Struck down but not defeated: One NTUC staff’s inspirational journey of stroke recovery

The day was Monday, 22 August 2022. It was supposed to be a day like any other for then 49-year-old Prakasham Thangaveloo, who is also known as Prakash.

He remembers it like it was yesterday. It was the morning after his niece’s wedding, and he thought he would just slip in an hour’s worth of exercise in the gym at NTUC Centre before starting out his workday.

“I reached the gym around 7.30 in the morning. I was feeling good, and I wasn’t tired or anything,” he recalled.

But half an hour into his exercise, Prakash began to experience numbness his right foot. The dulling sensation started to spread rapidly, taking over the right side of his body.

He stumbled off the exercise equipment and laid his body down onto the floor. Just moments before the numbness overtook his face, he saw a female colleague entering the gym.

“I told her to call for an ambulance and the next thing I knew, I could not speak,” he shared.

Prakash had suffered a stroke.

A life redefined

The days that followed were filled with confusion and worry.

Prakash, once independent and full of energy, was now grappling with a body that no longer responded like before. The stroke robbed his body of its strength and coordination, and simple tasks like sitting up or forming a sentence were suddenly monumental challenges.

“I couldn't speak for the first two weeks – nothing came out of my mouth. I couldn't write. When they [doctors] asked me to write, I was writing gibberish.

“I could think but when it came to talking or writing, the words just wouldn’t come out,” he recounted.

Initially, Prakash struggled to accept the extent of his condition. At one point, he wondered if he would ever return to the life he had before.

“How am I going to feed my family? Will I still have a job when I leave? Will I be able to do my job?” the thoughts ran through his mind.

“There were moments when I really wanted to give up,” he admitted.

A lifeline of support

But it was during these lowest moments that a lifeline came — in the form of his family and friends.

“The primary thing that can help you recover after a stroke is a support system. And I had the best of the best support from my friends, family and colleagues,” he shared.

Prakash’s family became his first pillar of strength. His wife, children, parents and siblings were ever present, encouraging him to keep trying, keep moving, and keep hoping.

His sister-in-law, though living overseas at that time, took a sabbatical from work just to come and help him with his recovery.

“They gave me the confidence and encouragement to keep on going,” he shared.

His colleagues from NTUC also played a significant role. Despite being unable to return to work immediately, they stayed connected – offering words of encouragement, checking in on his progress, and reminding him that he was not forgotten.

“A lot of my colleagues actually came down to see me, even though at that time it was COVID time,” he said.

(From left to right) Former NTUC Lead Industry Training Officer Danny Yeo and NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng visit Prakash in hospital.

Most significantly for Prakash, NTUC Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng personally came to visit him at the hospital. The gesture left a lasting impression.

He said: “When SG [Secretary-General] came to visit, the first thing he spoke about was ‘Don’t worry about the job. The job will be there, you just focus on recovery.’”

The visit wasn’t just symbolic – it left a profound impact on Prakash.

The belief that someone at the highest level of the organisation saw value in him, even in his most vulnerable state, motivated him to push through his rehab with renewed purpose.

He added: “If you ask me if I was surprised that Brother Ng Chee Meng actually came to the hospital to visit me, I would say ‘yes and no’.

“I was surprised because I’m just one of the staff of NTUC. At the same time, I was also not surprised because in those two years I was in NTUC, I realised that workers were always on the forefront of his mind.”

Step by step

Rehabilitation was slow and arduous. Though his speech miraculously returned after a few weeks in the hospital, Prakash spent months in therapy relearning how to walk and regain control over his movements.

There were days when progress felt impossible. But Prakash reminded himself of the people rooting for him, and that gave him the push he needed.

“Typically, people will go for one session of physiotherapy a day, but I was going for four sessions a day – two for my hands, and two for my legs … I told the doctors then that I will not be leaving the hospital till I am able to walk out unaided,” he explained.

Back on his feet

Today, Prakash has made remarkable progress. He can move around unassisted, and he has returned to work.

He was also the recipient of the Inspirational Patient Award at the 2024 SingHealth Inspirational Patient & Caregiver Award. 

He now shares his experience with others, particularly stroke survivors, encouraging them not to give up hope.

“In the spirit of paying it forward, I am committed to helping fellow stroke survivors navigate their recovery,” he shared in an earlier interview.

While Prakash’s recovery journey may not be over just yet, he is not walking it alone.

With the support of loved ones and a strong community behind him, he’s rewriting what recovery can look like – one step at a time.