Ruth Yong was born three months premature in Kuching, Sarawak.

As a result of hyperoxia – a condition caused by an oversupply of oxygen that narrows retinal blood vessels – she lost her sight at birth.

Her parents sought help, even travelling to Singapore in hopes of saving her vision, but doctors were unable to reverse the damage.

The challenges of blindness

Growing up blind in East Malaysia, where awareness and support for the disabled were limited, Ruth faced immense challenges.

“I attended a special needs school during my primary years, but it was far from pleasant. I was abused, even physically, by both teachers and classmates,” shared the 33-year-old.

At 14, she faced another terrifying ordeal. Home alone, she heard the sound of breaking glass and realised a thief had broken in.

Fearing for her safety, she bolted upstairs and locked herself in a room.

“I thank God for His protection and for giving me the presence of mind to call my neighbours, who came over. The intruder fled before taking anything,” she recalled.

These experiences fuelled Ruth’s resolve to become independent.

She excelled academically, earning a scholarship and graduating with a double major in Communications and Psychology from Monash University, Malaysia, in 2017.

Despite being the only blind student in her university, Ruth graduated with a degree in Communications and Psychology from Monash University Malaysia in 2017.

Since then, she has worked various jobs and is now pursuing a Master’s in English.

To those on the outside, Ruth’s life might seem like a picture of resilience and success. Yet, she still wrestles with deep questions.

“Just recently, I asked God again: ‘Why me? Why do I have to suffer so much while others take their ability to see for granted?'”

A lonely path

Ruth admitted that loneliness is one of her biggest struggles. “I don’t have many friends, but I’m sure that’s not unique to me,” she said.

Her disability makes socialising difficult, and even within the blind community, forming friendships has been challenging.

“While doing my Master’s, I often feel so alone in this journey. There aren’t many willing to help, and I’ve even received hurtful comments like, ‘You’re just not grateful, that’s why you’re not happy,'” she shared.

Living with blindness can be lonely. Ruth is grateful for online communities such as her connect group from a church in Kuala Lumpur, where she’s able to fellowship with other believers.

Those words cut deep, but Ruth brings her pain to God, finding comfort in His presence.

“I believe the Lord is my true friend. He will never leave or forsake me. People may fail us, but God never does. I can only do my best here on earth,” she said.

Strengthened in God’s presence

Ruth was raised in a Christian home but only came to know God personally at the age of 22.

“A friend introduced me to a pastor at a Baptist church and, through his guidance, I received the Holy Spirit and began praying in tongues,” she recalled.

Since then, her relationship with God has been marked by a simple, childlike faith.

“Scripture is full of promises that remind me I can rely on God throughout this journey. Not by my own strength, but His. To do that, I need to spend time with God daily and fellowship with other believers,” she explained.

Since her childhood, Ruth has expressed and felt God’s love for her through music, performing at recitals such as this one at the Kuching State Library.

In God’s presence, Ruth experiences deep peace.

These sacred moments also give her a different perspective, enabling her to focus on herself less and more on God. 

“In my down moments, I can cry out to Him. In His presence, my burdens are lifted,” she shared.

Spending time with God is non-negotiable for Ruth, as it is where she finds the strength to keep going and avoid sinking into despair.

Working three times harder than everyone else

After graduation, finding work proved more challenging than Ruth had anticipated.

She initially secured jobs in recruitment and telemarketing, but when the pandemic struck, her opportunities dwindled to nothing.

“For someone with a disability, it’s tough to find stable employment. I kept asking God for direction, but it was exhausting to keep applying and not see success,” she admitted.

It was not for a lack of effort. Ruth is no stranger to hard work – throughout her education, she has had to put in more time and effort than her peers.

At university, she was the only blind student on campus.

“As I can’t read, I use a software that reads digital books and notes to me. When writing assignments, the software reads my work back so I can make corrections. Everything takes a lot of time,” Ruth explained.

On top of that, not all reading materials or notes were available digitally. She relied on her mother and supportive friends who recorded themselves reading aloud or typed out lecture notes for her.

Born into a sighted family, Ruth honours her parents for their sacrifices. Her mother would read aloud textbooks and Scripture to her, and family holidays always included her.

Completing each assignment often took three times longer for her than for her classmates, and the workload frequently left her exhausted and discouraged.

Yet, despite the challenges, Ruth’s time at Monash University remains among her happiest memories.

“I thank God for where He placed me. I made friends who would take me around, and my housemates always looked out for me,” she said.

Her lecturers, too, went above and beyond to support her. In fact, one of those lecturers, a Christian who taught Ruth during her time at Monash, recently hired her as a research assistant, remembering her determination and work ethic.

Seeing beyond her blindness

Reflecting on her life, Ruth noted how many sighted people often take their vision for granted.

“So much of life requires sight, from picking up dropped items to watching YouTube videos,” she said, sharing just a few examples.

Yet, instead of harbouring bitterness or resentment, Ruth channels her energy toward blessing others.

“I’m comforted knowing this world is not my eternal home. I believe God wants to use my life here on earth to serve others and be a living testimony of His hope and salvation,” she shared.

In 2020, she began conducting online English lessons, as well as other subjects, for refugee children in Malaysia, recognising the importance of language skills.

Ruth believes that a strong foundation in English will open doors to better employment opportunities for her students, no matter where they are resettled.

Life has meaning even with disability

Ruth hopes to complete her Master’s degree and secure permanent employment to support herself. However, she has no intention of stopping her service to others.

“Today, I still teach English twice a week to refugee children from Myanmar. Knowing that I am blessing others, even with my disability, reminds me of my purpose in Christ,” she said.

Throughout the interview, Ruth frequently quoted from God’s Word.

One verse she returned to was John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

She challenges both able-bodied and disabled believers to share God’s love in whatever way they can, emphasising that doing so brings deeper meaning to life.

She said: “Life is hard, but don’t give up. Discover what you love doing – we all have strengths – and use that to bless others. The Lord is our ultimate source of comfort and peace.”

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