The signs are all there – they’re deeply in love

Duo exchange vows after seven years of dating

GEORGE TOWN: Their first meeting ended up with talented artist Louis Gan Yee Loong surprising Lean Ong Hui Lian with her portrait as a birthday gift in 2011. It didn’t take long before they became an item after that.

Yesterday, the deaf couple tied the knot by exchanging vows before assistant registrar of marriages Chan Chat Chai at Than Hsiang Temple.

A special moment had earlier taken place outside the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, last year when Ong, 30, nodded after Gan, 31, went down on his knee with a ring.

“I went blank for a while and got tearyeyed before saying yes,” said Ong in sign language that was interpreted by her sister Hui Min.

Ong, an art director based in Johor Baru, was born normal but lost her hearing and speech after a bout of fever when she was 10 months old.

Gan is a Penang-based artist who shot to prominence with the popular murals “Brother and Sister on a Swing” and “Children Playing Basketball” here.

Recalling their romance, Gan said it was love at first sight when he saw Ong’s Facebook profile in 2010.

After exchanging messages via WhatsApp, he finally gathered the courage to ask for a meet-up at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology (LUCT) in Cyberjaya, where Ong was studying then.

“She is kind-hearted and helpful. She would always go the extra mile for her friends,” said Gan, with his brother Dr Gan Yee Haw acting as interpreter. But Ong said Gan didn’t impress her at first.

It was only after several months of chit-chatting that she felt he was the one she wanted to share her future with.

“He is a goal-getter who is passionate about his work. His perseverance is second to none,” she said.

Ong is now planning to settle down in Penang by year-end.

Before this, they only saw each other five or six times a year.

“Most of the time, we would communicate via video calls and WhatsApp messages.

“We would spend time together by going for holidays and we have been to places like Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and Austria.

“Our next one will be Taiwan, where Louis (Gan) will be taking part in the Asialink Sketchwalk Taichung 2018.

“For now, video calls will still be the solution when we miss each other,” she said.