28-Year-Old Model Dies After Getting A Sudden Headache While Singing Karaoke
The tragic incident happened earlier this month.
By Sadho Ram — 27 Dec 2017, 04:44 PM
A 28-year-old freelance model, Karen Stella Wong, died after she suffered bleeding in the brain while singing karaoke with friends
On 12 December, Karen, who was singing in a karaoke lounge with her friends, suddenly experienced numbness in half her body, along with a splitting headache.
She was rushed to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) where she went into a coma and subsequently died three days later, Shin Min Daily News reported, 26 December.
While Chinese media had initially reported that Karen died because she was singing in a too-high-pitched voice, doctors certified her cause of death as Acute Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH)
ICH is a condition where bleeding occurs within the brain tissue, causing damage to the brain. Usually occurring in particular parts of the brain like cerebellum, brain stem, or cortex, the high blood pressure within the brain causes damage to the brain cells.
While Karen, a marketing consultant who had modelled for companies like Singtel, did not have any medical history related to ICH, the Straits Times reported her father saying that the SGH doctor said that even a common headache could be a symptom, but it is not likely for a doctor to ask a normal person with a headache to go for a scan.
Karen's death, however, has saved three lives
Both her kidneys and her liver were donated under the Human Organ Transplant Act. The law, first enacted in 1987, requires all Singapore citizens and permanent residents above the age of 21, of sound mind and who have not opted out, to have their kidneys, hearts, livers and corneas removed upon their death.
The law, however, applies only if they were to die in a hospital, their organs are found suitable for transplant and there are suitable recipients for the organs.
Her father, Laurence Wong, who was surprised when told about the requirement under the law, said he struggled with the idea at first
However, he and his wife eventually came to terms with it.
"I heard they managed to do transplants on three patients, and I feel it's a blessing that at least she can save three people," he was quoted saying by the Straits Times.
He said that as an only child, Karen was very close to her mother. "They were like sisters. How is she going to handle it?," he said.
He added that while it's very difficult for him, he is trying to be strong for his wife and his mother, who still doesn't know about Karen's death.
"My mother does not know yet. She does not read newspapers."
According to her father, the 28-year-old was a cheerful individual who loved to joke and didn't give her parents much problems
"She didn't give me much problems. I just recall the last moment she left the house - she said 'daddy I'm going out', and she was still joking with the maid and my mother."
Karen's Facebook account has been memorialised by her family
Her memorialised account displays a message that reads:
"Remembering Karen Stella
We hope that people who love 'Karen will find comfort in visiting her profile to remember and celebrate her life."