Joy is courage

Yinmin, Charan, and myself visited Madam K. last Saturday’s. The first thing I noticed was that Mdm K. was lying on her bed instead of sitting up on her sofa, unlike when I last visited her in 2013. She looked more tired and unwell than before. Even so, her house was spotlessly clean as usual and she became more cheerful and animated while talking to us.

She related some of her recent activities, such as going out to eat with her friends and her son’s visit. She still loves eating food like hor fun and chocolate cake, and will travel around Singapore just to have her favourite food even though she can’t eat much nowadays. I’ve always admired this energy and outgoingness of Mdm Khatijah’s, her determination to go out and “enjoy life” with friends and family despite her serious illnesses.

She also shared some of the difficulties of everyday life in the house, looking at the tears welling up in Mdm K.’s eyes as she talked about her deceased eldest son, reminded me how blessed I am to be able to live with people who love me and go out of their way to make me feel comfortable at home. Family is such a precious gift, not to be taken for granted.

Finally, Madam K. also told us stories of her time in hospital, and how she would purposely stay out late with some of her hospital buddies because she was afraid of the painful injections, although they would get scolded by the nurses later and still be given the injections. Once, they even sat at a 24-hr prata shop for an entire day until she missed her operation! These tales, told and received with so much laughter, evoke for me the bittersweetness of life. It showed me the elderly’s courage in being able laugh and build friendships even in times of pain and suffering, and how sickness can bring strangers together in mutual camaraderie. It also made me more aware of the preciousness of life, of health and youth, and how I ought to use it to serve and bring joy to these lovable elderly and others before all too quickly the day comes when our own bodies start to fail too.

Before we left, Mdm K. hugged us and told us to come again soon, as she always does. As we start school this week and plunge into our usual busyness, they are waiting and always looking forward to our next visit!

Jie Min