Wednesday, December 9, 2009

破碎脸 天使心 An Uncommon Beauty




20年前萧丽君的生活发生了一次大变故,美丽的容颜无缘无故被凶徒砍得面目全非,撕烂不堪。当时的丽君刚离婚不久就遭受此重大打击,毁容后更足足经历了23次整容手术才勉强拼凑出一张脸。求生意志再强的丽君也曾想过就此放弃,但为了她的独子并在信仰的指引下,丽君艰苦地从困境中走出一片天空,终于得到重生。

如今她不但活得自在,而且还乐于分享自己的人生经历来激励生命面临低潮的朋友,带领他们走出黑暗。虽然丽君已不再为过去耿耿于怀,但每每面对轻言轻生的朋友,她总苦口婆心地劝告:“我这个样子都想活下去,你们为什么这么想死?”

丽君受访时偶尔欢欣大笑,偶尔神情冷静。面对过去的种种不幸她已不再介怀,然而最重要的是她现在活得像正常人一样,在无须躲避旁人的眼光下快乐地生活着。在傳神的九年光景里,丽君分享了超过2000场生命见证,同时积极地投入老人服务事业,鼓励老人活出精彩的人生。

今年九月,丽君将成功完成“爱心理发师”课程,为年长者提供免费剪发服务,进一步贴近老人的真正需求。这种关怀老人的举动是值得鼓舞的。“我在别人的需要上,看见自己的责任。我要用自己的生命去影响他人的生命。这就是我生命的使命感!”丽君从容地笑说。

有些人可能一生都无法从失败中走出来,您能给他们一些建议吗?

虽然我有一张破碎的脸,可是却看到有一些人有一张天使般的脸孔却隐藏着一颗破碎的心。这种人比较难得到治愈,因为他们的伤口不容易被发现。除了信仰之外,身边的朋友也扮演着很重要的角色。他们的一句赞美,倾听和接纳都是有治愈力量的。

不过最重要的还是自己的心态。别人给了你机会,最后的选择权还是在你手中。抉择是需要时间的。我经过了四年的忧伤和痛苦。在整容期间,我遭受来自各方的拒绝,包括求职时、亲朋戚友面前,连小朋友看见我都大喊“鬼啊!鬼啊!”,这让我觉得很难受。经历了多次的失败,我一直跌,一直爬。在鼓励之下,我渐渐被他人接纳,重新站起来。

为什么选择服务老人的行业?

祖母把我养育成人,当时我没有好好的珍惜她。待我出事时,最需要祖母安慰时候,她已经不在人世了。我感到很内疚,因为我没有好好报答她,让她度过孤寂的晚年。既然我现在活下来了,我希望能尽力弥补这份缺憾。有时候我在想,如果祖母能生活在这个年代就好了。她可以接触傳神,在年老时有一班朋友陪她一起活动而得到快乐,走出孤独。

服务老人除了能让我缅怀与祖母的快乐时光之外,这也是一份很有意义的工作。其实老人和小孩很相像,他们都需要别人的陪伴,希望被接纳。

您的未来期望是……以前我一直梦想有个温暖的家,现在我依然期待能拥有一个属于自己的屋子和和谐的家庭。有了自己的屋子,我就可以接待我的家人,和他们维持温馨的家庭关系。我喜欢拥有幸福家庭的感觉。

20 years ago, Lee Khoon met with a great misfortune. For no reason, her beautiful face was scarred by knife cuts and scalded by boiling water. She survived the ordeal and went through 24 plastic surgeries for a complete face-lift. While struggling for life, she nearly wanted to give up, but when she thought of how her only child might soon lose her mother, and with the support of religion, she soon picked herself up, refusing to let the pain of her disfigured face get her down.

Lee Khoon has come to terms with life now. She bravely shares her heartbreaking story by delivering “Life Can Be Good” talks. Having walked through the valley of the shadow of death, she can hardly understand why others attempt suicide. She would normally advice, “Even people without a complete face like me would want to live, why would you think of dying?”

In the interview, Lee Khoon always responded with laughs and calmness. Having survived those dark periods, she now steps out and shares her story, and has since given more than 200 talks worldwide; at the same time, she also actively engages in elderly care services.

This September, Lee Khoon will complete the “True Heart Hair Dresser” course, organised by Concern and Care Society (CCS). She is happy because she is able to provide free haircut service for the elderly. “I take fulfilling the needs of others as my responsibility. I hope I can help improve their lives. This is now my mission!"
Lee Khoon smiled composedly.

Some people may not find it easy to pick themselves up from setbacks. Can you give them some advice?

Some may not have a disfigured face like me, but they may be nursing broken hearts. Such people are rarely cured because their pains are not easily seen. Other than religion, friends also play a crucial role in our lives. Friends’ encouragement is a great consolation.

Even when someone is willing to open their arms, the patient might be resisting the help offered. During the surgery period, I was shunned by the society, friends and some of my family members. Even children shouted “Ghost! Ghost!” at me, making me feel sad. Thank God, I was gradually accepted by others and I am so grateful.


Why do you set your priority on caring for the elderly?


Having been raised by my grandmother since young, I have felt a deep sense of guilt and regret about not being there for my grandma to take care of her, especially at the later part of her life. I miss her whenever I see lonely elderly. I hope I could pay back in another way to ease my guilt. Sometimes I imagine if my grandma is living in this era, she can meet more friends in CCS and slowly step out of her loneliness. It would be wonderful for her.

I recalled some fond memories of my grandma while serving other elderly. This is also a very meaningful work. In fact, old people behave the same way as kids do. They need understanding and acceptance.

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