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He once had it all: fame, money, success, but when everything fell apart, including his health, Chew Chor Meng once thought about ending his life.
On the latest episode of the meWATCH Hear U Out talk show, the 51-year-old actor told local host Quan Yi Fong that it was a dark time for him after receiving his diagnosis in 2008.
At the time, the actor was told he had Kennedy’s disease, a rare inherited neuromuscular disorder that causes progressive weakening and atrophy of muscles, particularly the arms and legs.
He said, “I was struggling and I couldn’t accept it, and I thought, ‘Forget it. Why live so miserably?’ Other ups and downs in life are easier to handle and I was wondering why my life was a joke.
“I didn’t have a good environment growing up, then life got a little better and I had fame, money and all that, but then my fame decreased and when that happened, there were problems with my health.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how to face people and deal with the strange looks they gave me. I also didn’t know how long I could live. There were times when I felt vulnerable. So when I felt vulnerable and not I could get carried away, negative thoughts began to flood my mind. “
Chor Meng was only given 18 months to live at the time, terrible news for a man who has two daughters who were still very young.
However, it has been 12 years since he was diagnosed and he has become a more positive person. He told Yi Fong that the reason he was able to get ahead was because of his faith and the support and concern of his family and friends.
“For example, when I was filming (the Chinese drama) 118, [Pan] Lingling and I support each other. I said, ‘Lingling, you’re a cancer survivor, right? I am now walking a similar path, so let’s keep fighting this together. This journey is really not easy, “he said.
Emotionally, it also took a toll on him when he tearfully admitted that he had no choice but to move on, not knowing what will happen in life. He also said that he is “not a strong person” but is “more persistent” compared to the average person.
In the past, when Chor Meng faced difficulties related to his illness, such as mobility problems, he did not dare to ask for help. But now, he has learned to look beyond his ego and seek help from people.
He recounted an incident when he was in Tanglin Halt and needed to ask a passerby for help to climb a flight of stairs.
ALSO READ: Chew Chor Meng was rejected by other children as a child because he had no father
Chor Meng said: “I told her that I was sick and that I could not go upstairs and asked her if she could help me. She said that she was fine. I was proud of myself because I was able to let go of my ego and ask for help. in the past “.
She added: “Sometimes you find that there is a story behind every smile. Each of them has their own unbearable side. We need to learn to deal with it. I said to myself, ‘Okay. There are others who are worse off and having a more difficult time. I have to overcome this hurdle. ‘Every now and then I feel terrible, but I will try to recover quickly. “
SINGAPORE SUPPLY LINES
- Singapore Samaritans: 1800-221-4444
- Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
- Care Corner Counseling Center (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800
- Mental Health Institute Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222
- Silver ribbon: 6386-1928
- Shan You Counseling Center (Mandarin): 6741-0078
- Fei Yue Online Advisory Service: www.eC2.sg
- Tinkle Friend (for elementary school children): 1800-2744-788
