Speech by the Guest of Honour
Ms Sarah Lee Wai-sze, SBS, BBS, MH
Former professional track cyclist and Olympic medallist
Good afternoon Professor Ian, Professor Lau, Professor Leung, Teachers, distinguished guests, and of course, graduates.
First, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all graduates who have poured effort, time, and dedication into your studies. Your hard work, sacrifices, and commitment will be rewarded after you become a health carer.
It is my honour to stand here to share my story with you. When I was eighteen turning nineteen, I recognised studying medicine is worthwhile. At that time, I suffered a scaphoid fracture after a crash with a dog during training. My wrist was dislocated, causing compression of the median nerve in the carpal canal. I was panicked and lost. As I trained in the countryside in China, the first surgery had been delayed for 2 weeks.
Upon returning to Hong Kong, I experienced my first surgery at a private hospital, requiring a week-long hospitalisation that totaled HK$ 100,000 which really shocked me. I was lucky and unlucky. I was lucky, as I was an athlete. All the payments were covered by the cycling association so I did not have to bear the cost. I was unlucky, as my bone was not healing after 3 months. I had to have another operation. That also meant that I was unable to participate in the 2006 Asian Games.
Later on, I was referred to a public hospital for another surgery with a complicated mood. I was happy that my new doctor was an expert of hand surgery and my case was highly valued by him, but I was frustrated to keep balance during the injury. I can say that I was a good athlete, but not a good patient. I trained after a week of operation which might affect my wrist rehabilitation. After 3 months of the second surgery, my wrist was still not healing. I had to undergo the third surgery which was called wrist fusion surgery. My wrist bones permanently fused. My wrist mobility therefore would be limited. It can be lucky or unlucky. Lucky was that I could stop visiting the hospital three times a week. Unluckily, the limitation of my wrist affected some of my training. I finally returned to cycling after the third surgery, though with a lasting wrist disability. At that time, I encountered religion, but still, many people criticised me for keeping on cycling because of my weak wrist.
In 2010, after 4 years of the injury, I won my first Asian games Gold medal. That medal more than compensated for my loss since 2006, but It also meant more responsibilities and sacrifice for my life. Throughout those years, I tried my best to be the top level athlete, a professional cyclist. I gained lots of medals, reputation, and satisfaction. I am also able to meet all my financial and physical needs on my own. At the pinnacle of my success in the cycling arena, I have become a tough girl. I can handle many obstacles in different scenarios now. However, I often found myself isolated and lonely on the journey. I gained a lot, and I also lost something that really meant to me.
This year is my gap year, during which I have travelled around the world and reviewed what has happened in my life. There were plenty of lucky and unlucky moments that happened at the same event. It is like eating sour candies. I brought it with me today. Have you ever tried these super lemon candies before? After the sour flavour, you can enjoy sweet lemon flavour, and then sour lemon flavour again. I believe that some of you sitting in this hall might already taste the sour flavour in your study year, or you might also begin to have a complicated feeling of being a registered medical professional. In the near future, you might meet some special patients who have their own opinion, and are stubborn like me. Just remember, things happened in our life like tasting super lemon candies. There were always tops with soreness that always scares us to keep on going. At the time when you swallow all dissatisfaction and go through suffering, you would find some solutions, maybe it is also a short eureka moment for you, too. This experience would help you to overcome the next problem easier as you know that sourness or bitterness aftertaste can be converted into satisfaction and achievement. You might be braver, or become a super lemon lover, who has developed an appreciation for the complex flavours of life.
I sometimes joke that I was both a professional sportsman and a professional patient. Since there was so much pain that I had overcome during my cycling journey. I could even estimate what the doctors would say and what the follow-up treatments would be. I was unlucky to have so many scars on my body, but I was lucky to meet all the kind medical staff who taught me patiently how to take care of myself throughout these years. I further realise that all bad luck can be treated as good luck actually, as I gained much knowledge and experience from unlucky moments.
Studying medicine has proven to be truly worthwhile, which was demonstrated by the medical staff who wholeheartedly delivered the value of medicine to me in the past. As the next generation of healthcare professionals, I wish you can go through all sour sweet moments, and embrace both the sour and sweet aspects of your future career. I encourage you to challenge yourself to uphold the highest standards of care and service wherever you serve, and I hope all of you can learn from both positive and negative experiences, and become exceptional medical experts in the future. Thank you.
Follow HKUMed