“Previously, when I had heart fibrillations, I used to call Sister Lim on her personal hand phone for help and advice. No matter what time it was, she always answered, gave me advice and would arrange an appointment with the doctor if necessary,” remembers Mr H.

Sister Lim Suh Fen’s warmth and care for her patients   is legendary among patients and staff at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS).   The Deputy Director of Nursing at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) routinely went beyond the call of duty for her patients; she looked after each one of them as she would her friends and family. Her dedication was recognised at the highest level when she received the President’s Award for Nurses in 2010.

“Sister Lim remembered every single condition of each and every patient. Needless to say, her technical skills as a nurse were excellent,” remembers Genevieve Wong, Head, Medical Social Services.

Sadly Sister Lim passed away in January 2017, after a brave fight with cancer.

“I was at NHCS on the day she passed away. Many of her nurses had tears in their eyes. They had called to inform me of the news because they knew that Sister Lim and I were friends,” says Mr H, who first met Sister Lim at a cardiology appointment in 1996.

Sister Lim was part of NHCS from its inception.  In 1994, she helped set up and run the Singapore Heart Centre in the Mistri Wing at the Singapore General Hospital, which later became NHCS. She worked tirelessly on the planning for the new NHCS building, while continuing to run the clinics.

Patients were Sister Lim’s top priority, but she was also a mentor to nurses, staff and extended her help to doctors. Her energy was boundless and many still miss the warmth and reassuring touch.

“Sister Lim was one of those rare individuals who moved you with her sincerity and dedication to her life’s work. As a new consultant who had just returned from overseas, it took me some time to get used to the system in Singapore,” says Associate Professor Yeo Khung Keong, Senior Consultant, NHCS. “Sister Lim was always patient, kind and ready to help. It is hard to put into words the fondness and respect I have for her.”

When Mr H gave a generous donation in memory of Sister Lim, the NHCS leaders decided to use it to start a fund in her name to continue her legacy. NHCS aims to raise $625,000 to establish the proposed Sister Lim Suh Fen Fund for Cardiovascular Research and Education. It is hoped that the endowed fund will continue to support cardiovascular research, develop new models of care and support cardiovascular medical education for healthcare professionals so that patients can continue to benefit from the excellent care that Sister Lim exemplified.

If you were touched by the life of Sister Lim and would like to share a story or make a gift towards the Fund, please contact NHCS Development at [email protected] or Tel: 6704 2384/88.