I dropped out of college when I was 19. It was a stressful experience, where I had to juggle between my school and a part-time job to pay for tuition. When I started to struggle with psoriasis, it was just too much for me to handle.
After I left school, I took on a job at a bank, where I started as a general clerk and slowly worked my way up. That was 29 years ago, and I have been working there ever since.
As my psoriasis progressed and I needed more medical attention, I was able to cover my medical expenses with my employee benefits. I don’t know what would happen if I didn’t have that extra support.
At my worst, I was hospitalized for more than a month. My skin peeled all over my body, and I was red as a lobster. My whole body was swollen too. It was so painful to do anything, especially shower. Sleeping was also very difficult.
I was in so much physical pain that it affected my mental health. I couldn’t see any point in living like this and often felt suicidal.
My doctor was very concerned about my condition and recommended I try biologics. This was in the early 2000s. At that time, biologics treatment was still new in Malaysia, and I was one of the first patients to try it.
At first, I wasn’t sure if it would work. But after two months of the treatment, my skin was completely clear. Since then, I have been managing my condition with biologics treatment.
I was so glad I didn’t have to worry about my body anymore, and could go back to doing all the things I love to do, like swimming and hiking. It felt good knowing that I could leave the house at any time, and even go out in the sun without worrying about my skin flaring up.
I must admit that I’m one of the lucky ones. There are many people living with psoriasis that didn’t manage to get the medical help that they need. It is my dream to set up a fund for others, to help them get the treatment they need, so that they can improve their condition and live a better life.
I struggled with psoriasis as a young man, and I want others struggling with it to know that while psoriasis changes your life, it doesn’t end your life. There are treatments available, and I hope I’m able to help the next generation of patients to benefit from them. This is the least that I can do.
Jackson
Approval Code: MY2201214123
