One Easter more than a decade ago, Joshua, then 17 years old, was strolling around Kwun Tong with a group of friends. They passed by a construction site of a large shopping mall and decided to cross the road without using the footbridge. After crossing over the railings of a busy tunnel entrance, the slower moving Joshua was knocked down by a four-wheel drive vehicle and became unconscious. He suffered multiple serious injuries, including fractures, a burst spleen and severe damage to his brain. Joshua underwent five major operations in a week but remained in a coma. The doctor said his chances of waking up were slim.
Joshua’s father is a Christian so he was baptised when he was a child. The family often attend church services but his mother did not convert. One day while Joshua was in a coma, his mother confessed her thoughts while looking out a window from his hospital bed. “If You want me to believe in You, let me see Your miracles. I have never done bad things nor have I done anything wrong to anyone. I really want to ask You to return my son to me. I know my son is naughty but I am more stubborn and hard headed. If You want me to believe in You, I must prove that You really exist. If You return my son to me, I will believe in You convincingly.” She made a promise to the Heavenly Father.
What’s amazing is that Joshua’s parents would often meet passers-by who would offer to pray for them. For example, once when his father met an evangelical Christian on the street, after hearing what happened to Joshua, the gentleman returned to his church and initiated all parishioners to pray for him. His father believed that it was the blessing of his son and a gift from the Lord, and his mother felt that these were the righteous people as referred to in the Bible.
One day, Joshua’s parents were applying ointment on him as he has been in a coma for several days and suffering from hands and feet muscle atrophy. His father sang him a Cantonese golden song “Bright Future” and in the mid-section of the song, his mother noticed that the corner of her son’s mouth was moving slightly upwards, as if he was smiling. She immediately told his father who then sang a few more lines from the middle paragraph. This time both of them saw their son smiled and they immediately notified the nurse. When the nurse came, she requested the father to continue singing and asked Joshua, “Are you laughing at your father? Is he a good or bad singer?” The three of them saw him move the corner of his mouth again.
Since then, Joshua’s condition gradually improved. Although he was not fully awake, the doctors considered him suitable for transfer to an infirmary after studying all his relevant medical indices. After less than a week in the nursing home, Joshua finally woke up after 41 days in coma. His mother kept her promise and was baptised on Christmas Day that same year, while Joshua accepted the gift of confirmation at the same time. Immediately after his son regained consciousness, the father thanked the Lord and prayed. He made a vow to surrender his life to do the Lord’s work, and from then on started donating blood.
After recovering, Joshua became a member of Haven of Hope Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung District Support Centre (DSC) and took part in various activities. He is currently working at Haven of Hope Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centre and also participates in the DSC team through online videos.