Mr Chan, 90, had lived a life filled with purpose and service.
Together with his wife, he was a familiar presence at church — steadfast, giving, and always ready to extend a helping hand to neighbours in need. These were not just routines, but rhythms that shaped his relationships and defined his life.
After developing a duodenal ulcer (a sore in the first part of his intestine just after the stomach), his health began to decline. His appetite waned, he lost weight, and over time, he became medically unstable.
As his condition progressed, he was placed on palliative care, focusing on comfort, dignity, and support for both patient and family. For his loved ones, this transition was not easy.
His daughter, Alinna, shared, “I had trouble reconciling with the prognosis. It still hurts, but the care the team provided made me feel at peace. I’m slowly accepting it.”
Amid the uncertainty, she found strength in her mother’s quiet resilience.
“Even today, my mom still serves at church,” she said — a reflection of the family’s enduring faith and commitment to others.
Throughout this journey, a multidisciplinary team — doctors, nurses, Medical Social Worker(MSW), Patient Service Assistant (PSA) and Pastoral Counsellor (PC) — walked closely alongside them, offering emotional support and creating space for difficult but meaningful conversations.
Care extended beyond the clinical — it was attentive, compassionate, and deeply human.
In one particularly emotional moment, the family made the decision to bring forward a birthday celebration, fearing they might soon lose him. It was a simple but deeply meaningful act — a chance to be together while they still could.
Senior PSA Kerin and the nursing team stepped in without hesitation, helping to prepare the communal space at short notice. Their care and coordination created a warm, welcoming space for the family, turning a moment of uncertainty into one of love and togetherness.
When he expressed a wish for durian, his daughter made sure it was fulfilled. “Even if it was just a bite, it was enough for me,” Allina reflected. “It shows that he’s participating in his own way.”
Though his appetite has waned, the joy of the moment drew him in. In that shared space, even the smallest gestures carried deep meaning.
The family continued to create moments of connection, revisiting photographs from a trip to South Africa twenty years ago. Together, they laughed and reminisced about a life filled with love and adventure.
With the support of Senior Music Therapist Camellia, the family recorded songs that were meaningful to them—pieces tied to shared memories and moments over the years. It became a simple yet significant experience, filled with familiar voices, quiet laughter, and a reflection of their bond.
Alinna later expressed her heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you for bringing my dad the gift of your music and blessing our family. Learning his favourite Cantonese worship song made his final session so precious. He is now walking beside our Lord, singing joyfully, and we play his song on loop — everyone who hears it says it’s beautiful and meaningful. Music truly moves, touches, and heals. We feel incredibly blessed to have shared this special moment with you.”
Even in an end-of-life journey, the family found moments of peace, meaning, and quiet joy. Supported by the care team, they remained present for one another — expressing love, honouring memories, and celebrating the spirit of service and faith that had always defined Mr Chan’s life.
