Some hearts meet young, others later in life. A love that, having waited, is all the more cherished. We honour a love that bloomed late, was faithful in illness, and persevered even during goodbye as we share the story of our patients Mr Lai Fa Chong and Mdm Wong Sau Ngo.
84 year-old Mr Lai Fa Chong met his wife, 81 year-old Mdm Wong Sau Ngo, more than 20 years ago in the most unexpected way. Being in his late 50s, Mr Lai had been in and out of prison thrice, had rebuilt his life, and was sharing his testimony at a halfway house when he met Mdm Wong. He was drawn to her gentleness. With the support of friends, the two eventually got married.
Throughout their 27 years of marriage, love was expressed in simple ways. Mdm Wong, a seamstress, showed care through mending Mr Lai’s clothes whenever buttons fell or fabric tore. Mr Lai, in turn, expressed love through words. “I would always praise her cooking,” he shared. “She would be very happy when she heard that. Even after a quarrel, she would talk to me again.”
About six years ago, Mdm Wong was diagnosed with dementia. As her condition worsened, she later collapsed at home and became uncommunicative. Though Mr Lai had to make the painful decision to place her in a nursing home, he visited her every day, caring for her faithfully. “Even though she could no longer speak,” he shared, “her eyes recognised me.”
In May 2025, Mr Lai was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was admitted to Assisi Hospice. Knowing that he missed her deeply, our Care team managed to arrange a visit to the nursing home, a short reunion he was deeply grateful for.
When Mdm Wong’s condition deteriorated suddenly, we admitted her to the same ward in Assisi so they could be close to each other. Mr Lai was able to be by her side during her final moments.
Though his body grew weaker, Mr Lai persevered to say his final goodbye to the love of his life – from the funeral to the cremation, and the gentle releasing of her ashes at the Garden of Remembrance, supported by our Care team.
With peace in his heart, Mr Lai passed on at Assisi Hospice on 8 August 2025. His ashes were reunited with hers in the same garden.
