‘We got emotional and cried together’: 50 healthcare staff share stories in new book

SINGAPORE – A stranger at his father’s wake taught Dr Khoo See Meng, chairman of the medical board at Alexandra Hospital (AH), a valuable life lesson.

This stranger was the first to arrive and the last to leave on each night during the five-day wake in Muar, Malaysia, in 2012. Gripped by their loss, the family did not inquire about the man’s relationship with the late Mr Khoo Chee Pheng.

A month later, Dr Khoo’s brother discovered that the man ran a newspaper stall. Their father – who was in his 70s when he died – had bought copies of newspapers, such as Sin Chew Daily and China Press, from the man daily to help sustain his struggling business.

Dr Khoo, 55, said: “My family had a subscription for Sin Chew Daily, so the house would end up with two copies of the same paper every day, which got my mum really upset, and my brother puzzled.”

This is one of the personal stories told by 50 individuals from AH in a 128-page book titled Humanity: Behind Every Face, which was launched on Dec 3. Partial proceeds from the book sales will go towards helping the hospital’s needy patients.

The book was the brainchild of AH deputy chief executive officer Margaret Lee, who wanted it to be a testament to why healthcare workers care, day after day, despite their personal trials and struggles.

“The title ‘Humanity’ was chosen thoughtfully to encapsulate both the compassion and excellence we strive for in healthcare and the deeper, universal truth that connects us all,” said Ms Lee.

In the foreword, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung wrote that the book is a timely reminder to acknowledge and recognise healthcare workers. “In healthcare, the focus is often on clinical outcomes, and it is also easy to overlook the human element that is at the heart of this noble profession,” he noted.

After the idea for the book was conceived in April 2023, communications manager Yvonne Lee and intern Chloe Tan spent many hours over six months interviewing the individuals, including healthcare staff and contract cleaners.

Ms Lee, 38, said: “When some of them shared about their life-changing experiences, we got emotional and cried together.”

Ms Tan, 20, a communications undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University, said: “They have spoken about parenthood, health scares, losing loved ones... and much more. I hope there is something in here – even just a line or two – for everyone to resonate with.”

Among those featured in the book was corporate planning manager Ashley Nguyen, 39, who battled thyroid cancer twice, in 2015 and 2021.

Now in remission, Ms Nguyen said: “My work involves meeting some foreign patients, many of whom have cancer. I often share with them about my own experience and assure them that cancer is not ‘the end’.”

Senior project specialist Serene Poh, 65, had a golf ball-sized brain tumour in 2000 and underwent a 12-hour operation that carried risks of paralysis, coma or even death.

At the time, her husband was overseas for work, and their daughter was just four years old.

As she was wheeled out from the recovery bay, she felt a burning pain from her wound each time the bed crossed a little bump on the floor.

“I finally understood the perspective of a patient after I became one myself,” she said. “Now that I’m given a second chance in life, I am more patient-centric.”

Ms Aishah Elshukrin, a senior social work coordinator, also found inspiration in her own struggles to give back in meaningful ways.

The 27-year-old started working as a part-time banquet staff member at age 16 to provide for her family after her mother was diagnosed with cancer. It was during this time that she saw how the medical social workers assisted her family.

Ms Aishah is currently studying for a degree in social work at the Singapore University of Social Sciences to achieve her goal of becoming a medical social worker.

“When I counsel a patient or their loved ones at the hospital, I know exactly how they feel,” she said.

The book also features Mr Kesavan, an associate executive of ALPS Healthcare, which is AH’s procurement service provider. He lost his 19-year-old girlfriend in a road accident when he was 22 years old.

He went into a state of shock, followed by two years of isolation during which he stayed home all day. He was eventually coaxed out of despair by his family and friends.

Now that the 33-year-old knows there is no guaranteed tomorrow, he believes there is no downside to being humble and nice.

“I have become stronger and more loving, and I always look out for my colleagues now,” said Mr Kesavan, who goes by one name.

The 18-month project was done entirely in-house except for the printing and distribution.

One of the challenges for senior assistant communications manager Sheereen Yeo was getting her colleagues to pose naturally for the camera. She overcame this by getting them to retell their stories while their photographs were being taken around the hospital.

Ms Yeo, 34, who shot all the photos, said: “These are the colleagues you pass by every day, and you don’t really know what they are going through. I have learnt to be kinder to the people I see daily.”

Added Dr Khoo: “This silent story that my family uncovered about my father... reminds me of the importance of taking an interest in the lives of seemingly random strangers. (It) stirred some of the deepest questions about the meaning of a man’s everyday engagement with the world.”

Humanity: Behind Every Face is on sale at $29.90 at major bookstores, including Book Bar and Kinokuniya, and online stores such as Book Bar (

https://bookbar.sg/store/p/humanity

) and Amazon.