Mr. Zhang, a Taiwanese, had been residing in Singapore for over twenty years. He was diagnosed to have terminal-stage liver cancer when he was admitted to the hospital following a sudden abdominal pain. Mrs. Zhang’s elder brother, a senior Tzu Chi volunteer in Kaohsiung, Taiwan immediately contacted Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore Branch) after his confounded sister called him up. Upon being informed, the Foundation’s social worker and volunteers immediately hurried to visit the ill Mr. Zhang and comfort his wife. However, before Mr. Zhang could fight his battle, the cancer took his life away.

In the ICU, Tzu Chi volunteers and family accompanied Mr. Zhang, who was in a state of coma. The calming Buddha recitation helped soothe the atmosphere in the ward.

Staff and volunteers of Tzu Chi Foundation comforting the Zhang family.

Tzu Chi volunteers sending Mr. Zhang off at the funeral procession with blessings.

Volunteers praying sincerely for the departed spirit, hoping he would leave peacefully with the reciting of prayers.

Sudden Pain

Mr. Zhang had always been healthy and did not experience any illness during his stay in Singapore for over twenty years. On 19 October 2008, Mr. Zhang complained to his wife of stomach pain after his dinner. But he decided not to heed the pain as it was still bearable. 

At about 2am, the pain re-emerged, together with difficulties in his breathing. Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Mrs. Zhang called her good friend, Mrs. Xiao for help as she was at a loss. Mrs. Xiao was in Malaysia then so she suggested Mrs. Zhang to rush her husband to hospital.     

During the emergency treatment at the Singapore General Hospital, the doctor discovered internal bleeding in Mr. Zhang’s abdomen and hence conducts further investigations. The scanning shows a terminal stage malignant tumor in Mr. Zhang’s liver, which ruptured further into diffusion and worsened his condition.   

Mrs. Zhang was at a loss with the news. Having no relatives and few friends in Singapore, she called up her sibling in Taiwan for help. Her elder brother – Zhong, and his wife are Tzu Chi volunteers in Kaohsiung. As he is aware that there’s an oversea Tzu Chi branch in Singapore, Brother Zhong immediately contacted the branch while he arranged his flight schedule in the morning of 21 October 2008, hoping that the local volunteers could help comfort his sister before he arrives.     

The social worker and volunteers of Tzu Chi Singapore quickly made their way to the hospital after receiving the call.

Upon their arrival, they found that Mr. Zhang has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was in coma. The doctor explained his condition to his family; this terminal state tumor in Mr. Zhang’s liver had ruptured into diffusion. The doctor was pessimistic over his condition, and asked his family to be mentally prepared that he may not survive the night.  

Though Mrs. Zhang could not accept the grievous news, she remained strong-willed and determined to stay in the ICU together with her son and their family friend, the Xiao couple.

The chanting device brought by the Tzu Chi volunteers helped soothe the atmosphere in the ICU. However, the sensory device showed that Mr. Zhang’s blood pressure was decreasing; sign of his life getting weaker.

Knowing there isn’t much they could do, Mrs. Zhang gathered her strength and tells her husband, “Try your best to let go, follow the chanting to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss”.  

The sight of losing a loved one in the path of life and death deeply saddened those who are present.        

Funeral preparation

At 8.40pm, Mr. Zhang passed away peacefully in the company of his family, the Xiao couple and Tzu Chi volunteers. The volunteers assisted in the arrangement of a funeral undertaker and escorted Mr. Zhang’s body to the NTUC Fairprice Funeral Parlour situated in Sin Ming Road.

Early in the next morning, Tzu Chi volunteers accompanied Mrs. Zhang to settle the funeral preparation works, and took turns to accompany Mrs. Zhang and her son to keep vigil beside the coffin. Mrs. Zhang shared the past of her husband with the volunteers while folding the golden “ingots”; the conversation seemed to lessen her sorrow of losing her beloved husband.

Brother Zhong and his sister arrived at Singapore at around 3pm. It was a painful meeting when they see each other.  Mrs. Zhang could not control her sorrow and cried in the hugs of her sister. The volunteers quickly comforted them, and updated Brother Zhong on the progress for his brother-in-law’s funeral. 

At around 6pm, Brother David Liu, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore, arrived to pay respect to the demise and offer condolences to the family. Soon, more than twenty Tzu Chi volunteers arrived and started reciting Buddha’s name for the departed spirit. The solemn recitation deeply moved Mr. Zhang’s colleagues. They were utterly shocked by the sudden death of their colleague as he was still working as usual on last Friday. Owing to that, they felt strongly of treasuring their loved ones before it’s too late.

The following day (23 October) was the day of the funeral. At noon, 22 Tzu Chi volunteers sat outside the mourning hall and waited for the family obituary to end. After the ceremony, Brother Zhang Zheng Chang led the volunteers to bow thrice to the deceased, and expressed their sincere blessings and condolences to the bereaved family.   

Thereafter, 18 volunteers followed Mr. Zhang’s coffin to Mandai Crematory. During the cremation, Mr. Zhang’s son held back his sadness and supported his mother by embracing her tightly.  

It is a heart-breaking sight for a young man in early twenties to endure the misery of his father’s departure. After the cremation, the son embraced his father’s picture to the restroom and said deeply to the photograph, “Dad, please rest in peace. Do rest assured that I will take good care of mum.” We believe Mr. Zhang would feel relieved upon knowing that his son has matured after his departure.  

Turning sorrow into blessing

Mrs. Zhang’s elder sister sadly confessed that she could not accept her brother-in-law’s death at such an early age, leaving his wife and son in this state of plight. 

“It’s hard for us to accept this sudden grief, but our Master taught us to translate sorrow into blessings. We should pray for him to reach the Pure Land, and that he could return to the mortal world, and reborn as a lovely child.” Tzu Chi volunteers’ sincere words seemed to comfort Mrs. Zhang’s elder sister. Setting aside her grievance, she recited the name of Buddha to bless her brother-in-law. 

Mr. Zhang’s family was very grateful for the company and assistance by Tzu Chi volunteers. The family subsequently donated the condolence fund from his husband’s colleagues (S$2500, about NT$50,000) to Tzu Chi Foundation as a token of gratitude and kindness; and as a form of blessing to the deceased.

Mrs. Zhang said that in the past twenty years, her life centered around her husband and child. Now, due to her husband’s affinity, she met Tzu Chi whom has inspired wisdom upon her. The following day, she registered herself as a donating member with the Foundation, hoping that she could step out of her house and become a Tzu Chi volunteer in the near future.

Mrs. Zhang’s good friend, the Xiao couple was deeply impressed by Tzu Chi volunteers’ sincerity and passion.

Eleven years ago, the Xiao’s daughter was paralyzed due to an accident at work. Saddened but determined, the couple poured their heart and soul into the care of their daughter. Eleven years has passed without them knowing it.

While they recall their past, the volunteers encouraged Mr. Xiao and his wife to go beyond their daily routine and suggested that Tzu Chi be a base for them to embark on another milestone in life and not let grief lingers on. Mr. Xiao kept nodding in agreement and left his contact numbers with the volunteers, hoping that he could get to know more about the organization in future.

It is sad to witness a loss of life. Tzu Chi volunteers’ wise words and compassionate care had inspired Mr. Zhang’s family and friends that life does not end here – one could always heal sadness by giving love. With that we hope Mr. Zhang would be rest assured and leave peacefully.