“Fail fast, fail different, fail forward.”
Walter Lee
These are the wise words from Walter Lee to all his three children because we fail more times than we succeed! Walter is a father of 3, two boys and a girl. He wears many hats. Popularly known as Celebrity Chef Walter or Chef Kani in Thailand, CEO of Venturetec Marketing Company Limited and Founder of the Zy Movement Foundation. Perhaps the most meaningful hat to him is father or being Papa. He was thrown a rather fateful curveball when his youngest, Zy was born in 2006. Zy was born with only one complete limb – his left arm.
To say it was a shock, is an understatement. To add salt to their open wounds, the Doctor that told them everything checked out fine in the prenatal ultrasound, was nowhere to be seen after Zy was born. The hospital handed them a bill and sent them on their way. Walter wanted Zy to live a dignified life; to have conversations at eye level and not be looked down upon or talked down to. Most Doctors they met kept emphasizing how lucky Zy was that his brain activity was normal.
Like a phoenix, Walter rose from the burnt ashes of shock and despair. He refused to accept that son was sentenced to life in a wheelchair. After 3 years, 100 doctors and 16 countries later, he found the answer in the University of Heidelberg, Germany. Walter asked Professor Carson five questions and 2 weeks later, he received a 2-pager detailed explanation of Zy’s treatment plan for the next 5 years. Then, Walter and his wife were given 6-months to decide if they would proceed.
Time was a factor. Something no other doctor told them. If Zy had gotten used to getting around without prosthetics, it would be that much harder for him to get accustomed to them. A detail that Walter made sure is made known to other families through the Zy Movement Foundation. While Zy’s mum took charge of monitoring his treatment and rehabilitation, Walter recorded every detail of the treatment to be shared with other medical practitioners in South East Asia. Through much pain, perseverance and support from his family and loved ones, Zy eventually walked independently on 18 February 2009.
With Zy’s first steps independently, their new journey began. They told the world their story, inspired many to find hope in despair and received a settlement of 1 million Baht (USD320,000) from Bangkok’s Bumrungrad International Hospital and two doctors over their negligence in failing to identify birth defects in Zy. A lawsuit of this magnitude in Thailand against a hospital and doctors, was almost unheard of at the time. But this sparked the fire in many to come forward for justice.
Fast forward, where is Zy now?
He is a world-class swimmer who has qualified to represent Malaysia in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France. He turns 17 this year and will be amongst the youngest paralympians to compete at this level. He has already bagged championship titles at the Asian Youth Para Games 2021 in Bahrain and the 11th Asean Para Games Solo 2022. Following in his father’s footsteps, he is also eager to share his story with the world. In March 2023, Zy was the Keynote Speaker at the 2023 Kiwanis ASPAC Convention in Malaysia. He dazzled the attendees with his eloquence in telling his story. He’s also spoken alongside his dad at TedX Chiang Mai in 2018.
The beauty of this family’s story is this – no sugar coating. When you hear Zy speak, he speaks the truth plainly and as it is. He speaks about the pain and trauma his mother experienced. The sadness and the tears his mother shed. These are cold-hard truths that not everyone has the courage to share with their child much less the world.
Walter shared how Zy once felt left out at a family gathering, where all the children were running around and having fun. Being the creative parents he is, he gathered the children for a race without using their legs or hands. Everyone had to use their bottoms to move. Of course, Zy won this race. This is the root of inclusion. It comes from modeling as adults to children. Normalising movement challenges.
Walking Without Legs
Walter has chronicled his journey with Zy – the first 100 days of their life together. The book is called, “Walking without Legs”. It is heart-wrenching story filled with many moments that will have one reaching for tissues to wipe away the tears. It is a raw and honest representation of how love and resilience conquers all. The book is available in English and Mandarin. Copies are available for purchase in Malaysia via the Kiwanis Malaysia administrative office. Call the office at +60 3 7496 4964 or email kmadmin@kiwanis.org.my
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