DNA Tan

Death happens everyday to someone, and someday to everyone.


I was browsing FB early in the morning as usual and I saw a posting that saddened me. An ex-colleague who just delivered her 2nd baby boy 2 months ago, announced the sudden demise of her newborn. Since birth, this baby boy had never left the ICU and was scheduled for immediate operation to save his life. Since gestation, he was found to have a hole in his heart and both parents were sort of mentally prepared for what will come post delivery. Still, no matter how much a mother thinks she's ready, it's always a hard fact to stomach when it comes to losing your child. When I think of this, and comparing it with my situation, I think my children have a right to be naughty, and even notorious at times, since by simply being alive is a gift.

Being in the LIFE INSURANCE business means I'm more exposed to accidents and death cases. Luckily, I have not had any first hand experience in handling claims for family and friends. However, it doesn't mean it is not going to happen someday. The mission here is therefore to get ahead of my family and friends before our common enermies do. By common enermies, I refer to disabilities, illness, old age and death.

I have, in my ignorance, emailed this ex-colleague about getting insurance for her newborn. There was no response from her and so I thought she may have someone else handling it for her. Didn't want to behave like a pesk or a hard-sell salesman, I decided to let go of my pursuit. Then news of the baby's constant hospitalisation and his eventual passing forced me to reflect if I could have done something before it happened. Probably I could have been more professionally persistent? Perhaps I could have taken initiative to visit the baby? Perhaps I could thicken my skin and hang around them to educate them about the importance of health and life insurance and probably even when I cannot take care of their emotional burden, I can take care of their financial burden from the months of medical and surgical bills.

It is never easy going through 40 weeks of anticipation of a new life. And its even harder to discharge with a death certificate instead of a bundle of joy. But Im sure life is still beautiful for people who met with obstacles to pick up and move on. Life is vulnerable, life is precious, life is great.