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HEROES: Her Father’s voice

Photo of Sarah Lasung
By DEBBIE WONG

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
– God (2 Corinthians 12:9, The Bible)

We live in a world addicted to fame, a world that tells us that our worth is measured by our bank balance, social status and waistline, a world where survival of the fittest is no longer just an adage, but a justification to get ahead regardless of casualties. Ironically, the people who touch our hearts, who become legends in their own right, reminding us, by life example that there are far greater things to invest time in than the proverbial rat race, remain hidden, often unnoticed and rarely championed even as they champion others on. They are our unsung heroes.

A scene plays over and over again in my head; Uncle Ballang is apologetic that he cannot bend over to affix a plaster on his toe and Sarah comes to help him. As she kneels down and gently wraps the plaster over the wound, the image freezes in time and has stayed with me until today. That one unassuming act is just a cog in the machinery that is the dedication and love Sarah has self-sacrificially shown her father and will continue to show him for the rest of his life.

Today I pay tribute to Sarah Lasung. Funny, empathetic and fearless in all things tennis, for almost 20 years, she has been my Kuching born-and-bred, Lun Bawang-Chinese, Sarawak laksa-loving friend. Four years ago, Sarah’s father was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), generally known as brain degeneration, which not only robs one of motion and speech, but also nullifies will, independence and liberty. To accommodate her bedridden father, life had to be reorganized because someone had to be available at home all the time, be it Sarah, her mother or brother.

One of the things we pride ourselves on in Malaysia is filial piety. However it does not take more than tuning in to the occasional radio show to realize that whilst we assert that we provide for our elders, more and more people today calculate against their parents instead of for them, backed by excuses such as the lifestyle they do not wish to compromise. The bond of true filial piety should be taken as seriously as marriage; for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. Not only does Sarah tend to her father, changing and cleaning him as a nurse would her charge, she also actively contributes to the household expenses and assumed, at 21, the loan of the house they now stay in, after her father lost wardenship where he worked and subsequently the family home because of his debilitating illness.

Even though it was and in some ways, still is a challenge physically, mentally and emotionally, Sarah has never seen her father as a ‘problem’ to be fixed or a burden to be borne. In her own words, “Not because I have to but because I want to.” Of course there are times when unanswered questions such as “Will daddy ever get well?” hurt deeply and uncertainty threatens to overwhelm but she rises to the challenge, little by little, a day at a time. She continues to be her bubbly, cheery self and as cliché as it sounds, life does go on. Her favourite food is still Sarawak laksa and she still wants to visit Disneyland.

Difficulties have not deterred Sarah from pursuing her dream and ambition of becoming a teacher, not for the sake of teaching itself, but to serve her community and society, by becoming a role model for the next generation. Currently at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) pursuing a post graduate diploma of education, she was worried about leaving her father but he encouraged her to go and that helped towards making her decision.

On top of her dedication to her father, Sarah also played an important role in the youth group of Kuching Evangelical Church (KEC). Maclean, the youth deacon noted, “Although her responsibility to her father is still very much at the forefront of her mind Sarah managed to find time to motivate the youth group in church.”

Her passion for Jesus is infectious and in wanting that passed on, she has proven a wise advisor and trustworthy confidante. She co-leads the church choir with Sharon and last year, through patience, diligence and good humour, they developed a group of amateurs for a stellar Christmas performance of “Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah.

Sharon added, “She also has a gift for reaching out to people, making newcomers feel welcome and has a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of her friends.” On top of her academic and personal commitments, she also juggled free piano lessons of her own initiative, to train more pianists for church. The youngsters really enjoyed it and were disappointed when the lessons had to be stopped when she left for UUM.

Maclean further offered, “Sarah is phenomenal. In spite of everything, she makes the best out of a situation. She is very protective of her family and lives without regret.” When asked to describe her in a word, he simply said, “Tenacious.”

Sarah is a success story, not because hers is a rags-to-riches tale. On the contrary, the adversity she faces is one that she has to live with instead of being able to work out of; facing the dilemma day after day and then to live vivaciously in spite of it. She is just one of many who go through life, impacting those around them, sending butterfly effects of enormous magnitude to shape the world. But she is my unsung hero because through her life, through challenges so close to her heart, she gives human dignity a voice, showing that human life is worth much more than what we can do or give. It is intrinsically precious and so to every extent possible must be given its proper value, no matter the sacrifice and no matter the cost.

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Subject: Heroes - Sarah Lasung/Debbie Wong.