“I came from Malaysia. I had a stroke on one side of my body. I can’t walk and I only use one part of my face and mouth to talk,” she said.
That’s how Jenny Chew, with honesty and strength, began sharing her story.
As she sat beside a spread of succulents and cacti outside Ghee Brothers restaurant in Willetton, Jenny spoke openly about the life-changing event that turned her world upside down.
“My talking has gotten a bit better recently because before, I could not talk properly. And, I’m able to do some things with the other side of my body that is working; the left side.”
Jenny moved to Australia 13 years ago. Since then, she’s been back and forth to Malaysia, Singapore and even London, where she once worked as a babysitter. But Australia felt right, according to her. “The cold in London, in both winter and summer, is too much. I prefer it here,” she said.
She returned to Perth in 2018 and found work managing a local restaurant owned by her former boss.
But her life changed in 2021 when she suffered her second stroke. “One morning I discovered I couldn’t walk, I fell,” she recalled. “Then the chef called emergency.”
Jenny was in coma for three days and spent six months in the hospital. “I could not talk. I didn’t know what happened,” she said. “Slowly, I began talking after three to four months. After six months, I was transferred to Brightwater for recovery and physiotherapy. I was there for two years and two months.”
While recovering, Jenny started selling flowers to the staff at Brightwater. “I couldn’t sell to the public there; just staff. But when I was transferred to Bentley, I got the opportunity to come to Willetton.”
Her passion for plants is deep. Back in Malaysia, Jenny worked as a florist. The love for greenery helped her rebuild her life. “I thought I should have to do something to pass time,” she said. “So, I started buying plants and flowers slowly, slowly. And now, It’s more than two years.”
Her stall outside the restaurant is full of life.
As she spoke, customers approached her table.
Jenny greeted each one warmly, while explaining the plants and how to keep them in form. One young girl hovered around her stall, giving her hugs and bringing food. Jenny responded with the same warmth; giving her hugs and kisses.
Despite the challenges, she shows up every weekend. She relies on Centrelink, but according to her, it’s not enough.
“The money I get is $100 a week,” she said. “Everything is now expensive.”
Selling flowers help cover the basics, like food, clothes, and small comforts. But more than that, it gives her purpose. “I feel happy. I like people here. They’ve been good and supportive. I’m here to pass time rather than stay at home.”
She doesn’t dwell on long-term plans. “For my future, I have no plan. Everything I do, I do by myself.”
When asked about her advice for others, she said, “Don’t get stressed. Don’t think too much. If you think too much, you can have a stroke. Just be happy. Don’t eat too much. And then you should go out and enjoy. Look at nature, flowers, and the sun once in a while.”
