From Singapore to Baltimore

From Singapore to Baltimore

by C S Wan



Lulled by the gentle sway of the rocking cradle and cosily wrapped in the warmth of her blanket, our newborn granddaughter, Audrey, was fast asleep. Diagnosed with a defect in a blood vessel leading from her heart, she was due to undergo corrective surgery. My wife kept a close watch over her while I tried to catch up on my sleep after having taken care of her earlier in the night. Our son, Andrew, who had celebrated his birthday that evening and his wife had already retired to their bedroom as they had to take care of their newborn in the morning. Outside, except for the yellow glow of the street lights, all was dark and quiet as it was well past mid-night and most of the residents at Toh Yi Drive were already deep in slumber. However, in the living room of a house in Block B a light still glowed and the television was still airing CNN news on muted mode. My wife would cast occasional glances at the flickering screen to keep her awake. Then something caught her attention. A plane had crashed into a high-rise building. Was the network promoting another Hollywood blockbuster? Then the words “Breaking News” was splashed on the screen. Sensing something terrible had happened, she woke me up. We learned that a hijacked plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York. We were overwhelmed with sadness and worry. Sad because so many innocent lives were lost in the tragedy and we were deeply concerned because in the midst of this tragic event and terrorist threat our son, Andrew, was due to leave for Baltimore. In October, with a heavy heart he bade farewell to his wife and baby girl who was still recuperating from a heart surgery and took a flight to the U.S. where he would spend two years at John Hopkins, Baltimore to do his post doctorate .

On a bleak winter night he sat all alone in his apartment and gazed at the snow-covered roof tops of the neighbouring houses. Perhaps in a moment of nostalgia, he penned this poem.

By Andrew Wan




Bleary images of my loved ones
Waving behind a film of tears
As they recede into the flowing crowd
Streaming away, away from me


I-Chun _ a friend, wife and often more
Baby Audrey _ a new being
Just setting off from shore


Now miles and miles from Baltimore
I turned away the strength to find
In the noble cause I stay behind


For all the blessings come to me
I must return to humanity


So I move myself, trudge back to work
Even on weekends
though the loneliness bites


At times I meet a friend or two
And they help to put me right



You could say the saving grace
In my life was wrought

In the form of newfound friends

Whom I had never thought
Could be the torches to illuminate
the darker, rolling terrain of life

*****************************

Below videos of Audrey when she visited her dad in Baltimore

An envelope filled with inspiration

Hello, everyone! I am Audrey Wan, granddaughter of Wan Chwee Seng, The childhood stories my grandpa recounts are not just pieces of writing, but words that touch your soul, painting a beautiful picture in your mind of those carefree, golden days. His poetic canvasses, spread with vivid colours, transport you to a magical land of moonlight, sandy beaches and towering coconut trees. Even my grandfather’s bubbly spirit and smiling, dimpled countenance is admirable for someone in his golden years. I will always look up to him. As a schoolgirl of ten, I also love writing as much as he does, and today I will share with you a motivating experience which will help me go further.

Hi, I am Audrey

With my mom, and baby brother, Ethan

An envelope filled with inspiration

By Audrey Wan

It was a small white envelope, pure and clean. Slightly frayed at one edge, it bore no clue to the meaning that lay within. The fancy ‘Hallmark’ symbol imprinted in the centre was its only means of ‘decoration’.

The small, white envelope

I picked up the envelope from my mother’s bed and warily took out the card inside. ‘Thank You’ it spelt in bold, cursive letters on the patterned beige front. Now I was curious, and I felt like Alice as she peeped into the tiny door. Thank you? What for? I opened it up. Rows of neat, slightly lopsided letters filled the page. Not an adult? I scanned the writing and finally understood.

Dear Andrew, it said,
I’ve enjoyed my attachment at IBN very much. I’ve learnt so much from your mentoring, which allowed me the freedom to explore and test my ideas; enabled me to learn and experience the skills in designing experiments, reading papers and learning how to present and write. I’ll always take the skills and lessons I learnt from you everywhere I go. Thank you for all the lessons/skills you’ve taught me and all the effort you put in to mentor me.
Yours Sincerely,
S.Z.

My dad, Andrew

I could picture my father Dr Andrew Wan, a scientist, patiently explaining the ins and outs of scientific experiments as S.Z., probably a college student, nodded his head.repeatedly.
I felt touched, as If I had been mentoring, and could almost feel the joy my father must have experienced when he had successfully helped someone to take a step towards his ambition. Suddenly, the picture in my mind turned to me, as an adult. As a doctor confidently helping a sick child in the clinic as a frantic mother looked on; as a botanist on a tour of the Botanical Gardens, or even as a lecturer lecturing on stage in a university!

I suddenly wanted to help others with the gifts that I had, and help them pursue their dreams! Thank you, envelope, for being in the right place at the right time!

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