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Parents break down when they see her NDP photo
NDP girl,12, in critical condition after accident near school
By Andre Yeo
August 08, 2009
DEVOTED FRIENDS: Jie Min's classmates and dance group members folded 1,000 paper cranes after they heard of her accident.
SHE was looking forward to taking part in her first National Day Parade.
Along with her schoolmates, the Secondary One student is due to be part of a parade formation.
But on Tuesday, just five days before she was scheduled to take the stage in front of the nation, 12-year-old Tng Jie Min was hit by a taxi, after a practice at school for the parade.
It is believed that she was with a schoolmate, who was unhurt.
The Mayflower Secondary School student now lies heavily sedated at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), in the intensive care unit, after suffering head injuries.
TNP PICTURES: GAVIN FOO
A police spokesman said the accident happened near Jie Min's school at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 and Street 11.
She was conscious when taken to the hospital.
The police are now investigating the case.
Jie Min's parents, Mr William Tng, 51, and Madam May Leong, 49, have been keeping vigil at KKH since the accident.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday at the hospital, they said Jie Min was looking forward to the NDP as she had enjoyed the Asian Youth Games' (AYG) opening ceremony, which her school was also involved in.
She was one of 100 Mayflower students who took part in a dance item.
Mr Tng, a technical support officer, said Jie Min loved the atmosphere at the AYG and the chance to make new friends.
She was hoping for more of the same at the NDP.
Mr Tng and his wife have two other children - a son, 19 and another girl, 16.
He said he got the call at 6.30pm from his other daughter who told him frantically that Jie Min had been hit by a cab.
Mr Tng said he doesn't know much about the accident except that it happened after her dance practice.
All they want now is for their girl to get well. Jie Min suffered head injuries, and underwent a 90-minute operation on Tuesday to relieve the pressure in her brain.
Said Madam Leong: 'Whether she wakes up or not, nobody knows. After five days, the doctors will stop the sedation to encourage her to regain consciousness.'
Mr Tng added: 'The doctors are encouraging us to talk to her and stroke her. We have been telling her we love her, her friends miss her and are looking forward to visiting her, and the doctors care about her.'
While they were at the hospital, the family got another surprise.
A picture of Jie Min was published in Wednesday's edition of Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, but it had nothing to do with her accident.
It was a picture taken during rehearsals for NDP, and featured Jie Min in sharp focus and centrestage, taking the pledge.
Said Madam Leong: 'When I saw her picture, I got emotional and cried. I keep talking to her to tell her to wake up to look at the picture.'
Throughout the interview, though deeply worried for his daughter, Mr Tng struggled to hold back his emotions.
But when asked what he thought when he first saw the photograph, he said: 'If I had seen the picture under normal circumstances...'
He trailed off.
Then, without warning, his head suddenly slumped between his arms, tears flowing freely.
For several long seconds, his grief took over, the picture of his little girl on the table in front of him.
When he had composed himself, he said: 'When she is still around, before the accident, we would have been very proud and happy for her.
'Now, with her in ICU, we don't know the outcome, the happiness and pride have been overshadowed by sadness.'
Madam Leong added: 'Who can return me a lovely child like her? I am not sure if she can recover like before.'
Paper cranes
Jie Min's schoolmates, meanwhile, still have her very much in their thoughts.
According to Mr Tng, teachers from the school have been calling them to offer help and support.
After they were told about the accident, 40 classmates and about 100 of her dance group members folded 1,000 paper cranes for her, hoping for her swift recovery.
Mayflower principal, Mrs Doris Lim, a mother of four, said: 'As a parent, I can understand what her parents are going through.'
She is confident Jie Min will recover.
Said Mrs Lim: 'Her teachers describe her as bubbly, very enthusiastic and full of energy. A very pleasant and good girl.
'One teacher said she is a very strong girl, the kind who will not give up. That can only help her in her recovery.'
Parents break down when they see her NDP photo
NDP girl,12, in critical condition after accident near school
By Andre Yeo
August 08, 2009
DEVOTED FRIENDS: Jie Min's classmates and dance group members folded 1,000 paper cranes after they heard of her accident.
SHE was looking forward to taking part in her first National Day Parade.
Along with her schoolmates, the Secondary One student is due to be part of a parade formation.
But on Tuesday, just five days before she was scheduled to take the stage in front of the nation, 12-year-old Tng Jie Min was hit by a taxi, after a practice at school for the parade.
It is believed that she was with a schoolmate, who was unhurt.
The Mayflower Secondary School student now lies heavily sedated at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), in the intensive care unit, after suffering head injuries.
TNP PICTURES: GAVIN FOO
A police spokesman said the accident happened near Jie Min's school at the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 and Street 11.
She was conscious when taken to the hospital.
The police are now investigating the case.
Jie Min's parents, Mr William Tng, 51, and Madam May Leong, 49, have been keeping vigil at KKH since the accident.
Speaking to The New Paper yesterday at the hospital, they said Jie Min was looking forward to the NDP as she had enjoyed the Asian Youth Games' (AYG) opening ceremony, which her school was also involved in.
She was one of 100 Mayflower students who took part in a dance item.
Mr Tng, a technical support officer, said Jie Min loved the atmosphere at the AYG and the chance to make new friends.
She was hoping for more of the same at the NDP.
Mr Tng and his wife have two other children - a son, 19 and another girl, 16.
He said he got the call at 6.30pm from his other daughter who told him frantically that Jie Min had been hit by a cab.
Mr Tng said he doesn't know much about the accident except that it happened after her dance practice.
All they want now is for their girl to get well. Jie Min suffered head injuries, and underwent a 90-minute operation on Tuesday to relieve the pressure in her brain.
Said Madam Leong: 'Whether she wakes up or not, nobody knows. After five days, the doctors will stop the sedation to encourage her to regain consciousness.'
Mr Tng added: 'The doctors are encouraging us to talk to her and stroke her. We have been telling her we love her, her friends miss her and are looking forward to visiting her, and the doctors care about her.'
While they were at the hospital, the family got another surprise.
A picture of Jie Min was published in Wednesday's edition of Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, but it had nothing to do with her accident.
It was a picture taken during rehearsals for NDP, and featured Jie Min in sharp focus and centrestage, taking the pledge.
Said Madam Leong: 'When I saw her picture, I got emotional and cried. I keep talking to her to tell her to wake up to look at the picture.'
Throughout the interview, though deeply worried for his daughter, Mr Tng struggled to hold back his emotions.
But when asked what he thought when he first saw the photograph, he said: 'If I had seen the picture under normal circumstances...'
He trailed off.
Then, without warning, his head suddenly slumped between his arms, tears flowing freely.
For several long seconds, his grief took over, the picture of his little girl on the table in front of him.
When he had composed himself, he said: 'When she is still around, before the accident, we would have been very proud and happy for her.
'Now, with her in ICU, we don't know the outcome, the happiness and pride have been overshadowed by sadness.'
Madam Leong added: 'Who can return me a lovely child like her? I am not sure if she can recover like before.'
Paper cranes
Jie Min's schoolmates, meanwhile, still have her very much in their thoughts.
According to Mr Tng, teachers from the school have been calling them to offer help and support.
After they were told about the accident, 40 classmates and about 100 of her dance group members folded 1,000 paper cranes for her, hoping for her swift recovery.
Mayflower principal, Mrs Doris Lim, a mother of four, said: 'As a parent, I can understand what her parents are going through.'
She is confident Jie Min will recover.
Said Mrs Lim: 'Her teachers describe her as bubbly, very enthusiastic and full of energy. A very pleasant and good girl.
'One teacher said she is a very strong girl, the kind who will not give up. That can only help her in her recovery.'