Remember SARS? I visited Ong clinic, Dr Ong died of SARS

Now that we are in the throes of H1N1, does anyone remember SARS? It was in 2003, the year that I first set foot on MBS, when the whole world came into the grip of Sars. One day, hubby came home from work and packed his clothes into a small bag and said grimly, "If I get infected, I will not come back, I will quarantine myself at the workplace until I am in the clear."  That was when the gravity of the situation hit me.

Anyway, during my trip to Batu Pahat sempena Raya, I peeped into Dr Ong Thiam Teng's  clinic, the clinic that was always opposite my shop, and where the nurses were my mum's friends.

The clinic where I took my youngest sis to see Dr Tay Soat Hoon.

I remembered one eve of CNY when we were really busy plucking chicken feathers (preparing for reunion feasts,lah, ha ha ha!) and we were in the eve mood.

Youngest sis then complained of pain and infection so I took her opposite to see woman doc (girlie problem mah)...Dr Tay Soat Hoon who looked really nice and professional and gave instructions to sis and me, so that we could have a carefree new year.

What struck me at that time was: there we were so busy in the thick of new year eve festivities and mood and all, here she is within the four walls of her clinic, absolutely no hint of eve of new year or what have you.

IRONIC. Later I married a doc, who had exactly that kind of life.

Anyway, as they say, I digress.

This Dr. Tay Soat Hoon died of SARS, she looked after her brilliant son Dr. Ong Hok Su who contracted SARS from a patient and succumbed to it.  Tragic.  Pls read extracts and clippings:

Dr Ong Hok Su was the youngest son of Datuk

Dr Ong Thiam Teng and the late Datin Dr Tay Soat

Hoon. He was born into a distinguished family

comprising a large number of doctors. Therefore, it was no

surprise that Hok Su later chose to join the medical profession.

However, it was his true calling, rather than a sense of

familial duty.

After spending his childhood days in Batu Pahat, Malaysia,

he went on to study at the Anglo-Chinese Secondary School,

and was the top boy from ACS to go to its affiliated junior

college, working steadily towards his dream – to study

medicine in London.

Subsequently, he studied at the University of Sydney

for a short period, before being accepted at London’s St

Bartholomew’s Hospital medical school. His good nature and

exemplary character made him a popular student, and it was

at the former institution that he met and fell in love with the

lady to whom he would later propose marriage.

After completing his housemanship in London, Hok Su

returned to Singapore to be with his family and fiancée. He was

posted to the National University Hospital before moving on

to Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s Cardiology Department.

A gentle and unassuming person, he touched the hearts

of many at his workplace. He was a conscientious and

responsible worker, always willing to share the heavy

workload, and never took any credit for his efforts. Often, his

fellow medical officers found out about his good deeds only

after discovering his signature in the patients’ case-notes.

He treated everyone equally, whether it was a consultant

or a health attendant, and his colleagues describe him as

“helpful”, “optimistic”, or more simply, “a good guy”.

The picture I have from Hok Su’s family and friends is that

of a young man who had an extremely good heart, who was

greatly loved by all who knew him, and who definitely would

have done well and made a significant contribution no matter

which specialty he chose. He had a bright future – a successful

career and a wedding in September – but succumbed to an illness

that has also extinguished another dedicated doctor’s life.

Although Hok Su is now known to most people as the

first healthcare worker to succumb to SARS in Singapore, his

family and friends have kindly broken their silence to assist in

the writing of this eulogy. Their pain is shared by many, and we

offer our deepest condolences to them for the loss of a filial

son, a caring brother, a loving fiancé, and a loyal friend.

Hok Su’s fiancée, Tania Oh, related how, as Christians,

they believe that he has gone to a better place. I have no

doubt that they’re right, but he will always be remembered

by us, and as one of his fellow MOs poignantly writes, “His

smile will stay with us forever.”

The medical community of Singapore mourns the passing

of Dr Ong Hok Su.

Dr Ong’s family and fiancée wish to convey their

appreciation to the staff, especially to the nurses in

MICU, who took care of him during his stay at Tan

Tock Seng Hospital.



Virus kills doctor


April 8 2003

Two more Singaporeans, including a doctor, died yesterday of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), bringing total deaths there from the disease to eight as officials contemplated more contingency measures.

Dr Ong Hok Su was the first medical staffer to die of SARS in Singapore and Health Minister Lim Hng Kiang paid tribute to the physician, who died of multiple organ failure with pneumonia, and other hospital workers fighting the scourge.


Dr. Ong, a medical officer at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital where SARS patients are now concentrated, had attended to a female patient who was admitted on March 10 for heart failure, and was not a suspected SARS case at the time.

Dr Ong's exposure to SARS happened when little was known about the disease and enhanced infection control measures had not yet been fully implemented at the hospital, officials said. These were put in place on March 14.
AFP


TRIBUTE FROM A SISTER

It was on 28 March 2003 that Dr Ong wrote a heart rending piece to the

Forum Page(15). I can do no better than quote excerpts from her letter.

“As my family battles SARS – my brother and mother have been admitted

to Tan Tock Seng Hospital – we would like to convey our deeply felt

thanks to all the dedicated staff who have been caring for them. My brother

who is a healthcare professional at TTSH caught SARS from a patient.

He has since moved from intensive care to the general ward. We feel

proud of the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers there, especially

knowing that there were doctors who volunteered to go near the areas

where the patients are most critically ill. The world is short of heroes

and heroines and their contributions should not go unnoticed.... So

thank you again on behalf of my family for taking care of my brother,

your colleague. Our country needs more people with the same resilience

and courage in these tough times....”

Unfortunately, tragedy of tragedies, both her brother (Dr Ong Hok Su)  and mother (Dr Tay Soat Hoon)

succumbed to SARS. Both were doctors battling to the last.

Singapore Med J 2003 Vol 44(5) : 225

If it was any consolation to the senseless loss of lives, Dr Ong was decorated posthumously:- he was awarded the Medal of Valour by the Government of Singapore on her National Day in 2003.


NATIONAL DAY AWARDS 2003 For Overcoming SARS

THE MEDAL OF VALOUR



The Medal of Valour (Posthumous)

The Late Dr Ong Hok Su Medical Officer Tan Tock Seng Hospital National Healthcare Group

This clinic is now sealed and vacant.

During my last trip here, when I peeped in, I could still see the plaque with Dr Tay Soat Hoon's name, now even that has been removed.

No one will have any inkling of what lies within: a dedicated woman who nurtured a gifted young doc whose demise was too untimely.

SARS,

you flirted BRIEFLY,

but,

you took, SWIFTLY.

MKLoo.