WITH Valentine's Day just over, Assisi Hospice Singapore shared a heartwarming story of a 44 year-old patient named Yiu.
When Yiu was diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer, his wife was pregnant, read a post by Assisi Hospice on their Facebook page.
The cancer was discovered in February 2023 due to persistent pain in his abdominal area. As the tumour was too big, his condition was not suitable for treatment.
He was recommended palliative care and admitted to Assisi Hospice’s inpatient ward in March 2023, barely a month after his diagnosis.
“He wanted to do something that he could leave as a remembrance for us. The art therapist suggested a hand cast so that our child could hold it after he was born.
"Though he was already very weak, he persisted and even did one more hand cast, holding my hand,” shared his wife.
Yiu's condition deteriorated quickly and he passed away the day after he did the hand cast.
"She sat by his bedside in Assisi Hospice. They held hands tightly and dipped them in the alginate mixture, which was part of the process of creating the mould of a hand cast. It was a loving and touching moment, as she smiled with tears in her eyes.
“Not being able to meet his yet-to-be-born child and be there for her, he mustered up the strength at his final moments to create loving mementos for them,” said the post by the hospice.
The hand cast was completed and the care team presented it to his wife at his wake.
"During his short stay of three days in the hospice, our art therapist also helped to create an artwork with handprints of his family.
"Our music therapist recorded his heartbeat, as a memento for his unborn child," said Assisi Hospice.
“The hand cast looks very real, you can see the lines on his hand. When I miss him, I will look at his photos, and also the hand cast that we made,” said his wife. – The Vibes, February 16, 2024
