LOVE TRANSCENDS MEMORIES

After a long, distinguished career in the maritime industry, Mr. Wong Yune Pine was ready to embark on the next stage of life in 2013 alongside his wife Mrs. Wong Lai Ying with joy. Besides a well-deserved retirement at the age of 62, his very first grandchild, a beautiful little girl, had just been born. His wife, then 61, took it in her stride to care for their granddaughter. Every morning without fail, Mrs. Wong would travel from their residence in Pine Grove to her son’s place at Serangoon as early as 6AM, looking after the baby throughout the day before returning home with Mr. Wong in the evening at around 6PM. It was a picture of family bliss, and something the Wongs deeply cherished.

But alas, this seemingly perfect arrangement was relatively short-lived, for merely five years later, Mr. Wong received a piece of news that would shift his world.

In 2018, Mrs. Wong was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

“My wife kept asking the same questions, and that was unusual, so I quickly brought her to Tan Tock Seng Hospital,” Mr. Wong recollected on how he felt something was amiss, a look of concern etched on his face. “Once the diagnosis was confirmed, I accepted it as a part of life.”

Despite Mrs. Wong’s memory fading over time, Mr. Wong’s love for her burned brighter than ever. He had become her anchor, her guide, her protector. Though the world around her seemed to blur, he was constantly there, a steady hand guiding her through the unfamiliar. From a simple trip to the market to international adventures, he was always by her side. “She can’t remember directions or addresses, so I need to accompany her everywhere,” he explained.

About two years ago, when circumstances required Mr. Wong to move out from his residence at Pine Grove, he prioritised Mrs. Wong’s comfort above all other factors, choosing to relocate to Ghim Moh nearby, knowing that the familiar streets when they passed by their former home would provide her with a sense of security and assurance.

“My next priority was to keep my wife occupied with specialised activities catered to one with Alzheimer’s, but there weren’t any in the area,” Mr. Wong recalled. “That’s when I found out about LB AAC @ Ghim Moh 18. Thankfully, we made new friends and I was very happy that my wife quickly assimilated when we joined!”

However, even within this supportive space, challenges emerged occasionally. “I remember once, I went to service my car while my wife attended an exercise session at the AAC, but when I came to pick her up after her exercise, she had disappeared,” explained Mr. Wong.

“In a panic, I asked the LB staff to help look for her. We split up to cover the neighbourhood, and luckily one of the centre staff found her before she could take the bus. The staff were so helpful and I’m so thankful for them,” reminisced Mr. Wong, chuckling at the thought of the incident.