One pen ma: Use Others' Experiences as Reference

source: Clear Newspaper
column: One Pen Ma
writer: Steven Ma
Date: 2/23/2012

引以為鑑
 Use Others' Experience as Reference

Earlier read the news about Carlos Ng's retina lining sudden detachment. Very worried because this could be serious problem. Only when I found out later that he was fine did I feel relieve. 

Actually, besides my worry for him, there is also this feeling of having experienced the same incident myself.  Many years ago,  when shooting, a horse riding scene in "A Change of Destiny", (tn: 2006) I had an unexpected accident. At the time, I was astride a horse for a scene shot, and the horse because of a blown leaf nicking its eye reflexively reared back its head, and this backward movement smacked right onto my right eye and the right side of my face.  And so my face bones on the right side were slightly fractured, and my right eye swollen to the size of a hen's egg.  At the time, the retina was also injured.  

The crystal fluid (aqueous humor) inside the eyeball was dispersed; the retina was slightly detached; the nostrils inside had accumulated blood; for now no possible surgery for treatment; the condition  had to get well on itself.  But if the flashes in the right eye suddenly increased,  go immediately to the emergency room.... This is what the doctor said to me at the time.


After some many years, the face bones have already healed, the right eye besides the eyeball being slightly indented and seeing occasional flashes, basically suffered no after effects.

Through Carlos and my experiences, I want to remind everybody to carefully protect that fragile window of the soul.  Of course, the same to all parts of the body after all having a healthy whole body is not to be taken for granted.


related material: yahoo blog

Injury Blessing Occasion !

傷喜臨門!
2006-11-15 18:26

Hi everybody, I’m home!

This November is truly unforgettable to me. What an “Injury Blessing Occasion” month. (Playing on the Chinese idiom “Double Blessings’ 双喜临门) But first, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for your support and concern.  Thank you so very much, truly!

Did over a decade of filming; countless horseback riding scenes; too many to count!

I’d never been afraid of horses, or horseback riding, but of this kind of accident, it’s the first!

I remember when the accident happened, I was astride the horse. Heard the word, “action”, acting began. Suddenly, the horse flung back its head, and smacked hard onto the right side of my face. Instant darkness before my eyes. Now that I think back, I believe I must have passed out for about 3-5 seconds, for when I came to my senses, I found my hand pressed against my face. Excruciating pain followed. I remember saying these words, “I can’t hold on,” and proceeded to slip off the horse. Luckily, someone broke my fall and held on to me. (Later, I found out it was the director, my good friend, Sham Zai.) The crew hastily rushed me to the hospital.

Enroute to the hospital, I kept thinking: “Will I lose my right eye? What am I going to do if this eye can’t see?”

Then I thought: If I I’m blind in one eye, can I still act?
And I thought some more: Tomorrow is the award ceremony, how can I attend?

A plethora of questions flooded my mind!

The later details, I’m sure you all know from the media reports!

November 11th – the day of TVB Awards Ceremony; a milestone day in my acting career!

I, sporting an eye patch, accepted “My Most Favorite TV Male Character” award!

The news reported that I was ‘swallowing blood’ throughout the awards night, and ‘swallowing blood’ when receiving the award. They were all true!

Reported that my eyeball dropped 2 mm, that was true, too!
Reported that I was so happy I forgot my eye injury!
When I received my award, I was truly happy, so happy that I forgot many things!

I forgot…
That night, I actually used up 30 plus tissue packages! Don’t get the wrong idea, they were not for wiping tears, they’re for spitting out blood… a bit bloody..hehee. But it’s the truth, so pardon me!

I forgot….
When I accepted the award, I forgot to thank my family, my friends, and ….those who have been quietly and continuously supported me – all of you!

What’s more, I forgot …
To thank the bigger than life persona who had made it possible for my receiving this award ----Shang Zhi.

Not sure what else I forgot; well, to all those ‘forgots’, I would like to say: ‘sorry’ and ‘thank you’.

Well, I will now update on the condition of my eye injury.
My eye has become less swollen. The bloody dripping through the nose has all but gone. But because of a line fracture on the right side of my face, the eyeball has sunk slightly; but outwardly, it can’t be detected, therefore my looks is not affected; which means, I look the same as before. As for eye sight, because the flesh around the eye socket is still swollen, I have double visions when looking at certain angles. But, don’t you all worry, doctor says with some rest to avoid re-injury, the condition will get better.

Come early December, I will start shooting a new series!

This series centers around social dancing, a fresh idea! In the series, I will try out many new stuff, you all will like it!

Once again, thank you all for your concern, and am grateful for your support!

I will continue to work hard!!

source: steven ma yahoo blog

Translator: Tamaya
Related article: one pen ma - experience as reference