Ms Sandra Song (middle in blue), with friends and nurses at the dialysis centre
“l’ve seen for myself how patients suffer by having to undergo dialysis treatment for the rest of their lives. Long-term support is therefore crucial to ensure the continuity of dialysis treatment and care for them. I’m glad to do my bit through my monthly giving to provide artificial kidneys (dialysers) for needy kidney patients.”
Ms Sandra Song Lee Giok
Inspired to pay it forward
It is said that acts of kindness ripple through time. This holds true for Ms Sandra Song, who has been
supporting NKF for years. In particular, she has donated monthly towards the NKF AK. Giver Programme, which
supports patients with dialyses - also known as artificial kidneys (A.K.). Sandra also volunteered at the
dialysis centre with her friends in a befriending session, where interactions with patients help meet their
psychosocial needs, which is an important part of the holistic care they require to live quality lives.
Sandra
has always greatly admired her late mother-in-law, Madam Wong Sui Ha Edna’s compassion, generosity and
willingness to give to others. While executing Madam Wong’s will after her passing, she was inspired to
continue Madam Wong’s legacy of helping needy dialysis patients.
Aside from doing her part for
charity through the AK. Giver Programme, Sandra is also a firm believer of sharing the joy of arts with the
community, especially the more vulnerable groups. As the Chairman of Xin Yue Performing Arts, she has
invited patients and their families, staff and donors to watch traditional Yue Opera performances put up by
their arts group in various years. During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, Sandra and her friends also
hand-made reusable masks, which were put up on NKF’s eShop to help raise funds for patients and distributed
to front-liners in this trying period.
Through these contributions, Sandra hopes that more people
in the community will be inspired - just like her - to step up and help dialysis patients, empowering them
with the opportunity to continue leading
fulfilling lives.
What is A.K. Giver Programme?
Haemodialysis (HD) patients go to dialysis centres for treatment 13 times a month and they will have to do so for the rest of their lives. For each dialysis treatment, they depend on an Artificial Kidney (A.K.), to filter waste and excess fluids from their body. A.K.s are meant to be used only once and will be replaced after every treatment.
The A.K. Giver Programme helps raise funds to support patients with A.K.s that are crucial to the sustaining of their lives. Every $100 can support a patient with A.K.s for one month, and every $1,000 can support a patient with A.K.s for IO months.
Haemodialysis (HD) is performed thrice weekly, with each treatment being about 4 hours long. HD patients spend 624 hours every year on dialysis.
At every HD session, 2 needles will be inserted into the patient’s vascular access. This amounts to 312 needles being inserted in a year.
