23/02/2021
【以偉大的愛 來做小事】 - 賽馬會善寧之家駐院醫生梁文聰醫生
我相信，每個人當到達臨終階段，他或她對自己的生命大限都有著一份感應，在離世前會盡自己的努力，完成心願。
70 多歲的郭伯伯，患有末期肝癌，記得早前他由家人陪同入住賽馬會善寧之家時，健康狀況已經很差、身軀乏力、食慾不振，我們已著家人作好一切心理準備。但幾天過後伯伯突然變得精神抖擻起來，當天巡房，與伯伯和家人閒聊幾句，伯伯說：「我可以出院嗎？想在今個星期六和家人一起慶祝兒子的生日」。明白到伯伯的心意，我們為伯伯完成身體評估後，安排他幾日後返家寧養。
就在星期六的黃昏，我們收到郭伯伯兒子的通知，伯伯剛才在家中離世了。
那天正是郭伯伯與兒子慶祝生日，「當日家中很熱鬧，一眾子女、兒媳、孫兒聚首一堂。爸爸精神很好，還和我一起切蛋糕，說說笑笑了一會，之後返回睡床休息，不久在睡夢中安詳地離開了。」兒子憶述：「這個不一樣的生日會，縱然美中不足，但慶幸我們一家人都能齊齊整整圍在身旁跟他道別，這個意義很重大。」
郭伯伯趕及達成心願，帶笑離開，總算不留遺憾，而他看似為自己達成的小小心願，無意間也為全家人留下了彌足珍貴的回憶。正如德蘭修女的一句名言：「我們未必所有人都能做偉大的事，但我們總能以偉大的愛來做小事 (Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.)。」我們現實生活中，一件小事也能成就大意義。
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【We Can Do Small Things With Great Love】 - Dr Jack Leung, Resident Doctor of the Jockey Club Home for Hospice (JCHH)
Mr. Kwok, who was in his seventies, suffered from terminal liver cancer. When Mr. Kwok arrived at JCHH, his health and appetite were already very poor. Given the patient’s deteriorating condition, I informed the family to psychologically prepare for his departure. A few days later however, Mr. Kwok’s energy returned, much to everyone’s amazement. During one of my ward rounds, Mr. Kwok turned to me and asked, “Can I be discharged? I really want to celebrate my son’s birthday with my family this Saturday.” Recognizing his wish, we arranged for him to return home for several days.
That very same Saturday, we received word from Mr.Kwok’s son that he had passed away at home.
“Our home was very lively that evening. Siblings, inlaws, grandchildren - everyone was there. Dad was in great spirits and even shared the cake with me. That night, after everyone had left, Dad went to bed and left peacefully in his sleep,” recalled his son. “It was a different birthday celebration this year, one that was bittersweet. Most importantly, we were able to gather and say goodbye to Dad.”
Mr. Kwok likely knew it was his time and hurried to make known his final wish – to laugh and be with the people he loved - and pass away with no regrets. It was a simple wish but one that has left his family with precious memories of their time together.
Mother Teresa once famously said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that even our smallest actions can make the biggest difference.
#善寧會
#賽馬會善寧之家
#梁文聰醫生
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本文刊登於本會「善寧會訊」第63期(2021年1月)，第5頁：https://bit.ly/3dDG4At
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