My brother, 24, experienced pain in his right leg. He dismissed it as a sprain and would go away after a few days. Little did he know that it would cost him his life. It was when the pain became more intense and he had to jump on one leg to move around that he finally told us. After consulting a private doctor, he was diagnosed as having flu and the flu causes the pain in his leg. We decided to seek a second opinion, as the pain was disproportionate to the diagnosis. An experienced doctor suspected that something was very wrong, although at that time no physical symptoms were visible. My brother was advised to visit the hospital for a thorough checkup. After visiting the Emergency Room, the doctors found nothing wrong with him and sent him packing home with two antibiotic jabs and 5 days of MC.

The next day, he had fever, diarrhea, vomited and the pain became more severe. He was again brought to the hospital. This time round his blood pressure is found to be surprisingly low. The nurse examining him thought that the barometer is faulty and got a new one out with the same result. He was admitted into the ICU immediately. In the middle of the night his leg was excruciating painful. He called for doctors but no one is around to attend to him. When his girlfriend visited him that morning, he cried. He was not someone who cry easily, so one can only imagine the pain had. Finally around eight did a doctor came and gave him pain relievers.

The lab tests finally confirmed that what he had in his body was Group A streptococcus bacteria. The doctor told us that it was a life-threatening situation and we were shocked. In the evening he had an operation to remove the dead flesh in his leg. He never fully regained conscious after the first operation. All his organs are attached to life-support machines and his life hanged on by drugs and antibiotics. Even the strongest antibiotics did nothing for him. All we could do is pray and whisper into his ear that we loved him repeatedly. I stayed overnight outside the ICU. In the morning, I was shocked to hear that his heart stopped for a minute but was lucky to be revived by the doctor on duty. That is when the reality finally sank in. His organs are failing and his body is in toxic shock. A microbiology doctor came in and examined his leg. The whole leg covered in bandage was more than twice the normal size. I was shocked that the bruises had spread to his hips overnight. And when the doctor presses the leg gently, yellow colored fluid just flowed out. The doctor confessed that he had never seen such serious case of NF before. Everyone is puzzled as why a young and healthy man is so defenseless against the bacteria.

In the afternoon, it was agreed that amputation of the leg up to the hips was necessary or else he would not be able to survive after 2 hours. After 5 minutes into the operating theatre, doctors gave us devastating news. His heart stopped on the operating table. My own heart nearly stopped as well. Luckily he was revived. Four hours passed. Each second was fraught with anxiety. The amputation was a success, which was in itself a miracle. He was again in ICU, this time without a leg. I couldn't believe that this is happening. I was forced to go to my grandparent's house for the night as I was in a pretty bad condition. I went to bed wishing that when I woke up it were just a bad dream. At 5 am my Dad came, he woke me up gently. Automatically I asked him, "Is he dead?". I will never forget the look on his face that morning.

My brother passed away on 16 September 2002, 3 days after being admitted into the hospital. There are so many questions in my head. Where did he get the bacteria? If amputation is done earlier could he be saved? Could oxygen chamber save him? Why God had to take him away? Maybe God took him away from further suffering.

My family went through a hard time accepting the fact that he's gone. Dreams are shattered, hearts are broken. I could only whisper to him at night when the heartache becomes unbearable.