The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.113)

TZU CHI 113 19 Chee’s case. His will to live was formidable, but he was no match for the relentless invasion of cancerous cells; his cancer relapsed a year after undergoing surgery. He succumbed to his illness in September 2015, leaving behind a widowed Bee Leng and their three young children. Genuine care and concern Ever since Chong Chee’s demise, Kuan Mun Jen, who leads the Cancer Support Group support team, took it upon herself to keep in touch with his family by paying them constant visits – a self-initiated commitment beyond the obligations expected of a support team volunteer. Mun Jen herself was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Sixteen years have since passed, and her cancer has been in remission. Her husband had succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2010, hence she was able to empathize with the challenges Bee Leng would face following her husband’s demise. Bee Leng is now paying the price for years of stretching herself too thin between work commitments and family obligations at the expense of her health. In November 2018, she suffered a haemorrhage due to over- exertion and had to be admitted to the hospital for a blood transfusion. Mun Jen stayed by her side throughout the ordeal, accompanying her to seek treatment from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, in addition to referring her to TIMA gynaecologist, Dr Lim Lei Jun for further consultation. “On the night I was hospitalized, Mun Jen dropped by my house to check on my children to ensure that they have had a proper meal. On the morning after I was discharged from the hospital, she delivered breakfast and some vegetables to my doorstep, as she was worried that my children might have neglected to prepare breakfast for me. Her sincere thoughtfulness has touched me deeply,” Bee Leng professed. Be it fetching Bee Leng’s children or accompanying Bee Leng to her doctor’s appointments, Mun Jen would never hesitate to come to Bee Leng’s aid to the best of her ability. After her initial meeting with Chong Chee and his family in 2014, Mun Jen initiated the idea of forming a support group for the family, comprising Dr Chan Kim Hong and psychologist Low Yaw Dong, as well as volunteers Chong Suit Leng, Wong Say Chuan, Chan Kok Hoong and herself. Health at stake Looking back on Chong Chee’s life, Bee Leng remarked that Chong Chee took work too seriously and ended up jeopardizing his health. “He worked in a shop selling musical instruments. He would skip meals whenever he was busy. Furthermore, he was the sole male employee in the shop, so he would only leave after all the other female staff have left. He would usually reach home at about 10 pm.” Chong Chee’s dedication to his profession was fuelled by his enduring passion for music. His cancer diagnosis completely caught Bee Leng unawares. “The possibility of brain cancer never crossed my mind. He complained of frequent headaches and developed a short temper, but I assumed those were signs of sleep deprivation as he often stayed up late to work,” she revealed. After catching up with his friends over a meal one day, Chong Chee’s body appeared CarryingOn with Cancer