Strength Grows With Heart Support

by Azzahra Binte Osman

In 2012, Mdm Cityruth Cocoanna Christian was unstoppable. Beyond her primary occupation as a Preschool Principal, she engaged in ballroom dancing professionally and took on several freelance jobs. Then a viral infection changed her life.

After a day of kite-flying at a preschool camp, she was preparing sambal stingray for her staff. Little did she know that the stingray that had been brought in from Indonesia was contaminated. Wearing only thin plastic gloves, she was pierced while handling it. That night, a fever set in. She dismissed it as fatigue, but a week later, she collapsed after a parent-teacher conference.

At the Singapore General Hospital, doctors revealed she was suffering from heart failure caused by a viral infection. Her heart was functioning at only 21 percent. This was the beginning of a long and difficult battle.

Complications and Struggles

Over the next 13 years, Mdm Coco endured more than 40 surgeries. In 2019, her kidneys failed, and she began dialysis. Already diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, her health complications increasingly complex. Today, she lives with heart failure, kidney failure and diabetes – conditions that require constant medical care.

At the same time, her husband suffers from schizophrenia and stroke, which places further strain on the household. For years, she was the sole breadwinner, managing both her family’s financial needs and her own health. Now, unable to work full time, she relies heavily on medical subsidies and donor support to cope with the mounting expenses of treatment and caregiving.

Her challenges have not only been physical but emotional. Wheelchair-bound for several years, she battled depression and often isolated herself at home. Doctors initially gave her only five years to live. Convinced her time was short, she neglected her health, overeating until she reached 120kg.

A Turning Point

Five years later, she realised her health had not declined as predicted. Determined to regain her mobility, she underwent weight-loss surgery and began walking again. That decision marked the start of a new phase – one defined by resilience rather than despair.

When her ElderShield payouts stopped, her financial situation worsened. Thankfully, her social worker at Whispering Hearts Family Service Centre introduced her to the Singapore Heart Foundation’s Heart Support Fund. The fund has been vital, allowing her to afford caregivers for both herself and her husband while coping with rising living costs.

Rebuilding Purpose

With support, Mdm Coco has found new meaning. She recently enrolled in a six-month diploma programme at a Bible school, investing in her spiritual growth. She also volunteers with the Caregivers Alliance, training and supporting families who care for individuals with mental illnesses and dementia. Through this, she has discovered a greater empathy for others facing struggles like her own.

Despite her medical conditions, she remains deeply committed to living with purpose, finding strength not just for herself but also for those around her.

Thankfully, with the financial support from the Singapore Heart Foundation, she is able to cope with the rising costs of living and to hire caregivers for herself and her husband who is also ill.

Mdm Coco has also been able to carry on her own pursuits. She recently enrolled in a 6-month diploma class at a Bible school.

Furthermore, she has found a purpose in volunteering. She currently gives voluntary training at the Caregivers Alliance, where she provides support to those suffering from mental illnesses and dementia. She feels that she has built greater empathy and understanding for those going through situations similar to hers.

If you are a heart patient in need, SHF is ready to help you. Visit the Heart Support Fund page at https://www.myheart.org.sg/heart-support-fund/ for more details.

Watch Mdm Coco’s story here: