Hospice Day Celebration

Issue 102October – December 2012

H ospice Day this year was celebrated in conjunction with Nurses and Staff Day on 22nd November 2012.This was a belated celebration due to our move to the new

premises. It was well attended by our patients and, of course, our staff. Food was prepared by volunteers and June Toh and team got everyone involved in Line Dancing. The pictures will speak for themselves.

Doreen Kam

PPCS would like to welcome nurses, Yuin Hsiang and Szu Hsiang, to its team of dedicated nurses. The pair of chirpy twins joined PPCS in May 2012 and their employment was confirmed in September the same year.

Yuin Hsiang and Szu Hsiang, 29, have had 6 years of nursing experience in KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital prior to joining PPCS. Both are Ipohites who had their secondary education in SMJK

PPCS Welcomes Yee Yuin Hsiang & Szu HsiangYuk Choy and subsequently graduated with a Diploma In Nursing at the Puteri Nursing College in June 2005.

We hope that their time of service in PPCS will be a meaningful one and that their skills and experience will be put to good use.

PPCS Committee

Royal PatRon:Duli yang teramat Mulia Raja Muda Perak Darul Ridzuan, Raja Dr nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan azlan Muhibbuddin Shah DK, DK II (Selangor), DKSA, SPCM, SPTS, SPMP (Perlis), PhD (Harvard)

HonoRaRy aDvISoRS: Dr Rosalie Shaw PSM, MBBS Hons (Monash), FRACMA, FACHPM, BA (Melbourne), BEd (Melbourne), RN, RM

Hospice Day Celebration 22 November 2012

2 Perak Pall iative Care Society • Issue 102 October — December 2012

On the 15th & 16th December 2012, we were fortunate enough to attend a grief and bereavement workshop organized by Hospis Malaysia. The speakers were Dr Amy Chow, Associate Professor, Department of Social Work & Social Administration,

Hong Kong and Margaret Suen, Casework Supervisor from Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong.

Before attending the workshop, we were expecting lots of crying moments as bereavement is highly emotional and sensitive. It was in fact the opposite with many touching moments.

This workshop attracted many from different countries like the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. They were mostly social workers, pediatricians, palliative care nurses and even surgeons. They came with the same objective – to learn from the very experienced senior counselor, Dr Amy Chow, on how to anticipate the grief process and begin with the counseling session.

On the very first day, Dr Amy asked every participant to voice out their expectations of the workshop. She then tried to include or focus on the topics that we are interested in. There were lots of exercises like My Contemplation towards Death, The Life Journey and Letter to my Beloved, etc. It allowed us to think and reflect on ourselves and thus how to guide others through their grief and bereavement.

Early in the morning on the second day, everyone was stunned by the shocking news that Margaret’s mother had passed away the night before in Hong Kong. It coincided with the topic of the day

Grief & Bereavement Workshop

— Sudden Death or Unexpected Death. This unfortunate incident gave a clear picture on how families go through the trauma and grief of a sudden or unexpected death and what type of preparations should be made.

During the workshop, many relevant Asian cultural and ritual aspects were discussed. We learnt a few techniques as well as communication skills based on the Cantonese dialect.

Thanks to PPCS for the opportunity given.

Yee Yuin Hsiang & Yee Szu Hsiang

Hospice or palliative care was a new terminology to me way back in 1996. Since then, I have learnt and understood the roles and job functions of the caring team. I was

introduced by a doctor friend to refer my father to the Perak Palliative Care Society when his condition deteriorated. He suffered from nasopharynx cancer. The palliative team then was very small. My father was visited by Dr. Lim and nurse, Siew Ling.

It’s no secret that cancer and its treatment can cause unpleasant symptoms and side effects in many patients, which can seriously affect their quality of life. Managing and controlling these is a prime concern for anyone facing cancer and for the people helping take care of them.

Palliative care is focused on helping patients and their families have better quality of life by preventing and relieving troubling symptoms and side effects of serious illness. In the case of cancer, palliative care can address and alleviate such problems as pain, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite and weight loss, constipation, bowel blockage, breathing problems, and even emotional concerns like depression and anxiety.

On May 2012, I contacted Perak Palliative Care Society again on behalf of my mother who is suffering from stomach cancer. Today, Perak Palliative Care Society has grown by leaps and bounds. They have many dedicated doctors, nurses and administrative personnel. It has adopted Standard Operating Procedures in the day-to-day activities. What amazes me most is the “Yellow Book” that records

patients’ details and conditions taken by nurses during each visit. It is very helpful and practical for the caregivers. A lot of emphasis has been put in to stress on the quality of life of the cancer patients. To me, it does affect the survival of cancer patients. I believe cancer patients who receive palliative care not only had better quality of life, but actually may survive longer than those who didn’t get palliative care.

I hope Perak Palliative Care Society can grow further by including dietary counseling and physiotherapy service for the cancer patients. It would be helpful if palliative care can extend its services with the opening of a Cancer Support Shop. Such a support shop can sell products and items that address side effects of treatment such as skin creams, mouthwash, adhesive plasters, wigs, etc, as these items are not readily available in most pharmacies and it will be convenient for patients who need them urgently.

Lastly, on behalf of my family members, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to the team of Perak Palliative Care Society especially Sumathy and Chandrika for their dedication and perseverance in caring for my mother.

Under the leadership of the President, Dr. Koh Wai Keat, I hope he can take the Centre to greater heights by reaching out to a larger population.

To me, death is part of the cycle of life. Fighting cancer has not been about defeating death. It has been about living life. Each day brings with it new possibilities and hope for the patients and their loved ones.

Tai Siew May

Thanks To Perak Palliative Care Society

Yuin with Dr ednin Hamzah (ceO, Hospis malaysia) and Dr Amy chow

3Perak Pall iative Care Society • Issue 102 October — December 2012

Dance Centre, a ballet school in Ipoh, held a charity dance concert on 22 November 2012 at the Kinta Riverfront Hotel and donated the net proceeds of

RM50,000 to PPCS. The show, titled Modanz & Nutcracker, attracted a total of 300 students to participate. At the same time, PPCS’s volunteers also set up a booth to promote the centre’s activities and sold some handicraft and souvenirs for RM2,018. We would like to extend our warmest appreciation to Dance Centre and its principal, Ms Chin, whose mother was an ex-patient with PPCS.

Datin Lin Hui YiHon. Asst Secretary, PPCS

Modanz & Nutcracker A Fundraiser by Dance Centre

Gouden Sdn Bhd 500.00 Pinji Botanics Sdn Bhd 500.00 Chan Siew Yee 100.00 Ng Foo Chew imo Mok Foh Choy 60.00 Leong Weng Hoong 100.00 Tham Yot Seng imo Wong Kok Wah 1,000.00 Ng Choong Weng 100.00 Wong Kok Choy 200.00 KSK Sawmill Sdn Bhd 2,000.00 SWH Industries Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Kilang Batu-Bata Serbaneka Sdn Bhd 3,000.00 Soon Hin Hardware Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Leong Phooi Chen 3,000.00 Mansion Builders Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Soo Kwai Yoke 100.00 Khean Soon Construction Sdn Bhd 12,000.00 Yeow Jin Jie 1,000.00 Lim Pooi Ling 200.00 Hush Boutique 300.00 Hush Trading 300.00 Sum Kin Leong 100.00 Chan Lai Khon 50.00 Chan Lai wah 30.00 Hydroline Hose & Seals Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Ngan Yin Groundnut Factory Sdn Bhd 500.00

DONATIONS — OcTOber 2012 rm

Khafri Alymann Kamarul Zaman 100.00 Ipoh School of Music Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Total Investment Sdn Bhd 2,000.00 Tan Taik Chin 1,000.00 Paul Daniel 100.00 Khoo Beng Teik 100.00 Yong Wee Kong 100.00 Yong Foong Min imo Chau Kok Kim 220.00 Ng Yoke Ching 100.00 Koon Yew Yin 2,000.00 Lee Chun Weng 200.00 Seow Kwai Min 100.00 Ong Geok Kim 300.00 Old Michealian Circa 66/68 5,500.00 Kaizen Land Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Ishak Ismail 100.00 Choo Yen-E 50.00 Logesvaran a/l Sangoo 50.00 Aishvarrya d/o Logesvaran 50.00 Kho Yan Yee 100.00 Chong Kee Choen 140.00 Chong Lai Choo 100.00 Ong Ah Lin imo Goh Ah Kow 3,000.00 Goh Guan Hoe imo Goh Ah Kow 2,830.00 Ng Foo Chew 100.00 Yong Ah Ying imo Wong Choon Mooi 100.00 Paul Daniel imo Sushila Saroja 500.00 Chew Mun Wah imo Chan Tak Hiong 120.00 Dato Lim Si Boon 500.00 Loh Kah Chen 100.00

Thank-youPromoting the Spirit of Care

*imo = in memory of

Donations received during oct – Dec 2012

continued in page 4

4 Perak Pall iative Care Society • Issue 102 October — December 2012

Tan Chuan Chew 100.00 Imo Tan Khiak Huat 1,000.00 Lim Soon Wai imo Lim See Lin 100.00 Anonymous 10,000.00 Jimmy Loke 1,000.00 Tay Ibrahim & Partners 1,000.00 Lee Quak Yong 100.00 Desmond Leong 100.00 Lean Seng Food Products Sdn Bhd imo Soo Ho 590.00 Idris B. Mohd Yusof 100.00 Lim Sau Ying 1,000.00 Lee Yuen Kong imo Lee Ah Kam 200.00 Yayasan Sultan Azlan Shah 20,000.00 Wistrue Engineering & Trading Sdn Bhd 2,000.00 Lau Lai Choy 100.00 Dr Eddie Edward 1,000.00 Liew Pow Ling 100.00 Chee Chuen Chit 100.00 Boon Kam Fatt 100.00 Wong Bee Sim 100.00 Lim Chean Fung 100.00 Ima Bte Zaharuddin 100.00 Jet Fynn Marketing 200.00 Chiah Kok Hoi 1,000.00 Lee Ah Cheng 1,000.00 Ng Wai Keat 100.00 Chew Kok Onn 100.00 Ipoh International School Sdn Bhd 5,000.00

DONATIONS — NOvember 2012 rm

Wee Kui Lim 100.00 Ng Kan Leong 100.00 Tee Fook Chooi 100.00 Thong Eu Juan 400.00 My Star Educare Sdn Bhd 2,000.00 Teoh Sau Fun 50.00 PK Lee Sdn Bhd 500.00 Leong Seow Ling 1,000.00 MMA (Perak) 2,000.00 Tay Ibrahim & Partners 1,000.00 Kohilah 1,000.00 Loke Yau Kong 100.00 Sio See Kei imo Sio See Mun 110.00 Boon Kam Fatt imo Boon Foong 140.00 Imo Au Kim Huah 1,000.00 Nor Haslina 100.00 Lee Yew Wah 100.00 Imo Lee Kok Lean 200.00 Dr Wan Sau Keng imo Wan Pheang 500.00 Chai Tin Tang 100.00 Wong Hoi Kam 100.00 Chong Lai Fung 100.00 Chew May Ling imo Chan Tak Hiong 100.00 Lui Jie Lim 50.00 Kat Weng Seng 600.00 Lim Chean Fung imo Yong Sing 800.00 Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Suites Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Dr Koh Wai Keat 200.00 Chua Sai Meng 500.00 Malaysian Association of Belgium & Luxemburg 1,000.00 Khong Yue Kong imo Leow Chooi Ying 300.00 Choong Chooi Mun 2,000.00 Ng Siew Mun imo Ng San 100.00 Datin Rosalina Mary Ooi 300.00 Chen Seok Chin 50.00

Imo Sobirah Alias 100.00 Leong Ee Meng 200.00 Soo Kok Keong 120.00 Imo Tan Yoke Tee 180.00 Paramjit Singh 300.00 Mohd Rosni 100.00 Lim Soon Kong imo Lim See Lin 100.00

DONATIONS — December 2012 rm

Hush Trading 300.00 Hush Boutique 300.00 Perak Turf Club 5,000.00 Victor Lee Kok Hee 1,000.00 Wong Chiew Loke 200.00 Khoo Chui Ting 100.00 Thansmun Holdings Sendirian Berhad 5,000.00 See Chor Keong 200.00 Seow Kwai Min 100.00 Wong Kam Moi 50.00 Chai Fei Fun 50.00 Tan Chin Tuan Foundation 10,000.00 Goh Kah Hoong 100.00 Kho Wei Gen 100.00 Chong Chee Leong 100.00 Goh Hock Thye 100.00 Loke Chee Mun imo Chung Siew Fah 10,000.00 Chong Chui San 100.00 Lau Teik Choy 100.00 Imo Bak Pek Kam 200.00 Lee Moa Chun 350.00 Woon Yoon Chin 200.00 Rachael Chin Chiew Wei 500.00 Phun Lee Lee imo Fan Loke Man 200.00 Original International Collection Café Sdn Bhd 2,500.00 Loh Chee Mei 500.00 Lau Teik Choy imo Chik Lai Sam 100.00 Lo Lean Hua 200.00 Chin Yong Sim 100.00 Yeoh Lam Ewe 100.00 Png Sin Aun 500.00 Ipoh International School Sdn Bhd 1,000.00 Kok Foo 100.00 Pacewell Asia Sdn Bhd imo Wong Soon Ying 4,000.00 Michael Dourado 50.00 Hooi Yoke Meng 100.00 Ng Choy Kin 100.00 Ng Jin Shinn imo Ng Theng Chong 100.00 Hamsidi B. Khormain 100.00 Chew Kok Hoong imo Thong Mooi 300.00 Kat Weng Seng imo Chin Kam Ying 600.00 Khafri Alymann Kamarul Zaman 1,080.00 Goh Hock Thye imo Soo Yoke Wan 690.00 Chong Li Han 200.00 Loke Su-Yi 1,000.00 Farmasi Tiara 500.00 Ng Swee Mun imo Lim Yee Yoke 1,500.00 Ng Hui Hui 200.00 Ong Beng Tiek 100.00 Imo Chin Yong Fatt 300.00 Wong Lai Pheng 100.00 Hamizad B. Hamzan 100.00 Choo Yen-E 50.00 Logesvaran a/l Sangoo 50.00 Aishvarrya Nair d/o Logesvaran 50.00 Ho Khek You 200.00

*imo = in memory of

continued from page 3