Miss J

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Chew has incurable illness
Actor's condition said to strike one in 40,000 people and is incurable

Chew sharing news of his spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy with the congregation. He is expected to face 'physical impairment' in the next seven to 15 years, but the disease does not affect life expectancy.

VETERAN MediaCorp actor Chew Chor Meng said last night that he has been diagnosed with a form of muscular atrophy, an incurable disease where a sufferer's muscles waste away.

The 40-year-old told reporters outside his church, Renewal Centre, in Serangoon that he was diagnosed with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease.

What is muscular atrophy?SPINAL and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease, is a rare and currently incurable and non-treatable genetic neuro-muscular disease.

He had earlier told the congregation about his condition, which strikes one in 40,000 people and is incurable. Doctors have told him that in the next seven to 15 years, he will face 'physical impairment', but the disease does not affect life expectancy.

Mr Chew, who is married with two daughters, aged four and six, said his legs have become weaker but he is not taking painkillers or medication for the condition. He said he is trying to live a normal life but has been advised by doctors not to engage in strenuous activities such as jogging.

The 1990 Star Search champion said that he first experienced back pains in 1997. He consulted Western doctors and Chinese physicians and all of them diagnosed it as a slipped disc. But the treatments had no effect on him.

Last year, the pain worsened and spread to his waist.

In September this year, a doctor who attended the same church as Mr Chew referred him to specialists, who finally diagnosed his condition as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

He said in Mandarin: 'The doctors told me, 'Chor Meng, you have to start spending more time with your family'.'

The actor is famous for playing the Lobang King in the 1996 Channel 8 sitcom, Don't Worry Be Happy, and the titular character in the Channel 5 sitcom, Mr Kiasu from 2001 to 2002. He is now seen in the drama, Love Blossoms II, where viewers had observed that he seemed to be limping.

Last night, when he was asked what he was most concerned about, Chew became emotional and said: 'My mum, my wife and my children.'

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I was very disturbed by the fact that Lobang King, Mr Handsome Chew Chor Meng would actually face such difficulites in life. Why is it that this year, there's so much Singaporeans in pain. Lo Hwei Yen was the saddest case ever, and now we have to hear about one of my favourite actors, Chew Chor Meng face with such a tragedy. It really brings tears to my eyes when i read about it in the papers and I seriously feel for him and his family. He's still so young! OMG. Ok I know, im dillusional but i cant help it! To me, Lobang king and Mr kiasu will always be young and handsome and vibrant.

The saddest part is that in 5 years time he might not be able to walk, or talk or whatever shit. omg! that's less than 50 years old and he has to deal with this. People in Mediacorp thought he was anti social when he didnt want to join them for lunch at the canteen, but in actual fact he was limping and he was aching inside.

OMG, I WANT TO CRY! WHATS THIS SADNESS! DEPRESSION PLEASE! : ( I really pray that God would bless this poor man, and that he'll be alright. I'll pray for a miracle. Pray for a cure! I actually joined the facebook group to pray for him : ( YOU WILL GET WELL CHOR MENG! YOU WILL!!!!

Meanwhile an update on my life. I've been helping out at Picoart again with Tanya :) hahaha. Yes work work work. Yawns. Here's a few pictures to keep you guys hanging till i feel like updating.