A VIRAL video from December last year, taken at a mall in Singapore, captures the heartbreaking moment when Suresh Vanaz, struggling to push his brother's wheelchair, accidentally bumped into another man. With no one offering him space to pass, what should have been a simple act of navigating through a crowd escalated into a painful confrontation.
"I was trying to be polite. I said 'Excuse me'," Suresh recalls. But the man challenged him. Despite Suresh's efforts to stay calm, the situation quickly escalated. The man taunted him, even challenging him to a fight. But it was when the man muttered: "Bloody Indians!" that Suresh lost his cool.
The video quickly went viral, casting the 46-year-old in a negative light as viewers saw him losing control in the confrontation. Initially, the public backlash was harsh, with many quick to judge his actions.
But as people spoke with him, the truth came out — no one had stopped to consider that he was wheeling a wheelchair-bound brother. His reaction wasn't out of malice, but out of frustration and the pain of seeing his brother in distress.
"I saw my brother cry," Suresh says, voice tight with emotion, adding: "And I just lost it." The memory still stings — a painful reminder of how deeply his brother was hurt during an ugly confrontation.
"People are so impatient," he sighs, continuing: "Everywhere — lifts, lobbies, MRT stations… There's always a tiny space for wheelchair users, but no one gives way. They just don't care."
Life as a caregiver isn't easy. "It's tough for us, but we do our best," he says, adding: "The problem is, people don't see our struggle. If you can walk and move around freely, you don't understand how hard this is."
Suresh's brother, Gunaseelan, is 41 years old and has lived with cerebral palsy since birth. Bound to a wheelchair, he's relied on Suresh, who sees protecting him as his life's greatest purpose.
"I always say he's my king and I'm his warrior. I'll fight for him no matter what," he says firmly.
But it's not just about pushing a wheelchair or helping him move. Gunaseelan is his own person and Suresh wants people to see that. "He's not a robot. He has likes, dislikes, a personality — everything. And it's hard because he feels it when people stare or judge him."
"I've been looking out for him my whole life," Suresh says quietly, before adding: "He's my world, and I'll always have his back."
HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE'S MY BROTHER
Suresh has been looking out for his brother, Gunaseelan, for as long as he can remember.
When their mum was pregnant with Gunaseelan, young Suresh couldn't wait. "Boy," his mum said one day — 'Boy' was his nickname at home — "you're going to have a brother!"
Suresh was thrilled. "I finally had a companion for life and someone to play with!" he says, smiling at the memory.
But everything changed when Gunaseelan was just three years old. One night, he spiked a high fever and had a seizure. Their parents were both at work, leaving only their grandmother to care for them.
"Medical care in Singapore wasn't the best almost 40 years ago," Suresh recalls. By the time Gunaseelan received treatment, the seizure might have caused significant damage. Doctors suspected it could have led to his cerebral palsy, though the exact cause was never fully confirmed.
The diagnosis hit the family hard. "I remember my mum crying every night," he recalls. "I was just a kid, but I sat with her and promised I'd take care of my brother."
That promise has stayed with Suresh his whole life.
Gunaseelan's diagnosis turned Suresh's world upside down. "I had to grow up fast. I became like a big man, stepping up to take care of him," he recalls.
Caring for Gunaseelan quickly became Suresh's world. After school, he'd rush home, bathe and feed his brother, and carry him to his school. While Gunaseelan attended classes, Suresh would wait in the school's corridor, often exhausted, until it was time to carry him home.
While other children spent their afternoons playing or studying, Suresh had no time for such luxuries. "I didn't have the chance to focus on studying or even dream big," he shares. "I wanted to be a police officer, but I couldn't make it happen. My grades suffered because every day was about my brother. He always came first."
Despite the sacrifices, Suresh never viewed his role as a burden. "We couldn't afford help, and my parents were working hard to make ends meet," he says, continuing: "I just knew I had to step up. He was my brother, my responsibility — and my world."
Now, as a part-time actor, event planner and fitness coach, the Singaporean reflects on how those early days shaped him into the person he is today. "Everything I do now started with trying to make my brother laugh," he shares. "Growing up was hard. I had to shield him from so much and making him smile felt like the best way to protect him. It's funny how that skill eventually turned into my career."
The same, he says, applies to his fitness journey. "I have to carry and lift Gunaseelan every day, so I needed to stay strong," Suresh explains, elaborating: "Fitness became a priority, and I'm grateful it turned into a source of income too."
BROTHERS-IN-ARMS
The brothers grew inseparable after tragedy struck. Their mother passed away at 49 due to illness, followed by their father, who died of a stroke. Shares Suresh: "It's just the two of us now. My brother relies on me completely. If I'm not around, he's always searching for me."
A nine-to-five job is out of the question for Suresh. His mornings start early, showering his brother and preparing his breakfast. While he's grateful to have a domestic helper now, he still insists on taking care of most things himself.
"I can't do a regular job with fixed hours," he admits, adding: "When I tried, something would always happen at home and I'd have to rush back. How many times can I do that? Not many bosses understand my situation with my brother. So, I had to give it up. My brother needs me, and he'll always come first."
No two days are the same for Suresh. "It can be stressful," he says, pointing out how even something as basic as breakfast can be a challenge.
"Feeding is tough," he explains. "Gunaseelan loves food, but eating isn't easy for him. He often vomits during breakfast, and by the time I clean up the mess and get him ready, it's already lunch. It's messy, frustrating and exhausting, but it's just part of our routine."
Gunaseelan lives with numerous challenges brought on by cerebral palsy — body stiffness, difficulty with movement and coordination, speech impairments, feeding struggles and other daily hurdles that most people take for granted. The condition has taken a significant toll on his body over the years.
"With cerebral palsy, it's like your age doubles," Suresh explains quietly. "So even though Gunaseelan is 41, his body is more like that of an 84-year-old."
The elder brother remains determined to soldier on. "Finances can be tight. Medical expenses are a huge burden," Suresh admits. To make ends meet, he drives for Grab and takes on as many jobs as possible, all to ensure his younger brother gets the best care. "Whatever it takes, I'll do it," he says firmly.
Research shows that caregivers often face stress, emotional struggles and even health problems. For Suresh, this couldn't be truer. "I do struggle," he admits, adding: "There are times I just want to break down and cry. It's lonely when the burden falls entirely on you. But I have to stay strong for my brother. He's just a normal guy who didn't ask for this."
For Gunaseelan, Suresh is his entire world. This became heartbreakingly clear at a friend's wedding when Suresh stepped onto the bridal podium to assist. Gunaseelan, thinking his brother was the one getting married, burst into tears. "He was inconsolable," Suresh remembers. "I rushed down to him and promised, 'I won't get married. You'll always come first.'"
It's a promise he's held close ever since. "I've seen how marriages can break down and the damage they can cause to families. I never want Gunaseelan to feel that kind of hurt," he says.
Continuing, Suresh adds softly: "It's not easy to find someone who'd accept that my brother will always be my number one. So, I've chosen to stay single — for him."
BIG DREAMS, BIGGER HOPES
About nine years ago, Gunaseelan's prognosis was grim. Doctors gave him just six months to live, saying his body was too weak for any treatment, surgery, or medication. But Suresh refused to accept it.
"I told myself, no matter how hard it gets, no matter how many times I have to wipe vomit off my face, I'm going to take care of this boy to the best of my ability," he recalls emotionally.
Since then, Gunaseelan has improved. "I had to be strong and stay positive so he could feed off that energy and get better. And he did," adds Suresh.
Gunaseelan may be confined to a wheelchair, but his dreams are anything but small. "He wants to see the world," Suresh reveals. So far, he's taken his brother to India and across Malaysia.
"I had to carry him everywhere," Suresh says wryly. Continuing, he explains: "He's 65kg, so it's not easy and I was completely exhausted. But seeing his happiness makes it all worth it."
Suresh is determined to create meaningful memories with his brother. "My parents missed those moments with us, and I don't want to make the same mistake," he confides.
Adding, Suresh says: "You know how Indians are — when a family member passes away, they put food in front of the photo. I don't want that. I want to do everything for him while he's still here."
Gunaseelan dreams of visiting Phuket and even Europe — places he's seen on television. "Right now, they're just pipe dreams," Suresh admits, adding: "But I'll keep trying to make him happy. Maybe, someday, I'll take him to those places he's always dreamt about."
His brother has taught him the true value of life. "If he can survive 41 years with all his challenges, why can't I?" he muses, before continuing: "I've got good limbs, a good mind and the ability to do things. If my only purpose in life is to take care of my brother, then so be it."
His advice to caregivers is simple: don't give up. "Never think twice about caring for your family. Follow your heart and do it for them," he says.
Suresh pauses, then concludes with determination: "I will not give up. I will give my best for my brother, no matter what it takes. No matter how many times I fall, I'll get back up. After all, he's my king and I'm his warrior. That's what warriors do — protect their king, no matter the cost."