From struggling to walk after open skull surgery, Kenny Lee will take on Singapore T100’s duathlon

Kenny Lee and his wife Ng PeiRu will be taking part in the standard duathlon event at the April 5-6 Singapore T100. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

From struggling to walk after open skull surgery, Kenny Lee will take on Singapore T100’s duathlon

SINGAPORE – It was 1am on February 23, 2024, when Ng PeiRu was jolted awake by a loud thud.

Rushing out of the bedroom, the 38-year-old found her husband, Kenny Lee, collapsed on the ground, unresponsive but breathing. As they waited for the ambulance, Lee regained consciousness but was in a daze. Blood trickled from his left ear and he complained of severe head pain.

At the hospital, CT scans and tests revealed a brain bleed, and fractures in his skull and left temporal bone.

While doctors initially said surgery was not required, his condition took a turn for the worse two days later as the bleeding spread.

Recalling that morning when her husband underwent an emergency operation at Singapore General Hospital, Ng said: “I felt fear because the doctor started reading this long list of what emergency surgery entails and the high percentage of death.

“I managed to catch him (before the open skull surgery) but he was not awake, so I held his hand and said a quick prayer. I saw the two of us hiking again, so I told myself that’s a sign he’s going to be fine.”

The five-hour operation was successful, but the uncertainty was far from over. A senior doctor from the intensive care unit warned that Lee’s brain was bruised and swollen, and that the recovery process could be long.

The exact cause of Lee’s collapse and brain injury remains unclear. Medical tests ruled out a brain aneurysm, stroke or underlying heart conditions. However, doctors suspected it could have been triggered by stress or fatigue.

While Lee can remember only snippets of the incident, feeling as if he was “in and out of a dream”, he was worried about his recovery and how the ordeal would affect his family.

“I was more worried about the recovery, the financial situation. When can I go back to work? When can I run again? When can I play tennis? When can I do normal things?” said the 39-year-old father of two.

For the sports enthusiast, recovery was especially tough as he got tired easily. He initially had to rely on a walking frame to get around and even then, moving for 10 to 15 minutes was exhausting.

That did little to deter Lee. Even though he is right-handed, he started practising writing with his left hand to stimulate the right hemisphere of his brain – the side that sustained the injury.

His children Faith and Scott, now eight and six respectively, also did mathematics with him.

To regain his movement, he juggled, took daily walks and did karate – Ng is a co-founder of karate school Rei Academy. Looking back, he said: “You tend to appreciate the little things that you take for granted – waking up to go to work, simple things like sending your kids to school and walking.”

Although he was granted six months of hospitalisation leave, he returned to his job as a finance director at car distributor Inchcape Singapore after just one month.

His family was a major source of support, and another motivating factor was receiving a 2024 Singapore T100 Triathlon T-shirt from a friend.

On April 6, over 13 months after his collapse, Lee and his wife will be taking part in the T100’s standard duathlon (4km run, 32km bike, 6km run). He will be running, while Ng will do the cycle leg.

The other categories of the April 5-6 event are the 100km triathlon (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run), long duathlon (8km run, 64km bike, 10km run) and Music Run (5km).

Kenny Lee and his wife Ng PeiRu will be taking part in the T100’s standard duathlon (4km run, 32km bike, 6km run). He will be running, while Ng will do the cycle leg. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

On Lee’s participation in the duathlon, Ng said: “I knew that was his way of recovering – he’s someone who needs something to work towards. I’d rather him train and go for something and work, if not his mind is 100 per cent on work. I’d rather him take time out to spend on himself.”

The couple have previously participated in 10km and half-marathon races at events such as the Sundown Marathon, as well as triathlon sprint races.

Their Christian faith has also been a guiding force throughout the ordeal, which has impacted their outlook on life.

From struggling to walk over a year ago to completing 10km runs, Lee’s impressive progress has also surprised his doctors.

On what the experience has taught him, Lee said: “Be more in the present, don’t live in past glory. Don’t worry too much about your future, which we sometimes take for granted.”

Ng added: “I used to be someone who wants to be in control. After this I learnt to control what you can control, but ultimately it’s in God’s hands and I’ve learnt to be grateful for everything.

“I’m just grateful that my family is intact, we’re all strong and healthy.”

Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing.

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