71 year-old Mr. Vincent Tan’s life took an unexpected turn when a fall in late 2023 revealed that he had kidney failure. The diagnosis dealt a blow to Mr. Tan and his family, not just physically, emotionally, but financially too. “I felt disheartened when I first found out. Dialysis was my only option. I had no idea what to do,” he recalls.

Mr. Tan was transferred from Tan Tock Seng Hospital to Ang AMK – THKH in February 2024 for inpatient rehabilitation.

Despite the shock, Mr. Tan quickly became known among staff for his resilience and commitment to therapy. At AMK – THKH, he participated in daily physiotherapy sessions and received dedicated care from his therapists and nurses, who not only worked to rebuild his physical strength but also supported his emotional recovery. “I had exercises twice a day, and volunteers would come to play games or help with my bath and haircut on weekends. It gave me something to look forward to.”

The financial strain on Mr. Tan’s family was significant. His wife was recovering from a prior hip fracture and his son, the sole breadwinner of the family, worked long hours to support the household. To alleviate their financial burden, the hospital’s Care and Counselling team coordinated financial assistance, including MediFund and Subsidy Deviation.

After his discharge from our hospital in May 2024, Mr. Tan transitioned to Home Therapy service, where his rehabilitation continued at home.

He continued to receive visits from the Care & Counselling team, who also utilised our Patient Welfare Fund to replace a broken hospital bed in his bedroom, and arranged for Meals on Wheels (meal delivery for homebound patients) and part-time caregiving support to ease the burden on his wife and son.

Though living with kidney failure means frequent dialysis and lifestyle changes, Mr. Tan tries to stay upbeat. A self-professed positive person, he tries to look at the bright side with his condition, “My wife does what she can, but even she also has her own health issues. My son’s always working long hours. I’m glad to have AMK – THKH to support us with all of these,” he shares.

Mr. Tan occupies his days watching TV or YouTube and treasures moments of independence, such as managing a few extra steps with his walker or completing a round of home therapy exercises.

Having encountered many faces at AMK – THKH at each stage of his care journey, Mr. Tan reflects, “Before I was hospitalised, I could work. Now, I just hope to walk better, maybe even be less reliant on others. I’m thankful to have so many people help me at every step of the way.”

“I wish the [AMK – THKH]’s team the very best for helping me recover through every part of my journey: when I was confined in bed for half a year and my legs became weak, I exercised every day; when I did dialysis I was tended to; after I was discharged, the staff arranged aids like a wheelchair for me.” Mr. Vincent Tan De Paul, Patient of AMK – THK