The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.128)

TZU CHI 128 59 needed the cooperation and help from her family, more so on the weekends. Junah’s husband was 93 years old and they did not live together with their children. The responsibility for taking care of Junah fell on the youngest daughter. She would take the public transport for about half an hour daily to her mother’s, to clean her wound. Not only did she care for both her parents, she also had to juggle work and her own family. There were times she was terribly stressed out and could not breathe, causing her to have asthma attack. As she could not travel to her parents’ daily, she often sought help from distant relatives for a week or two. One day, Junah had difficulty breathing and was rushed to the hospital for treatment – it was pneumonia. Junah expressed that her wish was to stay at home until her death. Tzu Chi social workers and I talked to her family about the plan for Junah’s hospice care and her wish, and hoped the family would respect her decision; the family was very heartbroken and could not accept it. With the care and companionship of Tzu Chi medical team, advices from our social workers, the family members slowly accepted and respected Junah’s decision. Before long, Junah developed symptoms of dyspnea due to worsening of pneumonia and I rushed to send her an oxygen metre. “My dear, Han Ni has come to see you, open your eyes to see her…” said Junah’s husband, lightly patting her shoulder. With a weak voice, Junah called my name. Two weeks later, I received a call from her daughter, “Mum doesn’t seem to be breathing. Could you come have a look?” I hurried over and saw the family crying; I did not make it in time to see Junah for the Pan Han Ni • Nurse for Tzu Chi Singapore Home Care Services Programme • Member of Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) last time. Junah’s husband took her hand as he said to me, “I’m old and I don’t want to live anymore. I would like to leave with her. Han Ni, thank you for your constant care and company until the end of her life. Could you do me a favour? Would you come to see me and write my death certificate when I pass away?” At the moment, I could not help but cry. I was grateful but sentimental about the trust my patients and their families have in me and the thought to entrust their life to me. No matter how much I have prepared for it psychologically, no one can control the moment of impermanence. Although the patient had passed away, our friendship remained; through this, I witnessed the love between races and religions. Master Cheng Yen said, “When the unfortunate cannot find help, those who are blessed must go to them.” By offering care and companionship when the patients and their families are most helpless, we aim to heal them, treat their illnesses and heal their hearts. * Occupation is a job to earn a living; mission is a job to serve a greater purpose. Master Cheng Yen hopes that all those working at Tzu Chi treat the job not only as a job to earn a living, but also treat it as a calling, as a job with a sense of purpose, achieving occupation-mission two-in-one.