BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Health & Living  >  Beyond The Diagnosis #32: “I Couldn’t Give Up”

Beyond The Diagnosis #32: “I Couldn’t Give Up”

Gabriel Wong, Person with Paraplegia | Professor Dr Julia Patrick Engkasan, Consultant Rehabilitation Physician, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre

29-Sep-25 16:00

Beyond The Diagnosis #32: “I Couldn’t Give Up”

When illness strikes suddenly, it can turn your world upside down in an instant. For Gabriel Wong, a brain infection spread to his spine, leaving him with paraplegia and forcing him to relearn what his body could and could not do. In this episode of Beyond The Diagnosis, we’ll hear his journey of rehabilitation — the day-to-day labour of rebuilding strength, the frustrations of small setbacks, and the triumph of small victories. We’ll also hear from Prof Dr Julia Patrick Engkasan, a consultant rehabilitation physician, about the support that survivors of spinal cord injuries need.

Beyond The Diagnosis is a series about people living with NCDs, going beyond the diagnosis to explore their personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones. These stories reveal the importance of understanding the unique struggles and needs of the individuals behind the disease, in our response to the NCD epidemic. 

Image Credit: Gabriel Wong

Produced by: Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Tee Shiao Eek


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  wellnessmanaging disease

Tags:  beyondthediagnosisparaplegiathe bigger picturehealth & livingspinal cord injurytbrehabilitation





Play / Pause

Listen now : Just For Kicks

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research weighs in on Malaysia’s tourism outlook and growth strategies ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Lawyer Haniff Khatri explains the Federal Court's decision to dismiss Semantan Estates' appeal in the long-running legal saga.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Eric Fan, CEO of Bridge Data Centres, discusses how the company is expanding across Southeast Asia to meet the region’s rising demand for data centres and AI infrastructure.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, explains what's at stake for the Sabah elections taking place at the end of November.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland, President, TJM Limited tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Imran Yusof, Head of Research at MBSB Research weighs in on Malaysia’s tourism outlook and growth strategies ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Azuar Zainuddin, CEO, Satu Creative

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Dickson Woo, Country General Manager & Technology Leader, IBM Malaysia

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Front Row

Singapore Ballet returns with Ballet Illuminations 2025, featuring works by Choo-San Goh, Edmund Stripe, and Janek Schergen. We find out what's in store.

3:20 PM

Front Row

Ode to the Lifestream celebrates the iconic Final Fantasy VII soundtrack with a nine-piece ensemble. Sylvie Wong and Qayyum Bin Zainal share what to expect.

3:35 PM

Front Row

The ILHAM Art Show 2025 returns with 20 artists exploring memory, identity, nature, and the future. ILHAM’s Rahel Joseph shares what to expect.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Nuclear medicine now allows doctors to “see what they treat and treat what they see”. We explore how this could change outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

We review Edgar Wright's Running Man and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, before discussing adaptations and remakes that bring something fresh to the table.

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector