A sense of serenity fills the Palliative Care Department of Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital (OLMH). Unlike a hospital ward, the spacious room is homey and furnished with a sofa, television, dining table, refrigerator, microwave oven and snack vending machine.

Being a pioneer of palliative care in Hong Kong, OLMH commenced operation of palliative care ward in 1982. Started with only eight palliative care beds, it has increased to nearly 30 palliative care beds today to cope with the increasing service needs.

Having worked in the department for 14 years, Carol Mok, a nurse in Palliative Care, recounts one of the most unforgettable cases. “A year ago, I met Ms Cheng (pseudonym) for the first time in the clinic. A cheerful lady in her thirties, she did not look like a patient at all. She required hospitalisation for recurrent cervical cancer. In the last two months of her life, her condition deteriorated and so did her look, even scaring her 5-year-old boy away. The patient eventually lost the battle and passed away.”

Before performing last office for Ms Cheng, Carol proposed to arrange her son to come to bid farewell to his mother, but was refused by Ms Cheng’s sister. Wishing to bring out the glow and shine on Ms Cheng’s face again, Carol decided to apply cosmetics on her body – she put foundation all over Ms Cheng’s face, used concealer to cover her freckles, applied lipstick to improve lip colour and also on the cheekbones. Then she tilted Ms Cheng’s lips a little upward to make her look as if she was smiling in sleep, and changed the clothes to fit Ms Cheng’s favourite hip-hop style.

The family was surprised with relief when they saw the deceased’s pretty look again. Ms Cheng’s sister changed her mind immediately and arranged Ms Cheng’s son to come and say goodbye to his mother. “It is touching and comforting to see Ms Cheng look good on her last journey and leave beautiful memory in the heart of her child,” says Carol, with sparkle in her eyes.