Granny-in-the-Lord

It's been 8 years since my granny went home to the Lord. I remember those days when I had to cope with her sickness and study for my final exams at the same time. The day of her operation was the day I went for my gyne final exam, and I remember seeing her wheeled to the operating theatre and then proceeding straight for my exam at the same hospital.

She used to carry me on her back when we crossed the road to Toa Payoh Lor 8 for breakfast when I was very young, and she used to joke that one day I would do the same for her. It came true 20 years later when I carried her down the stairs on the way to the hospital.

It was also her dream that I would become a doctor one day too. I did in 1998. And I remember coming home with my final exam results and telling her I had finally passed. She had gone home to the Lord by then - so I looked into her photo (which still stands on my living room table) and told her that I was now a doctor.

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All these memories came flashing back last week. I said farewell to one of my "grannies-in-the-Lord" at Mandai last Friday. She was a jolly old lady who used to call me "doctor" whenever I visited. I never dropped a tear for another granny after mine passed away. She was the first.

I look forward to the day I will see them both again.