WHEN I met Erictomson Bida, he had just stepped into two new worlds at once: learning to walk again after a stroke, and becoming a father to a daughter he worried he might never be able to care for on his own.
A seasoned chef with over 10 years of experience, Eric never imagined how quickly everything could change. Last June, his life took an unexpected turn when he suffered a stroke.
He still remembers the night before it happened vividly.
“I was busy making curry puffs late into the night, only finishing around 2:00 am. Despite feeling a bit dizzy, I woke up early and continued with my morning routine, even washing the car,” he recalled.
Later that day, he managed to drop his wife at her workplace, Borneo Medical Centre (BMC), around 1:30 pm. But by late afternoon, exhaustion took its toll.
As he tried to rest, something felt off.
“I woke up, remembering work I hadn’t finished, and when I tried to wash my face, numbness hit my left hand. My legs weakened, and before I could sit on the bed, I collapsed,” he said.
Eric immediately contacted his wife, and within 15 minutes, an ambulance arrived to take him to BMC.
The 36-year-old Bidayuh lad was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for two days before being transferred to a regular ward.
Doctors confirmed he had suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure, first detected two years earlier when he contracted COVID-19. Despite being on medication, stress and lack of rest were believed to have triggered the attack.
“I had just gotten married in January, and now my wife was about to give birth to our first child. It was hard for me – I felt depressed because I couldn’t work and support my family,” he shared at the time, clearly burdened by his growing responsibilities.
But he found strength in the support of his wife, parents and in-laws, who never let him face the struggle alone.
Although he didn’t require surgery, doctors discovered a minor brain bleed that impaired his movement.
After a month of rehabilitation under Dr Liew at BMC, Eric remained hopeful, encouraged by his doctor’s confidence in his recovery.
At the same time, he applied for help through PERKESO’s Return to Work programme, which supports individuals recovering from strokes and other disabling conditions.
Though the process took time, he was grateful for the help of his father-in-law, who guided him through the paperwork.
When he first arrived at Normah Medical Specialist Centre (NMSC) to begin robotic therapy, Eric was entirely dependent on a wheelchair.
“But after a week of robotic therapy and support from the therapists, I could walk on my own,” he said gratefully.
He finished his rehabilitation period just before Christmas last year and made a very good recovery. After four months of intensive therapy, he was able to walk without any aid, though with a mild limp.
On discharge, the physiotherapist and occupational therapist gave him a tailored home exercise programme focusing on progressively strengthening his left shoulder muscles, refining fine motor skills, and improving high-level balance.
Throughout his rehabilitation, the case manager and therapy team also liaised closely with his employer to plan his return to work.
Initially, he was assigned lighter duties – supervising other cooks and helping with menu planning – while he continued building strength and coordination.
Just recently, Eric has returned to his favourite role in the kitchen: cooking.
He is especially grateful that he can now help care for his baby daughter when his wife works shifts.
“If we think negatively, we won’t achieve our goals. I try to stay positive, especially since I’m now a father,” he said, a quiet determination in his voice.
He also shared advice for others facing similar battles: “Self-motivation is key, but support from those around you is equally important.”
Stories like Eric’s are proof that with PERKESO’s support, the cutting-edge robotic therapy at NMSC, and the unbreakable will of patients determined to reclaim their lives, recovery is no longer just a possibility – it is a testament to how science and human spirit can rebuild what was once thought lost.
