Covid Sucks...

 

In Loving Memory, Lim Lim Poh

(22.09.1958 - 25.5.2021)

I'm sorry I don't have a more flattering picture of you, Ku Jie. We were never very close but I always loved hearing about your adventures - having scaled numerous mountains. We shared about our own camping trips but yet never having camped together. A regret I'll always have. You also encouraged me when I was gaining a lot of weight again due to my thyroid issues, sharing with me the home exercises you engaged in. 

You were fit too. Among the fittest in our Lim family, except for the arrhythmia that runs in our genes, that I too possess. I had received word on the 21st of May that you had discovered a ruptured tumor in your pelvis, and you had also contracted Covid. With our rising number of infections, we had no clue how you were infected. In fact, you had been very careful not to go out. I was told you were stable at that time even at the hospital and did not require to be placed in the ICU. And I even tried to explore if there were ways for you to be transferred to a government hospital because there was concern that you couldn't afford private fees.

We never expected you to leave us. And so soon. I was in disbelief when Aunty Choo Yew called late morning and said that you were gone. With this Covid situation, we are not even allowed to see your body for the last time. I am not able to bring my parents to visit your sisters who are left behind because they were in close contact with you and need to be quarantined. I see my dad still trying to process your passing and his helplessness that he cannot visit his remaining sisters. I made so many calls to try to find out what can be done. I had two friends who tried to make calls on my behalf as well. Many differing advice at this time of covid. But one was constant - that we cannot conduct any funeral service for you. We will not be able to pay our last respects to you.

I'm thankful that you're a child of God. This gives me comfort to know that you will be safe in His presence. But it still hurts knowing that you are gone and the last I got to see you was in February when I managed to pass you some CNY goodies while on my way to work. I had promised that I will bring my parents to visit when things were safer but that time never came. It just worsened. 

And now, you're gone. I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry.