malaysians displaced by the floods have risen to a shocking and saddening 250,000.

I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for all the victims caught in such a predicament - more so, for persons with disabilities.

Has help arrived for all of them? Are they still trapped in their homes?

Or have they been successfully - and safely - transported to the temporary shelters? And, are they doing okay there?

Recently, I spoke to wheelchair-bound S Jeyaraj from New Green Park in Rawang, Selangor.

The 36-year-old is no stranger to what it feels like being caught in a flood situation.

"Being born in Taiping, Perak, not far from some of the worst-hit areas, my heart goes out to each and every flood victim and what they have to put up with each day," he said.

Jeyaraj, who became permanently disabled in an industrial accident in Singapore, literally doesn't have to go far to know what rising waters are like.

Flash floods struck his home several times this year.

"The worst was when I was at home alone," said the husband and proud father of a one-year-old boy.

"My wife was staying overnight elsewhere with my kid when a sudden heavy downpour took place in the afternoon," Jeyaraj explained.

He was watching television at the time when he suddenly noticed water seeping in through the entrance of his home. Within a minute or two, water and mud had flooded his entire house.

To stop the water from rising further, Jeyaraj had to think fast. He grabbed some empty adult diaper boxes and made it to his front gate.

He had to place some barriers there in order to stop more water from coming into his home.

Every time a vehicle such as a car or lorry drove past, it would send a gush of water into his house.

"The mud and water made it extremely difficult for me to manoeuvre my wheelchair. I had to use all my strength to push my wheelchair to the front," recalled Jeyaraj, who had spent three months in intensive rehabilitation training in Singapore after his accident.

Jeyaraj succeeded in temporarily blocking the water as rain pounded his home. The water was almost reaching the level of his knee by then while he was in his wheelchair.

Fortunately, the rain stopped within an hour and the water receded.

However, there was a lot of cleaning up to do by then.

Jeyaraj did as much as he could with a mop and pail. He had to go over the affected areas several times.

But it wasn't until his able-bodied wife returned home with their baby that the house could be returned to a spick-and-span condition.

Jeyaraj, however, regrets the fact that his neighbours were of no help to him even though they were aware of his situation.

"One neighbour just stopped and stared without flinching, as I struggled to carry several flowerpots as stands to hold the diaper boxes together," concluded Jeyaraj.

I, too, know what the helpless feeling is like when one is caught in a flash flood situation.

I was right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur some years ago when it happened. I was in my car with my three service canines in the back seat!

I was on my way home to Petaling Jaya in Selangor after a visit to the vet, who gave them their annual vaccination boosters.

And the last thing she hollered out to me was to "make sure not to bathe or get your pets wet for at least two weeks". To do so, during the incubation period, could make them seriously ill.

So there I was, with three big and noticeable canines: a Rottweiler, a German Shepherd and a Golden Retriever, stuck in a sudden and massive traffic jam in the middle of KL.

The cars refused to move. However, the threatening waters from an over-flooded river came speeding towards us.

Whilst some drivers, in desperation, cut across the divider and headed off in the opposite direction, most of the other drivers, without daredevil skills, ran out of their vehicles and into buildings for cover.

But I was stuck there with my wheelchair in the car boot. I thought I was a goner for sure.

When push comes to shove, I can work out something. So I planned to open the doors and let my dogs swim out to safety.

But in a flash, a stranger wearing a white singlet appeared from nowhere.

He miraculously guided me - from outside in the rain and flood waters - to drive my car to the  top of a little bridge which I hadn't noticed was there until then.

It was on higher ground, and it was much safer there.

He didn't say a word to me, only guided me with hand gestures. My guardian angel stood in front of my car until the rain and flood waters started to lessen.

Then, he practically vanished! There was no time for me to say even a "Thank you".

May an angel guide all of us through whatever challenges 2015 may bring with it.