Remembering Dr. Serene Tan: A Sudden Loss on National Day

When‑to‑feel‑the‑pulse‑of‑a‑human‑being‑? On 9 August, Singapore’s National Day didn’t just bring fireworks and flags – it also brought the heartbreaking news that 34‑year‑old Dr. Serene Tan had passed away. After eight long years battling a rare neurological condition, she slipped away from her hospital duties and left a grieving husband, his family, and the nation to pick up the pieces.

Life on the Frontlines

• Worked across the country’s public hospitals – from Singapore General Hospital to Changi General Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
• Daily battles in emergency rooms at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Woodlands Polyclinic kept her on her toes.
• Always ready with a smile, a quick assessment, and a dose of calm for those rushing in with their lives on hold.

When the Storm Grown

Her first symptoms surfaced toward the end of 2013 – dizziness that would feel like being up a spin and a handful of fainting spells that left her colleagues wondering if she’d taken a nap on the carpet. Six months later, the diagnosis hit: frontal lobe epilepsy.

Frontal lobe epilepsy is a type of seizure disorder that kicks in from the brain’s frontal lobes – the same part that controls movement, speech, and behavior. When a seizure starts, awareness can wobble, and if it escalates, there can be a brief loss of consciousness.

The Eight‑Year Rollercoaster

Lu Zheng Ping, a freelance writer and Serene’s husband, looked back with a mix of disbelief and resolve. “It wasn’t a straight path—there were moments of hope and setbacks,” he said. Despite relentless care from her medical team, the complications kept circling back, like that one friend who always shows up fashionably late.

Legacy and Love

Dr. Serene Tan’s story is a reminder that even the most dedicated heroes can find themselves fighting more personal battles than the patients they treat. Her quick wit, unwavering dedication, and the love she shared with her family will echo in the corridors of the hospitals she served.

Took a turn for the worse

When Life Turned Into A Rollercoaster

It seemed like everything was in order for a while, but then in 2019 the wheels went sideways. Quick, repetitive falls from those stubborn seizures pushed Tan into a series of fractures and messy cuts that had no shortage of pain.

From a Walking Wonder to a Bed‑Bound Slacker

“I could walk, do my own thing, no problem,” Lu remembers. “Now she’s stuck in bed for the last two years.”

Every little thing—like going to the toilet, showering, and even washing her hair—has become a team effort. And the changes? Her hubby says there’s a personality shift in the mix. “It’s like she’s her own person now, but not as she used to be,” he says.

Rare, Dangerous epilepsy— doctors fail to crack it

Doctors describe the kind of epilepsy Tan has as “rare and dangerous.” They can’t quite pin down why it’s so hard to treat, and only 1% of epilepsy patients show the same symptoms. “It’s like a puzzle that’s stuck on a hard level,” Lu says.

From University Sweethearts to a Bond of Hardships

It all started back in 2007 when Lu studied engineering and Tan was a medical student. They fell in love, dated for ages, and finally got hitched in 2017—just before Tan’s downfall.

What Tan was up to before the storm

Before health issues kicked in, Tan was a stand‑out medical professional. In 2013, her very first year as a doctor, she snagged the prestigious SingHealth Academy award—a recognition given to doctors in the top 10% of their cohort.

She wasn’t all work and no play; Tan also volunteered with the Red Cross and other charities, making a difference wherever she could.

Under the Weather and Still Singing

Lu shared a bittersweet chapter from Tan’s life—though a relentless spirit, she had a failing body that couldn’t keep pace with her brilliant mind.

Guidelines and Melodies

• From the moment Tan started drafting her aesthetic medicine guidelines, her health slid like a badly‑played piano key.
• Even as the doctor’s needles ticked faster, her heart for us didn’t skip a beat.

Her Final Tune

Before the curtain fell, Tan sent a text that still echoes in our ears: “Let’s sing ‘There Are Lovers in the World’ together.” The beloved Mandopop duet—first released in 1995—had been a duet between Taiwanese icons Wakin Chau and Chyi Yu. In a last‑minute note of hope, she added, “I’m ready, waiting for you.”

The Tragic Beauty of Her Farewell

She was wrestling with seizures each week, her frame weakening like a candle’s flame. Yet right before she slipped away, she was clear as glass.

“On National Day, I held her close and coaxed her to drift into sleep,” Lu says. That night marked the final time they lay side by side. When she crossed the threshold, she did so peacefully, a smile lingering on her lips. “I believe she’s waiting for me in heaven,” he whispers.

How Lu’s Fundraising Saves the Day (and His Wallet)

When medical bills start to pile up, it’s tempting to reach for that old “I’ll pay it off in six months” plan. For Lu, the reality was a little messier, so he turned to Give.Asia two times over the past few years.

2017: The First Heartbeat

• Amount raised: $34,136
• Goal? Cover hotel nights, prescription costs, and the occasional “go-to” charity event to keep the spirits high.

2019: The Follow‑Up Episode

• Amount raised: $15,712
• Lu jotted down on the page: “Between wrangling deadlines, catching glimpses of my lovely wife and juggling rent, I’ve got barely any spare time to squeeze out trips to doctors and leisure.”

He added, “Seriously, the kind souls who donated made a huge difference. Money is the joke, but support is the punchline.”

Love and Vows: The Heart of the Story

He lingered over the words that made the fundraising campaign feel more like a personal promise than a charity appeal.

“It feels a lot like a wedding vow,” he said. “In sickness and in health, we’re supposed to love and care for each other. I’ve chosen my partner for life, and I can’t let a grief or a bank balance dictate that.”

That’s the motive behind Lu’s determination: “Giving up on Tan is never an option.” No amount of money or hardship can erase the pledge he made on the day they said “I do.”

So, while the checkbooks list a rough tally of finances, it’s actually the story of unwavering love that pushes Lu to keep fighting for the health of the one he loves.