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.
