What happened to Mr Lim?

79-year-old Mr Lim went through an open-heart surgery and an aneurysm intervention in October 2022. On top of that, he grapples with glaucoma affecting one eye and hearing loss in one ear. Mr Lim relies heavily on his wife for essential daily care. Despite living in Singapore since 2009, Mr. Lim’s foreign citizenship disqualifies him from government subsidies and financial assistance, resulting in significant hospital arrears. The hospital has expressed concerns about his ability to afford future medical expenses, indicating potential denial of elective treatments and follow-ups. These include cataract and bypass surgery. Though considered non-urgent, these are vital for Mr. Lim’s well-being.

The risk of delaying procedures includes potential deterioration of his health and escalation of medical conditions, making treatments riskier in the long run. Furthermore, postponing surgeries impacts his overall quality of life, such as pain relief and restoration of some ADL functions. The financial strain, coupled with the looming threat of denied elective treatments, underscores the urgency of supporting Mr. Lim in accessing necessary healthcare services. Compounded by the health tragedies striking his family, including his son’s inability to provide support due to his own health challenges, Mr. Lim is worried about the pressing need for assistance to ensure he can access essential healthcare services.

How can you help?

Ray of Hope aims to fundraise a total of $117,113.15 to cover Mr. Lim’s outstanding hospital bills. This comprehensive amount includes various components such as ward charges, daily treatment fees, rehab therapy, and medications, among many others. The breakdown of his medical bill is as stated below:

1. Ward charges: $9,521.60
2. Daily Treatment Fee: $3,173.30
3. Investigations: $24,210.27
4. Consumables: $10,087.32
5. Rehab Therapy: $1,815.19
6. Surgery Services: $53,155.12
7. Medications: $1,290.01
8. Treatment Services/ Procedures: $5,645.77
9. Doctor’s Fee: $569.00
10. Misc: $3.00
11. 7% GST: $7,662.93

By supporting this campaign, you help ensure that financial constraints do not become a barrier to his ongoing treatments and prevent potential denials of essential healthcare services.

Find out more about the Lim Family:

Mr. Lim, a Malaysian citizen who has made Singapore his home since 2009, is deeply committed to his family’s well-being. Alongside his Singaporean wife and two children, Mr. Lim’s journey involved making sacrifices for the sake of his family’s future. In pursuit of better employment opportunities and facing the high cost of living in Singapore, Mr. and Mrs. Lim had to leave their son, Ben, under the care of his grandmother while they worked in Brunei. Mr. Lim, previously employed as a clerk in the transport industry, tirelessly aimed to provide stability for his children, while Mrs. Lim took on various roles, including waitressing and cashiering, to supplement the family’s income.

In 2007, Ben achieved a milestone by purchasing his own HDB and invited his parents to join him. What began as a hopeful reunion, turned into a dire situation when a series of health challenges assailed Mr. Lim and his family in the subsequent years.

Tragedy strikes

In March 2022, Mr Lim was diagnosed with glaucoma, impacting vision in one eye. He also started experiencing hearing loss in one ear. Subsequently in October 2022, Mr Lim underwent extensive medical procedures, including open-heart surgery and an aneurysm intervention. Post-surgery, Mr. Lim finds himself heavily reliant on Mrs Lim for essential daily care, managing his dietary needs, and handling household chores.

Mrs Lim battles a leg condition stemming from a nerve issue, while Ben, a former Senior Accountant in the Civil Service sector, had to exit the organization upon being diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2015. This condition has left Ben unable to work, due to the constant trembling of his hands caused by his daily medications.

The family is heavily reliant on a monthly Comcare payout for basic living expenses. Their financial struggles have compelled Mr. Lim’s wife to dip into her Medisave, but this is rapidly depleting. Mr Lim’s foreign citizenship renders him ineligible for government subsidies and financial assistance for his substantial medical fees. Traveling to Malaysia for treatment is not a viable option due to financial constraints and a lack of accommodation or relatives in the neighboring country. The family has exhausted all available means to alleviate their dire situation. Your support will allow Mr Lim to seek medical treatment without worrying about further burdening the family’s finances.