INSPIRING SHAVEES
Asapaediatricpalliativenursewho serves childrenwith
cancer,
MsSereneWong
is constantly inspiredby their
resilience and courage. Hence, she decided to shave
her head for the first timeat Hair for Hope2017 to show
her support for childrenwith cancer and their families.
“I’m currently working at HCA Hospice Care’s Star
PALS, providing paediatric palliative care for children
with life-limiting illnesses,” the 42-year-old said. “There
was once when I explored with a child his wishes and
he said none, as hewas happy being theway hewas –
beingable togo to school everyday, spending timewith
his friends, playing guitar at home. It made me realise
that childrenaregrateful for the little things in their lives.”
ThroughHfH,MsWong raiseda total of $5,300 forCCF.
Her participation at HfH to tell children that they are
not alone in their battle against cancer also prompted
her husband to shave at the eleventh hour. He saw her
courage to shave for the children and was touched by
her kind gesture.
When MsWong returned to work on Monday,
one of the young patients burst out crying
when she saw her. “She asked while crying,
‘Why did you shave your head?” MsWong
recounted. “It got me worried – did my bald
head remind her of the unhappy moments
when she went through treatment?”
Instead, Ms Wong and the patient’s mother chose to
use this as an opportunity to tell the young patient
her reason for shaving, which was to let children with
cancer know that it is OK to be bald and to be brave
whilebattlingwith the illness. “Hair will eventually grow
back!” MsWong affirmed.
‘Whydid
you shave
your head?’
Ms Eirena Beh
used to
see HfH advertisements
at bus stops featuring the
community outreach event
to raise childhood cancer awareness. These
impactful posters eventually spurred the
20-year-old to signup as aHfH participant.
“I made it my goal to step out and
stand up for this cause that I believe
in,” the first-time HfH shavee said.
“I want to show all the brave children
battling cancer that it is OK to be
bald. I truly admire the courage and
strength they possess and I believe
that I can contribute through HfH.”
MsBehadded that shewanted toshave togain
a better understanding of what cancer patients
go through. “I also hoped that this would
motivateothersaroundme to contribute in their
own ways,” the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of
Medicine student said.
During her HfH fundraising journey, Ms Beh
actively reached out to friends and family
members to pledge their donations in support
of CCF. Her efforts raisedmore thanS$16,500.
“My family and friends have been very
encouragingandgenerouswith theirdonations.
I am really thankful for their support,” she said.
“It was a privilege to be involved in such a
meaningful event,”MsBeh concluded.
Medical student
shaves to
understandwhat
cancer patients
go through
Paediatricpalliative
nurse recountsday
after HfH2017
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INSPIRINGSHAVEES
