She is a Singaporean and a mother of 5 children, the youngest of which
is in primary 3. Her Malaysian husband has tried repeatedly to obtain
permanent residency in Singapore but to no avail. Without her husband by
her side and unable to cope with her stresses, she eventually plunged
into major depression. When her close friend found out she was treated
at IMH, their relationship ended. She cried over 3 days. The thought of
losing her close friend still causes her pain. Her bills are pilling up
and her children are losing interests in their studies.
He is 76 years old and has been a tailor since the age of 20. His
flat-mate had just passed away and he is looking at how to dispose of
the deceased's belongings that are in the flat. He works from home and
provides his tailoring services to a tailor shop that supplies him the
fabric. He gets paid when he collects the fabric from the shop and has
to personally deliver his completed handiwork. Working long hours each
day, he is as healthy as he says he is and always wore a ready smile.
He had a stroke and was lying in bed when I visited. His helper opened
the gate and showed me in. He spoke softly in Mandarin and there was not
a word of complaint from him. He was contented as he was as he could
still move but needs a wheelchair to go downstairs. When asked if there
was anything he needed, he gently replied that he was doing fine.
This elderly couple have been living in the same flat for 15 years. They
have 5 grown-up children who are living on their own. Their
neighbourhood has become too noisy for them and they are troubled. She
suffers from asthma and is in frail health and he is taking care of her.
They need a quieter place for her recuperation are applying to move to a
nearby flat but are worried that they may not get it.
It is always good to volunteer our time and thank you Project Awareness for giving me this opportunity to lend my helping hand and listening ear. Different stories unfold behind every door that I knock. As I walked
from one flat to the next, I could feel my emotions fluctuate. We live
to learn and learn to live, don't we?
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