Goodbye Clifford Poh
Dear Clifford
You don't know us but we saw you visiting your grandma living few floors down from you last year. You were wearing a cap, gaunt and we gathered you were also battling cancer like my husband. My husband would have liked a quick chat with you ços you have something in common.
We walked past your wake and were surprised to see a youthful photo of the deceased. We came across your orbituary in the papers yesterday and were heart broken to read to left this world pre-maturely. Before going to bed, I told my husband, "Let's go pay our last respects," I was happy he agreed; you were on both our minds.
We were thinking if no one bothered with us, we would leave quietly tonight. Your dad came up and welcomed us. From then we knew you have an uncle and your auntie living in the same block. We have seen your father before and he has definitely chat with us in the lift a few times.
We came to know so much about you. You were diagnosed last May and received 3 treatments to battle your cancer. Your dad mentioned you had 200 friends from Primary school to Poly dropping by. The one thing that they will always remember about you is your sense of humour. We also learnt how brave & strong you were to the very end when the tumour was causing you extreme pain.
Your father says he doesn't know how he's going to continue with life as it were.... especially when he goes into your room; the road trips to Malaysia will no longer happen. I think you got your strength from your dad. He is stronger than he knows. He is already starting his healing process by talking about you, the bond he had with you. His voice is already hoarse. He had a bottle of 'liang cha'and he will probably not stop talking about you, ever.
I am sorry we never got to say 'hello'.
I will however say 'thank you' for introducing your dad to us. It has been our honour knowing you. Wei & I are very lucky because we have a fighting chance at surviving cancer and we will embrace it.
So thank you and may you rest in peace.
You don't know us but we saw you visiting your grandma living few floors down from you last year. You were wearing a cap, gaunt and we gathered you were also battling cancer like my husband. My husband would have liked a quick chat with you ços you have something in common.
We walked past your wake and were surprised to see a youthful photo of the deceased. We came across your orbituary in the papers yesterday and were heart broken to read to left this world pre-maturely. Before going to bed, I told my husband, "Let's go pay our last respects," I was happy he agreed; you were on both our minds.
We were thinking if no one bothered with us, we would leave quietly tonight. Your dad came up and welcomed us. From then we knew you have an uncle and your auntie living in the same block. We have seen your father before and he has definitely chat with us in the lift a few times.
We came to know so much about you. You were diagnosed last May and received 3 treatments to battle your cancer. Your dad mentioned you had 200 friends from Primary school to Poly dropping by. The one thing that they will always remember about you is your sense of humour. We also learnt how brave & strong you were to the very end when the tumour was causing you extreme pain.
Your father says he doesn't know how he's going to continue with life as it were.... especially when he goes into your room; the road trips to Malaysia will no longer happen. I think you got your strength from your dad. He is stronger than he knows. He is already starting his healing process by talking about you, the bond he had with you. His voice is already hoarse. He had a bottle of 'liang cha'and he will probably not stop talking about you, ever.
I am sorry we never got to say 'hello'.
I will however say 'thank you' for introducing your dad to us. It has been our honour knowing you. Wei & I are very lucky because we have a fighting chance at surviving cancer and we will embrace it.
So thank you and may you rest in peace.