LIFE Lessons From A Paraplegic

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Wednesday June 29, 2011

Paraplegic news vendor takes hardship in his stride

By CHITRA S. NATHAN

newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Pillar of strength: Despite his disability, Michael still goes out every day to deliver newspapers just so he can support his family.

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For 28 years, there has not been a day when Michael Soosai did not deliver the daily news to his more than 300 customers

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Rain or shine, and even on the day his 11-year-old son died, he had never skipped his routine of

getting on his three-wheeled motorcycle to deliver the newspapers

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While most people in his neighbourhood at the Teluk Kemang, Port Dickson low-cost housing scheme are still

curled up under their bed covers, the 54-year-old paraplegic father of three rises at 4.30am to pick up the day's papers from his newsvendor, about 6km away.

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“Forgetting to deliver the paper to a customer can cost me dearly as the customer may cancel an order.

“I have to leave the house two hours earlier than others because I need that head start,” he said, when

met at his home.

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Stricken with polio since he was three, it takes Michael a good 10 minutes to just get out of his

wheelchair and climb on to his motorcycle.

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Despite his disability, he does not depend on handouts to meet his family’s needs, including medication and

care for his 9-year old daughter, Rita who is also physically disabled.

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“On days we have to take Rita for her physiotherapy sessions at the hospital, I have to leave for work even earlier so I can finish my paper rounds in time,” said

Michael, whose 17-year-old son Edwin will be sitting for his SPM examination this year.

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His second son, Anthony, who was also physically and mentally disabled,

died two years ago.

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When she’s not attending the hospital sessions, Rita is sent to the nearby community rehabilitation centre

where she is taught the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic.

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“It’s hard but honest work…I’ve never relied on handouts and I’ll keep on working for as long as I can to support my family,” said Michael, who is saving his money to pay off his housing loan.

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“The family needs to have a roof over their head if anything were to happen to me.”

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“It may not be much but this is our home…I have about RM 10,000 more to go on the instalment payments

before we can call this house our own.”

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His wife S. Karagaletchumi said she had never regretted taking Michael as her husband

although there were objections by relatives and friends.

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She said Michael was always concerned for the family’s well-being and would never leave the family

alone to spend time with his friends. “After work, he’s back at home playing with Rita and spending

time with Edwin.”

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“Michael is self-dependent and I’ve never thought of him as a disabled person.”

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“I am proud that despite his disacility, my husband has never let us down.”

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Reflection

* So many people who are not disabled, complain and complain. When will they learn to count their Blessings? When will they reach out to the needy

ones? When will they contribute something to make the world a better place?

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The End

May we grow in Wisdom and Compassion