David was also featured at CNA News at 10pm on 19.02.2009 and the Radio broadcast was in the morning at 9am on 938Live by Claire Hwang. A transcript of the broadcast was featured on the 938Live website. Here is the copy of it.
Updated: 19th February 2009, 0900 hrs
Rising above their crises
Very often, patients are the ones in need of solace and motivation.
In a twist of events, a group of patients turned the tables to become the ones who inspire and motivate healthcare staff with their indomitable spirit.
In a twist of events, a group of patients turned the tables to become the ones who inspire and motivate healthcare staff with their indomitable spirit.
Claire Huang speaks to two such patients to find out how they rose above their personal crises.
When Madam Rahmah Anes was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2005, she was devastated.
The fact that she came from a conservative background, and her husband wasn't supportive of her decision to undergo a mastectomy didn't help.
But the 49-year-old soldiered on.
In fact, the mother of three has been a volunteer at the Singapore General Hospital's support group for breast cancer patients for three years already.
And she finds joy in doing so.
"I just volunteer with my heart because I want (to) let them know after diagnosis then you go operation, how you (would) feel and we've to share with them."
Madam Rahmah explains that it was through the support group that she realised she was still quite fortunate.
"Yes, after I joined this support group, it helped me a lot...Because once we meet the patients, sometimes (even though) we think we're worse, we see other people more worse than us. So that encouraged me to do this continuously."
Like Madam Rahmah, Mr David Ong is also a fighter.
The 48-year-old suffers from myeloma which is a type of blood cancer that impairs the body's ability to fight off infections and eventually causes bone destruction.
Faced with such adversity, Mr Ong still managed to keep his outlook positive.
In fact the part-time pastor visits cancer patients or their caregivers, to share his personal experience.
"Having gone through this journey of pain and suffering, I know that there are many people out there who need that ray of hope and encouragement. And what I've been through is just a little milestone ahead of these people and if I can bring a little hope and encouragement to the hearts of these people, I think I would have lived my life more intentionally and purposefully."
And Mr Ong's actions inspired everyone around him, including his doctor.
Dr William Hwang on Mr Ong.
"David has never been about himself. It's always, even when he is hospitalised, he's always looking out for the patients in the same room as him, he's always looking out for the nurses, is always concerned about the staff, he's always asking about people around him and how he can be in some way, a blessing to people."
Madam Rahmah and Mr Ong are two of the three outstanding winners of the inaugural SGH Inspirational Patient Award.
They are among some ten winners who were chosen out of 50 nominations.
With 900,000 patient encounters every year, SGH hopes the courage of these winners can help other patients look beyond their own illnesses and inspire others.
