Compassion Beyond Bias and Life’s End: Two Nurses Receive Nurses Merit Award
published by Lianhe Zaobao on July 7, 2026
Extracted and translated from Lianhe Zaobao:
Just two years after joining the field of palliative care, nurse Linda Chew, 44, was assigned to care for a patient with advanced liver cancer. When she opened the door to the patient’s home, she was surprised to discover that the patient was the mother of one of her former secondary school classmates — an encounter that ultimately reaffirmed her commitment to palliative care.
About six months later, her own father was diagnosed with advanced kidney cancer. At the time, she had only a limited understanding of end-of-life care. Supported by her colleagues at Assisi Hospice, she experienced firsthand what families go through as they prepare to say goodbye to a loved one.
Around two years later, she was assigned to provide home hospice care for a patient. Only after entering the home did she realise that the patient’s daughter was her former classmate.
The unexpected reunion stirred a whirlwind of emotions. Nevertheless, encouraged by the trust her friend placed in her, Chew chose to walk alongside her during one of the most difficult periods of her life, accompanying the family until her mother took her final breath.
“Later, we discovered that in my secondary school yearbook, I had written to her: ‘Wherever we are, I’ll do my best to be there for you,'” Chew recalled.
She believes the meaningful coincidence and the opportunity to accompany an old friend through such a profound experience strengthened her resolve to dedicate herself to palliative care.
Chew said home hospice nursing differs greatly from hospital nursing.
“In a patient’s home, their personality, culture and preferences naturally come through. They are no longer just a bed number — they become a whole person. That means our care also has to be much more personalised,” she said.
“We care not only for their physical condition, but also for their emotional and spiritual well-being, so that even if they cannot be cured, they can continue to live with dignity and meaning in the final stage of life.”
With demand for palliative care continuing to grow, Chew has also taken on the role of mentoring younger nurses. She frequently reminds them that despite rapid advances in technology, the heart of palliative care remains unchanged.
“Empathy, compassion and the willingness to patiently walk alongside patients will always be at the core of what we do,” she said.
On Monday (July 6), Chew was among 151 nurses honoured with the Nurses’ Merit Award, recognising her dedication and contributions to the nursing profession.
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