Diagnosis

Hit by a Tsunami

You have been told you are diagnosed with a serious illness. That can feel overwhelming and uncertain as you confront your worst fear.

Making sense of the experience

Our empathetic approach aims to guide you toward healing and finding solace amidst the pain.

You are not alone; we are here to walk this path with you.

Cocktail Menu

Knowing as much as you can about your illness and treatment options will help you plan your days ahead. These are some questions that might help in your discussion with your doctor:

What treatment(s) do you recommend?
How does each treatment benefit me?
What are the possible side effects and how will they affect my daily lifestyle?
How can we tell if the treatment is not working as it should?

Salad Mix

You might experience a tremendous range of emotions, from anger and resentment to fear and depression. Your emotions are unique to you. Be gentle and embrace your emotions without judging them. Some days will be better than others.

Soul Food

Know that you retain control of your treatment and care choices. Allow yourself space and time to weigh your options. Your decision becomes clearer over time as you explore with loved ones and your healthcare team. Know that there is no right or wrong decision. Any decision made is out of the best intentions for yourself and, at times, for your loved ones.

Lonely ≠ Alone

At times, you may feel isolated or yearn to be alone. Be aware of your feelings. When thoughts become overwhelming, talk to someone. Engage in an activity that calms your emotions and anxiety. Make time to tell your friends and family members the things you'd like them to know. Allow yourself to receive their care and love. Let them know how important their support is to you.

Change is Constant

Be aware of changes in your physical and mental abilities as the illness and fatigue set in. They could affect your ability to carry out your roles and daily tasks.

Consider sharing some responsibilities with someone who could assume them while you devote your time to rest and on activities that maximise your well-being.

Hit by a Tsunami

Your loved one has been told they have been diagnosed with a serious illness. That can feel overwhelming and uncertain as they confront their worst fear. The news will inevitably affect you and those who care about your loved one.

Making sense of the experience

Our empathetic approach aims to guide you toward healing and finding solace amidst the pain.

You are not alone; we are here to walk this path with you.

Cocktail Menu

Support your loved one by helping them make sense of the information they received. They may have heard various suggestions on causes of and treatments for the illness.

The following questions may help your loved one in the discussion with their doctor:

Has the treatment been used for someone with the same condition?
How does each treatment work?
What are the possible benefits and side effects of this treatment?
What are the signs that the treatment is working?

Business as Usual

It might be easy to forget that your loved one is more than a patient/their illness. You may feel awkward or uncertain about what to say or how to act around them. You may worry about uttering the wrong thing or feel bad that it might remind them about the pain, illness and even death.

Continue to engage your loved one like how you would normally do. Maintaining routines is helpful in taking their mind off the stress and burden from the illness.

A Changed Person?

The illness or treatment may change your loved one’s mood or personality. Don't take it personally.

Be available to listen as your loved one speaks about their worries and fears. There is no need to rush to offer solutions. They may just need someone to be present with them.

Witnessing someone you love dearly go through a difficult time can be emotionally challenging. If you require a little more time to work through your own feelings about the diagnosis before taking on the caregiver role, speak to a professional or someone you feel comfortable with.

Pilot & Co-pilot

Priorities for a person living with a terminal illness may differ from that of his or her family. Having open discussions will help to clarify your loved one’s wishes and preferences. They are the ones who have to live with the impact of treatment, injections, medications, side effects, etc.

Help them to understand the concerns you might have. Weigh the situations together where possible. Decisions may change as their health condition and circumstances change, but remain open to listen and learn from each other. Help your loved one retain their sense of control. This will reduce feelings of helplessness, fear and enhance support for one another.

Not a Mime

Verbal communication may be new and uncomfortable for some families. Practice would reduce the discomfort. Words of love and concern increase emotional intimacy and can help relieve physical discomfort. Sometimes, being present and allowing some space for silence is all that is needed. Be honest about your feelings of fear, joy, gratitude and sorrow. Allow your loved one to express their thoughts and emotions and to support you.

Mai Paiseh (Don’t be Shy)

As the illness progresses, your loved one may be sleeping more, eating less, refusing visitors, teary, quiet or moody. They may find solace and interest in exploring the meaning of life or their connectedness with their faith. Discuss and allow them the opportunity to talk about these changes and seek appropriate resources for help when needed.

Moonbow In The Midst Of Darkness

A moonbow is a rainbow produced by moonlight rather than direct sunlight.

Play the video and take a moment to recall the moonbows in your life, as you move from the experience of darkness into the light.