There are worse things than losing your testicals, as Uncle Kentang discovers

 

SHAME IS often the hidden wound many men carry. Not the kind visible on our body but the quiet burden that settles deep inside when illness strips away dignity, strength and independence.

A recent social media post by Malaysian philanthropist Kuan Chee Heng, better known as Uncle Kentang, brought attention to one such painful struggle.

It is a story of a man recovering from the removal of a testicle due to a severe infection, while facing financial hardship and the responsibility of caring for his elderly mother.

The man’s cry for help was painfully honest, “I lost my balls. I am ashamed. But I need help.”

According to Uncle Kentang, the Indian man was a former Grab driver living near Nilai. After being hospitalised for more than two months, he went through surgery to remove his infected testicles. 

Although the procedure was medically necessary, his ordeal did not end upon discharge.

He now reportedly struggles to walk steadily and remains physically weak from the prolonged hospitalisation. 

Yet despite his condition, he continues to shoulder the responsibility of caring for his 73-year-old bedridden mother. The timing of his recovery added another layer of difficulty.

While he required regular wound dressing following the surgery, nearby clinics were closed due to the public holiday period, leaving him without access to routine post-operative care.

Proper wound cleaning and dressing are critical after surgery to prevent infection and ensure healing. Waiting for public clinics to reopen risked worsening his condition.

Even worse, private treatment came with a cost he simply could not afford. Upon learning of the case, Uncle Kentang decided to intervene.

Unable to personally travel to Nilai, he advised the man to seek immediate treatment at a private clinic instead of waiting for public facilities to reopen.

He subsequently transferred financial assistance to cover the cost of wound cleaning and dressing.

“It is sad that a man’s testicle was removed and yet he has no money to dress his wounds,” Uncle Kentang wrote.

His assistance was accompanied by a message that has become synonymous with his charity work.

“This is how our Malaysia Unity works I do not care you are a Indian or Malay, or Chinese. You need help and we will certainly help you if it is proven to be genuine,” he said.

The story resonated with many not merely because of the medical condition involved, but because it touched on a form of suffering that men rarely discuss openly.

The removal of a testicle, medically known as an orchiectomy, may become necessary in cases involving severe infection, cancer or traumatic injury. 

While men are generally able to live healthy lives with one remaining testicle, the psychological and emotional effects can be significant.

For many men, the loss carries complicated feelings surrounding identity, masculinity and self-esteem.

Some experience embarrassment or altered body image, while others quietly struggle with fears about intimacy or how they may be perceived by others.

These concerns often remain unspoken. The man is expected to require continued wound care in the coming days as he recovers while continuing to look after his elderly mother.

His journey toward healing may still be long. But for now, at least, he does not have to face it alone. — Focus Malaysia