My name is Catherine. I have been a social worker in elderly services for more than 20 years and a caregiver to my beloved mother who was chronically ill for the past 14 years. I was with my mother throughout her battle with her illness, which lasted 14 years, 4 months and 22 days. During that time, she suffered four strokes and was diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer spread aggressively throughout her body, leaving her with two ulcerating wounds on her chest that only grew in size! There was no telling where her skin ended and wounds began!

My mother and I used to live in an old-style tenement building that was unsuitable for home care. After her first stroke in 2005, I was forced to send her to a residential home for the elderly. Sadly, the staff were neglectful and careless. My repeated complaints were disregarded because they knew my mother was exceedingly frail and few homes would accept someone in her condition. As they were so reluctant to help, I decided to take care of her myself.

As a caregiver to my mother, I learned to change her diaper, bathe her, feed her with a Ryle's tube and give her medication. Every night after work, I moonlighted as a private carer. Rain or shine, I was there to take care of my mother. I reached out to various institutions for help but there was very little they could do with my mother’s case. I was very disappointed when my mother got rejected by the Palliative Care Unit at a hospital. Coming up to my mother’s last days, I was informed that they would not provide further care for my mother because of limited resources. My heart was broken.

Then, in that moment of desperation, an angel appeared!

I called the JCHH for help and was immediately connected with one of their nurses. The following day, the nurse visited my mother at the hospital and, after seeing her poor condition, she arranged for my mother to be admitted to the hospice two days later.

My mother stayed at the JCHH for 41 days. I spent 41 nights sleeping by her side. Even though my mother’s condition continued to worsen, I was very grateful to the group of compassionate doctors, nurses, therapists and personal care workers for their professional care.

Those 41 days were brief, but they were infinitely better than those in the care home my mother had resided in for over 14 years!

On 30 January 2020, my mother passed away. My two sisters and I stayed at her side until eight in the evening, when a church deacon came to give her last prayer. I stayed behind afterwards and, with the help of two care workers, performed a final cleaning and change of clothes for my mother. We looked on as my mother was transported out of the room.

"When God closes one door, he opens another." Under the grace and watchful care of my Heavenly Father, I was able to face these challenges with courage and find the help I needed from JCHH. Those last days of my mother’s life journey might have been painful, but they were also filled with love and warmth.

I wish to thank JCHH for the exceptional care, which has allowed my mother to get through the final stage of life with dignity and peace. Special thanks to RN Ms. Elaine Siu for accompanying me through every difficult moment.

Lastly, thank you mother for teaching me to live with love and kindness. In this spirit, I will continue to live and serve.