Sacredness of Life

The past one week has not been an easy one, especially so for my wife and her family. Her mum had suffered from cancer for the past eight years. She had fought the battle with cancer silently, and yet still kept herself busy helping others.

It was on Saturday that mum was discharged from SGH back home. In the same afternoon, throngs and throngs of people just streamed into the flat to visit her and gave thanks to her for what she had done. I remember very vividly of three of her students who came and visited her. The eldest one told mum that she wants to become an artist when she grows up. The second one thanked her for looking after them. The youngest one said that she will study hard for "auntie yoyo", mum. Within that afternoon did I realised the number of people mum had helped in the past years. Her belief is to reach out to kids of dysfunct families as they are more susceptible to becoming bad.

Mum struggled on to stay awake to see her eldest child who had rushed back from Sri Lanka. After that, mum started to drift in and out, seeming to be falling asleep...and then opening her eyes wide to look at those of us around her. This went on for hours until she gradually closed her eyes, and eventually breathed her last around noon, peacefully.

Being present and witnessing a life slowly slipping away is very difficult...and painful. But thank God there was enough time for the family, relatives, friends and past students to come and visit her the last time, especially for the family to stay beside her bed and accompany her in the last hours. Somehow, I know that we will meet again...somehow...for God is an ever loving God...who will even take care of the sparrows on earth...what more for a soul who has sought to help others in need...