Duchenne: Shalom's Lifelong Partner-in-Crime - a Column by Shalom Lim Ern Rong

Last Saturday, I lost a dear friend of mine, Timothy Chan, who had Duchenne muscular dystrophy. He passed away in the hospital in the morning, days after he had been admitted with a respiratory illness. The unexpected news from his parents shocked me, as I had caught up with…

Last Saturday, I attended “Les Misérables: The Arena Spectacular” with my girlfriend at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This landmark resort includes a luxury hotel, a shopping complex, and a performing arts theater that hosts international productions. A musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo, “Les Misérables“…

For most of my life, Duchenne muscular dystrophy has defined how I navigate the world. Duchenne is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle loss. Over time, it weakens the arms, legs, breathing muscles, and heart. Many adults with Duchenne, including me, use wheelchairs and rely on a…

On Jan. 31, I visited the former Supreme Court Foyer at the National Gallery Singapore (NGS) for the final Artsplaining session of Light to Night Singapore 2026. NGS is a leading visual arts museum with the largest collection of Southeast Asian modern art. Artsplaining is its program designed…

In my previous column, I shared my experience of stepping away from performing in my own play, “The Other Side,” and trusting that the work could continue without me at its center. This column picks up where the last left off: the moment the play met its audience, and…

I’ve often written about learning to live alongside uncertainty. Duchenne muscular dystrophy has a way of quietly shaping plans, then loudly interrupting them. Last July, that disruption arrived as burnout during rehearsals for my graduating showcase at BEYOND DIS:PLAY, a performing arts training program in Singapore for disabled…

Jan. 8 marks four years since my family welcomed my animal companion, Pandan, into our home to foster. Since the new year began, I have been reflecting on how such companionship enters our lives quietly and unexpectedly, and without ceremony. Pandan is a rescued street dog, known locally as a…

This column has followed me through a year that has asked a lot of my body and my heart. Looking back at what I’ve penned this year, 2025 reads like a bittersweet journal of my relationship with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), one where grief, growth, pride, and fatigue all…

Last month, I attended “The Sun Will Shine,” a jukebox musical staged at The Star Performing Arts Centre in Singapore. I was invited by the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN), a collective of patients and caregivers who offer feedback to improve healthcare services. As someone living with Duchenne…

Recently, my role at Shalom Medcare shifted from marketing communications assistant to brand executive. This move aligns my professional work with my long-standing identity as a disability and patient advocate. Shalom Medcare is a Singapore-based medical escort and transport provider, and the new role strengthens the connection between my…