Daily Lessons from Life 28 April 2013 - Visitors from a Distance to a Long Time Friend

An ex-colleague and friend had a stroke almost 3 years ago while in LA, USA. It was very bad. He was hospitalised in LA, USA for more than 1 month before being evacuated back to Singapore TTSH.

When some of us in Singapore visited him at TTSH ICU, we were very concerned and shocked at his condition.

Bit by bit, with his well known tenacity and determination and hard work, and with his loving and caring wife and family members' support, he recovered by more than half of his faculties. It is a minor miracle. He is a tough guy.

I, along with 2 other ex-colleagues and friends, visited regular and 'report back' to his many friends who lived outside Singapore.

This weekend 2 of them flew in to pay him a visit as they last saw him 6 and 2 years ago respectively.

Lessons learned for me are:

1. family is the closest to anyone with a family. Next come some long time good friends. Even if we may not meet regularly face-to-face, whenever we meet, it felt like we have being meeting quite regularly!;

2. he was visibly happy to see the 2 visitors - one from the USA and one from Shanghai, PRC. It must have meant a lot to him. His wife definitely feels that way as she said besides the family members, he gets a boost every time some long time friends come and visit him. Even on days when he felt a bit tired and irritable. For me, and the many friends, if our visit can life his spirit, it will be worthwhile!;

3. as friends, we do what we can. He is reaching a plateau on his recovery process. Every little breakthrough from now will be a big deal. He is doing his regular exercises and continuing to be positive and keep working hard. His sense of humour is still very strong as evident by some of his jokes he cracked while with us. This is very encouraging and comforting.

May he continue to be positive and we keep visiting him - locally and whenever foreign guests drop in town!