Around noon time on 11 Jun 2008, Tzu Chi home visit volunteers, Brother Ni Tsan Yen and Sister You Qiu Min received an urgent call from Grandpa Li Shui Nan's daughter-in-law, that her father-in-law's health condition was unstable and wanted the family members to prepare for the worst and to visit him as soon as possible. Brother Ni immediately reported the news to the social worker of Tzu Chi Singapore branch, after which he proceeded to visit Grandpa with his daughter-in-law and five grandchildren as grandpa Li’s son was unable to take leave from work. photo:During his stay at the Villa Francis Home for the Aged, the home visit volunteers paid regular visits to Grandpa Li Shiu Nan, who was often pampered with food of his liking as well as warmth and care.

On 11 Jun 2008, Grandpa Li Shui Nan completed his life journey.  Volunteers telling Grandpa to let go of any desires, in order to attain ultimate peace.

About 20 Tzu Chi volunteers were at the funeral on 15 Jun 2008 to accompany Grandpa on his last journey.

Grandpa Li Shui Nan was a Tzu Chi care recipient living in the Central district and was receiving aid since Sep 2004 when he was already more than 70 years old.  Besides taking care of his wife, who suffered from partial blindness and in poor health, Grandpa Li had to look after his three-month old grandchild. It was an arduous task and a heavy burden for a frail, elderly person.  Although both his son and daughter-in-law were working, their meager income was barely enough to support their own family expenses, let alone taking care of their aged parents. 

The case of Gandpa Li and his wife was reported to Tzu Chi Singapore and after the case assessment, the volunteers began calling at their home to help them with their daily necessities and giving them moral support.  The volunteers regarded the old couple like their family members, addressing them as 'Ah Gong' (Grandpa) and 'Ah Mah' (Grandma). Ah Mah, who hardly went outdoors, would rejoice every time when the volunteers visited them. She would sometimes ask the volunteers when they would take her to visit the 'Home of the Buddha'.  She really longed for this special monthly event because it was there that she felt being love and care for and not neglected by society.  Ah Mah exclaimed, “Everybody here is so nice, that's why I called this place (Tzu Chi’s Jing Si Hall), 'Home of the Buddha'.” Sadly, in Apr 2006, Grandma had a bad fall at home and although she was sent to hospital on time, she could not be revived despite immediate attention from the doctors.    

Life without Ah Mah proved to be an ordeal for Ah Gong. He began to talk less after Ah Mah's passing away. Meanwhile, Ah Gong's daughter-in-law was expecting her fourth child and was due soon. The home visit volunteers then suggested to her to stay at home after giving birth so as to look after the old and young.

Although the care recipient was Ah Gong, the volunteers gave equal care and warmth to the rest of the family members. Ah Gong’s eldest grandchild who was in primary school had poor academic results as his parents were not able to afford time for him and neglected his upbringing.  The volunteers thus arranged for remedial lesson for the child by teachers from the Tzu Chi Teachers' Association and youths from the Collegiate Youth Association until such time when an application for tuition grant from the authority went through. 

There was also once when Ah Gong had an open wound that was badly infected and had not healed for a long time. But after several treatment and attentive care by medical personnel from the Tzu Chi International Medical Association, the wound finally healed. 

There was a Confucius quote about not limiting our love and care to only our loved ones but to anyone who needs them.  Ah Gong's health deteriorated further as he aged year after year. During this period, he had two more grandsons but that meant two more mouths to feed. The family financial situation went from bad to worse. During the time when the daughter-in-law was expecting her fifth child, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, Brother David Liu decided to help the young couple and their children during a visit and arranged for more aid to be given to the family in terms of daily necessities such as baby milk powder and diapers, etc.  

The care-giving did not stop at merely home visits. During days when Ah Gong's family members were not free to bring him to the polyclinic for his medical appointments, Tzu Chi volunteers would be there to help. At times when Ah Gong spoke harshly during his occasional mood swings, the volunteers did not take it to heart but remained poised and calm for they understood that he was responding this way as he had regarded the volunteers to be his family members. 

During the Lunar New Year this year, Ah Gong was hospitalised due to edema (swelling).  He was transferred to a number of hospitals before settling down at Villa Francis Home for the Aged, an old folks home.  While recuperating at the old folks' home, central district volunteers Brother Ni Tsan Yen and Sister You Qiu Min spent time and energy to take good care of Ah Gong.  Being a responsible volunteer, Brother Ni not only needed to take note of Ah Gong's health condition but also kept the Tzu Chi social workers and family members informed too.  Brother Ni also put his heart and soul into rostering volunteers who had known Ah Gong before, to visit him at the hospital.  As for Sister You, her duties tend towards preparation of food that were of Ah Gong's liking and to see to his needs at the hospital and the old folks home.  

And that was not all.  The volunteers knew that Ah Gong's sickness was not that all optimistic, but they tried ways and means to make him feel good and happy.  A volunteer once saw him shaving and teased, “Ah Gong, you look ten years younger now!”  Ah Gong then laughed merrily, only to continue shaving more conscientiously as though wanting to look younger and healthy. The volunteers looked on with deep feelings.  

On another occasion, Ah Gong was throwing tantrums like a small child, covering himself with blanket.  He did not respond when the medical staff at the Home called him.  It was only when Tzu Chi volunteers came and greeted him, “Ah Gong, Amitabha”, did he uncovered himself and complained to the volunteers about the medical staff. The volunteers calmed him and cajoled him like a child that the medical staff were nice people like them.  They explained to him that there were rules and regulations to abide and reassured him that the medical staff would love him deeply if he were more cooperating.  Sometimes, Ah Gong would express to the volunteers how he wished he knew when they were coming and leaving.  From this, we knew how much trust and regards Ah Gong has on Tzu Chi volunteers, and how much they meant to him. 

The care-giving finally came to a full-stop when Ah Gong breathed his last on 11 Jun 2008.  The volunteers who were involved in the care-giving had expected this day to come, given Ah Gong's poor state of health.  But there was still much reluctance upon hearing his passing.  It was especially painful for Brother Ni and his wife.  Their heart felt as though struck by lightning and yet they had to be strong to make further arrangements with Ah Gong's family members and also his funeral until everything was settled down.

After the funeral, driving his way back home with Sister You, tears welled inside Brother Ni's exhausted eyes.  He could no longer held back his emotion... he cried... tears flowed as he recalled the many good times he spent with the elderly man. In the background, the music “Parables of the Kneeling Lamb” came on, telling stories of filial piety, while his car strode on the expressway. 

Life goes in a cycle; it is about birth, age, sick, and death. 15 Jun 2008 was the funeral of Grandpa Li Shui Nan.  About 20 volunteers came to accompany him on his last journey.  Tzu Chi volunteers had shared grievances with him over the death of his life partner and joy over the births of his grand children. Through the care recipient, the home visit volunteers had a valuable lesson in experiencing the sorrows and joy in our life journey. 
Well, thank you, Ah Gong! For you have given us all a great lesson about life!