At one time, he looked after some 10,000 workers at Philippines. However, a lot has changed for Madhaven Michel - he is the one now being cared for. After losing his right leg to diabetes in April this year, his wife, Nora Goh, was concerned that since she had to take on the role as the sole breadwinner, there would be no one to look after him. He also had fallen twice and she was not about to take any chances.

In June, the father of one joined Silver Circle (Taman Jurong). The staff remembers clearly when he first came in as his swollen stump was badly managed and he was depressed about his condition. He was also concerned that the centre was mainly for elderly and it would be tough for him to get along. However with time, Michel slowly settled in. The centre arranged a physiotherapist to see him immediately and he taught him to bandage his wound and massage his stump to reduce swelling and ensure the wounds heal properly. The staff also advised him to place his stump on a stool at an appropriate height to improve blood circulation.

Today, with regular medication, the 55-year-old is a changed man. "When I come here, I get to exercise which I never got to do before when I was working and I get to interact with older people." He spends his time at the centre playing mahjong with his regular 'kakis' and quite a few even 'book' him! He says: "I wasn't happy when I was working. But now, I am smiling more than before."

His strong independent streak however is not far behind and having one leg does not deter him. He shared that when the transport sends him home, he relaxes for a short while and then he is off to the kitchen, whipping up dinner for his wife. He laughed, "My wife only knows how to work and eat!" He also handles the food shopping and is more than happy to do so with the help of his wheelchair. Most times, he relies on his U-shaped walking stick to get around, including when he sees his friends on the weekends.

His stump is dry now and he is looking forward to the day when his leg can be fitted with a prosthetic limb. "I am anxious to get back to normal. If I can do everything on my own, I would want to do that. I am also looking forward to going back to work in the near future." The helping hand he has received from Silver Circle has allowed him to get one step closer to indepedence.