In February 2024, Chi Ming Heng, a 24-year-old student at LaSalle College of the Arts, began experiencing strange symptoms, which he initially ignored, but what turned out to be something he didn’t see coming. What started as a simple difficulty writing her name quickly escalated, revealing a rare and serious condition moyamoya disease,

During her work experience on 8 February, Chi experienced difficulty holding a pen and writing her name. Despite being mentally exhausted, he eventually managed to write it. A day earlier, he had felt weakness in his right arm and was unable to attend his family reunion dinner due to feeling unwell.

In the lead up to Chinese New Year on February 10, Chi found it challenging to use cutlery during the festive meal. Concerned, he went to a general practitioner the next day but was not referred to a specialist.

Things became serious when his family noticed his right facial muscles sagging during a group photo on February 12. The next day, during a game of mahjong, Chi struggled to pick up the tiles, leading his parents to take him to a polyclinic.

At the polyclinic, doctors identified symptoms of a stroke – weakness in his right arm and an uneven smile. Although his ability to walk and speak was not affected, he was immediately referred to the hospital.

There, neurologists suspected an autoimmune vascular condition. However, further tests and scans confirmed that Chi had moyamoya disease, a rare cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain.

Moyamoya, which translates to “puff of smoke” in Japanese, refers to the presence of small blood vessels that grow to compensate for blockages. Unfortunately, these vessels are inadequate, leading to small strokes or, in severe cases, large strokes and brain hemorrhage.

Dr. Chen Min Wei, a neurosurgeon at the National Neuroscience Institute, said that diagnosing moyamoya can be challenging. “Symptoms are often mild at first, like in Ming Heng’s case, but the condition can escalate rapidly,” he said.

Without surgery, moyamoya patients frequently suffer strokes or neurological complications. “Lifestyle changes such as taking aspirin or stopping smoking do not work for this disease. Surgery is the only option,” Dr. Chen said.

On May 10, Chi underwent bypass surgery, where a new blood vessel was created to restore blood flow to his brain. Reflecting on his son’s surgery, Chi’s father admitted that the family had prepared for the worst. “We were worried about paralysis or depression after the operation,” he said.

Luckily, Chi was happy and pleased to see his family. However, the recovery process was slow. Walking a short distance made him tired and he had to re-learn driving, writing and typing.

Despite the challenges, Chi maintained a positive outlook. “Initially I could not fully understand the seriousness of the problem. Even after the diagnosis, I thought, ‘What can I do, right?'”

Today, Chi has regained its normal function and is back to its happy self. Reflecting on his journey, he says, “Now that I know how serious it was, I can say, ‘Okay, I survived. stroke,

His parents remain cautious but are relieved to see him thriving. “At first, we thought it was just an infection. Learning about moyamoya and realizing there was no cure for it made us even more worried,” his father shared.

Moyamoya is a progressive and rare brain condition Caused by blocked arteries. Common symptoms include:

– Weakness in arms or legs.

– Bowing of the face.

– Difficulty doing everyday tasks like writing or holding objects.

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