Actor Tay Ping Hui mourns mother, who died of cancer: 'Life without you will never be the same'

Singaporean actor Tay Ping Hui mourns the loss of his mother, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer earlier this month. In a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday, Tay shared a series of photographs capturing his mother throughout her life, from her younger years to recent times. The actor revealed that he had taken a break from public appearances and social media due to the challenging, emotionally taxing period he and his family had endured over the past few months.

Tay's mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer approximately a year ago. Initially, her condition seemed to improve after treatment, but the cancer regrettably progressed and spread to her liver within two months. She passed away just over a week after her diagnosis. Tay described the ordeal as a "painful and heartbreaking journey," emphasizing that his mother fought valiantly with all her strength.

In addition to battling cancer, his mother was also diagnosed with dementia. Aware of her anxiety or discomfort in an unfamiliar hospital setting, the family made the decision to stay with her at home, with family members taking turns to be by her side. Reflecting on his mother's life, Tay succinctly summarized her essence with the word "love."

He fondly recalled her passion for cooking, playing mahjong, and cherishing her grandchildren, children, and husband. However, he emphasized that "most of all," his mother loved life itself.

Tay concluded his tribute with a poignant message to his deceased mother: "My sweet mummy. Life without you will never be the same. I miss you calling me 'ah boy' and I will miss you until we finally meet again. Goodbye, my dearest Mum. I love you." He signed off with the Chinese phrase "Mum, wait for me."