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Spunky Charmaine Captures Heart |
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By Ex-Brigader
Cadet Charmaine Chan |
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls. Dear Brothers and Sisters
in Christ, our Guest-of-Honour, Reverend Peter Young. All past
and present Chaplains, Captains, Officers and fellow Brigaders.
Selamat Sejahtera! Da-Jia-Hou! Warnakam! Good Evening and
warmest greetings to all of you. Tonight, I am very glad to be given the opportunity to say a few words on this special occasion. Twenty years ago, my mum, Mrs Stella Chan was captain of the 2nd K.L. Girls' Brigade Company. Ten years ago in 1993, GB was already made known to me when my sister, Jezamine Chan was enrolled as the youngest member in the same company. As for me, I only joined as a cadet in 1997 when I was eight years young. We do praise the Lord for the rich experience that we have gained from the weekly activities in terms of education, spiritual, social and physical aspect. As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of 2nd KL GB Company, I would like to share this with all of you. Fourteen years ago on July 6, 1989 when I was born, it was a turning point for my mum. Her great expectation became a great disappointment when her second daughter that is me, Charmaine Chan, turned out to be a special child with Down Syndrome. When my sister was born two years earlier, she was perfectly normal. So, there was no reason to expect me to be different. However, she believes that everything created by God is GOOD, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. Therefore, it was because of me, together with the encouragement and support of our former Taman Midah Lutheran Church pastor, Reverend Cheng, my mum started CHIT-CHAT since May 2000. CHIT-CHAT @ TMLC is a free Community Service, providing parental support and understanding to families, who have a child with special need. We continue to seek opportunities to meet people, who are in the same boat as us, so that we can give support, and share with them the importance of the parent, in the development and training of a special child from birth. Dear Parents, Teachers, Caregivers, Lawyers, Doctors, Employers, People in the Media and Everyday People. Presently, I am waiting for my UPSR results and do look forward to my secondary education in the mainstream school next year. When I was born, the doctor said that I have a very short lifespan and will never learn anything. If I could see him today, I would tell him that people with Down Syndrome can LEARN! I am active in sports, and have many friends. He never imagined how I could write a book one day. I will send him a copy. I hope he say he made a mistake and will never discriminate against people with disabilities again. Then he will be a better doctor!. I may have Down Syndrome, but I don't suffer from it. My biggest problem is that, people think I cannot do things, but I like to think 1 CAN'. Pass on this information to a friend, so that we can educate more and more people about a person with intellectual disability. And if you should meet a person with a disability on the street, Don't stare! He is just an ordinary person in an ordinary world. To end, together with my mum, I like to say this to all parents who have a child with special need and asked, "Why me?". The bottom line is.. ."YOU WERE CHOSEN!" Thank you. Have a nice evening and May God bless us all. You can contact the following for more info about Chit Chat: CHIT-CHAT @ TMLC Taman Midah Lutheran Church No.2-4 Jaln Midah 10A Taman Midah, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur tel: 03-91317336 fax: 03-91329943 email: chit-chat@tmlcweb.com |
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