We know she contracted pneumonia at some point when the cold air hit Hong Kong, then she progressed to have heart failure and the complications. It came very suddenly as the previous I have heard the lab reports returned to show improvement. For a 91-year old, she was doing well. She did not like hospitalisation and had a hard time to cooperate with doctors and nurses, which is perfectly understandable for an active old lady like herself. We believe there was an infection when her immune system was weak, along with weakened heart and pulmonary oedema.
It was even more devastating that I actually made a video to cheer her up the hospital and she spoke to me only 2 days ago...and we are counting down to Chinese New Year, when there is a strong sense of family. This year will be this first year we celebrate without Granny's amazing turnip cake.
I was flipping through old photos and realised there were very few photos I had with Gran. I know Gran has always wanted a little girl but I only have uncles in my family. She always appeared to be so cheery to meet me, showing photos of her friends and the weddings she attended over time. It is funny how we spoke to each other, when I hardly understood her. She was a daughter of a teacher back in her hometown in Xinhui of the Guangdong province in southern China, but she was never educated. She moved to Hong Kong with my grandfather after WWII, escaping from the Communists. She hardly spoke Cantonese (or maybe she did but with a very strong accent and mixed with the Xinhui dialect) and so often I had to get my uncles or cousins to interpret for me, which was very embarrassing. Unlike my cousins, me and my brother were not brought up by Gran and therefore our memory with her was somehow very faint. But one thing I do know: motherly love is universal.
Dearest Gran, you have fought the battle and you are now in peace. Thank you for everything you have done for all of us.
RIP
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