Reunion at the Hospice

Life is full of farewells and reunions. Recently, two individuals brought together by the Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (SPHC) many years ago were reunited once more.

32 Years Earlier

“I first came across SPHC in 1989 after my father was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.” Kunyiu recalled. “At the time, he was depressed and unwilling to accept the reality of his illness. We were very fortunate to have been assisted by Ms. Clare Lai, an experienced nurse.”

Ms. Claire Lai, a retired nurse, served SPHC’s Home Care Team for many years

Through Clare’s compassionate care, Kunyiu’s father gradually accepted his illness. “Clare was always professional and had a meticulous understanding of my father’s condition. He grew to trust her very much.”

“The day my father coughed up blood, everyone was so frightened. It was Clare who calmed us down,” Kunyiu explained. “Even after so many years, I remember it like it was yesterday.”

Reunion

Kunyiu kept the newspaper clipping from 32 years ago about his father receiving care from SPHC

Thirty-two years later, Kunyiu’s parents have long since passed away. Unfortunately, Kunyiu was faced with another ordeal; his wife Siuling was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer.

“By February, it became clear that we were out of options. When I learned that the Jockey Club Home for Hospice (JCHH) encouraged family members to stay with the patient, I immediately called to inquire.” After a nursing assessment, Siuling was admitted to JCHH in April. “Up until that point, my daily routine was entirely focused on her care. It was exhausting. I feel very fortunate to have found JCHH because I was finally able to spend quality time with my wife.”

For Kunyiu, accompanying his wife at JCHH brought back memories of Clare. “I wanted to reconnect with her but I didn’t think it was possible,” said Kunyiu. The responsible social worker contacted the now-retired Clare and arranged for a reunion. “Seeing Clare again was truly special. Even my children recalled Clare taking care of their grandfather all those years ago.”

A Lesson on Life

Kunyiu and Siuling treasured every moment together

“In Siuling’s final days, our family stayed by her side and made sure she felt loved,” Kunyiu said. Initially, he was hesitant to allow his granddaughters to see Siuling, fearing it would be a traumatizing experience. He later reconsidered after his social worker convinced him to use the opportunity to introduce death in a positive light. To Kunyiu’s surprise, his granddaughters showed no fear and even comforted their grandmother. “Once you’re in heaven, you won’t have to take medicine anymore. You can finally rest comfortably,” the kids told her. “We promise to be good. We love you!” Kunyiu smiled. “Thanks to our social worker, it felt like a valuable lesson on life for all of us.”

By supporting Siuling to have a good death, Kunyiu and his family were able to say goodbye without regret.