Eugene Ryan Khong

I’m still trying to process everything that has happened over the past month.

A week bedridden in London. Three weeks in two hospitals back in SG. A nasty viral infection. Then, a massive internal haemorrhage that almost took my life last weekend.

While Singapore celebrated her 61st birthday, I was in the ER watching my BP drop every second, passing in and out as I continued to lose blood profusely. By the end of the night, I had lost more than a litre of blood and needed eight bags of blood to be transfused.

I’ve never been so terrified. For the first time in my life, I truly thought I might not make it. I pleaded with the doctors to save me, and told my closest friends to take care of my parents if anything happened.

I wasn’t ready to die.

For hours, my ICU room was filled with doctors and nurses, working against the clock to keep me alive. Eventually, I was rushed into the OT for emergency surgery.

After what felt like forever, I heard someone calling my name. I opened my eyes. “You are ok.”

It was 4am. 9 hours after I was rushed to the hospital.
I was alive.

What happened has changed my perspective in ways I never expected. It made me realise just how fragile life is, and how quickly everything can change.

To the medical teams at SGH and TTSH who took such good care of me throughout this whole time, especially the TTSH team who fought to save my life that night. And to those who donated blood that helped keep me alive. I have no words, only gratitude.

Finally going home today.

There’s still something that requires very close monitoring, with more scans and doctors’ visits ahead. But for now, I’m taking things one day at a time, focusing on the positive, taking things slow, and giving my body the time it needs to heal.

I’m just very grateful I made it through.