Admitted on Feb 5, his condition is stable; he is conscious and on a mechanical ventilator to help him breathe
By Zakir Hussain, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
By Zakir Hussain, Deputy Political Editor, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
News of his illness was announced by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in a statement yesterday evening, and immediately drew messages of concern, prayers and wishes for a quick recovery online and at constituency events.
Mr Lee, 91, was admitted to hospital on Feb 5, the statement said.
"His condition has stabilised, and he remains on mechanical ventilation in the ICU," it added. "He is conscious and lightly sedated."
A mechanical ventilator takes over the breathing function of the lungs, giving medication time to work and the body time to recover.
The statement also said: "His doctors are continuing to monitor his condition. PMO will keep the public informed of any change."
Post by Lee Hsien Loong.
A mechanical ventilator takes over the breathing function of the lungs, giving medication time to work and the body time to recover.
The statement also said: "His doctors are continuing to monitor his condition. PMO will keep the public informed of any change."
Mr Lee is an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and, being ill, he is likely to miss this year's Chinese New Year events in his constituency, an area he has represented for the past 60 years since he won the 1955 legislative assembly election.
After the PMO statement was issued, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a Facebook post that he visited his father at SGH yesterday morning.
PM Lee was himself at SGH last week for surgery to remove his prostate gland, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer last month. He was discharged last Wednesday, and his surgeon said he should make a full recovery.
In his Facebook post, PM Lee said he did not see his father on the first day of Chinese New Year, on the advice of both their doctors.
"So, we wished him Happy New Year today, and a smooth recovery," he said. "This was the first year in a long while that we could not attend the Lee family reunion dinner."
Last night, PM Lee responded to well-wishers on Facebook, saying: "Thank you all for your good wishes for my father's recovery. I am deeply touched."
Mr Lee Kuan Yew's ill health has prevented him from attending a number of public and constituency events in recent months.However, he appeared at the People's Action Party's 60th anniversary celebrations at the Victoria Concert Hall last November, as well as his constituency's Tree Planting Day earlier in the same month.
Last August, he attended Tanjong Pagar GRC's National Day dinner.
Last August, he attended Tanjong Pagar GRC's National Day dinner.
But he has missed his constituency's Chinese New Year dinners for the past two years, as he had also been hospitalised during that period.
In 2013, he was admitted for observation after recovering from a suspected episode of a transient ischaemic attack, when blood flow to a part of the brain stops briefly.
Last year, he was admitted for a fever and a bad cough caused by an infection.
Yesterday, many well-wishers hoped that Mr Lee would recover fully to join in the celebrations for Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence.
Wishing him a speedy recovery, Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Facebook: "Looking forward to him joining us again soon to celebrate SG50."
Former MP S. Vasoo said: "Knowing him, as a fighter, I think he will have the capacity to fight through this illness that he is facing."
Get-well wishes for Mr Lee
Residents, MPs hope for speedy recovery for Singapore's first prime minister
By Charissa Yong, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
Residents, MPs hope for speedy recovery for Singapore's first prime minister
By Charissa Yong, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
Deliveryman Ong Eng Hue, a Teck Ghee resident, turned up for the ward's annual Chinese New Year dinner last night hoping to catch a glimpse of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
He was slightly disappointed that PM Lee, who went through surgery for prostate cancer a few days ago, could not attend the event as he was recuperating at home.
But when Mr Ong, 56, heard that PM Lee's father, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, was hospitalised for severe pneumonia, and had been warded for two weeks, he was shocked. His wife, Madam Zhong Liyu, 47, cupped her hands over her mouth.
Their first question was whether the elder Mr Lee was all right, and how serious his illness was.
"During the National Day Parade last year, you could see him unsteady on his feet, so unlike the fiery person he was when he was younger," Mr Ong said worriedly.
"I admire Mr Lee for the way he helped to build Singapore into the country it is today."
His sentiments were echoed by others at the dinner, where Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min, who was standing in for PM Lee, relayed the news of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's illness to the 3,000 Ang Mo Kio GRC residents present.
For many, it was their first time hearing the news, which broke only 11/2 hours before Dr Lam's announcement.
A number of residents interviewed also expressed sadness that the elder Mr Lee was not well enough to usher in Chinese New Year with his family.
Ms Sandra Yeoh, 57, who works in the finance industry, said the news surprised and saddened her.
"It is a pity they (both the elder and younger Mr Lee) couldn't celebrate and have their reunion dinner together," she said.
But Ms Ang Jia Li, 21, a student, said she was glad to hear that the elder Mr Lee's condition had stabilised.
"We would definitely keep Mr Lee in our prayers, regardless of our faiths," she said.
Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Education and Law and an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, told The Sunday Times: "I and all the Tanjong Pagar grassroots leaders wish him a speedy recovery. We are certainly keeping him very much in our thoughts and prayers. Things at the Tanjong Pagar side will continue as usual."
Ms Indranee, who has been conducting Mr Lee's weekly Meet-the- People sessions at Tanjong Pagar- Tiong Bahru ward on his behalf for the past 21/2 years, said it was unlikely Mr Lee would be able to attend the GRC's Chinese New Year dinner later this week, "but we will see".
"What is more important is that he should have sufficient rest to recover," she added.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad, an MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC, said on Facebook: "Wishing Mr Lee Kuan Yew speedy recovery... Happy Lunar New Year, Mr Lee!"
Mr Inderjit Singh, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: "We are all waiting to see him appear at the National Day celebration this year."
As for Mr Ong, he wished Mr Lee a speedy discharge from hospital, saying: "A Singapore without Mr Lee Kuan Yew would be very strange indeed."
What is pneumonia?
By Salma Khalik, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
By Salma Khalik, The Sunday Times, 22 Feb 2015
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, usually caused by bacteria or a virus. In severe cases, it can result in respiratory failure, and the patient will require mechanical ventilation to help him breathe.
The ventilator takes over the breathing function of the lungs and gives the medication - such as antibiotics, in the case of a bacterial infection - time to work and the body time to recover.
Antibiotics usually take about two to three days to become effective. Dr Lee Yeow Hian, a respiratory physician and internist in private practice, said about four out of five patients with severe pneumonia recover and go home.
But there could be some damage to the lungs that could cause breathlessness.
Patients who remain on a ventilator for weeks also risk getting another bug from the equipment - called ventilator acquired pneumonia - that could prolong the illness.
Dr Lee, who has clinics at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Mount Alvernia Hospital, said patients can get two bouts or more of the disease from different bugs. They could get pneumonia caused by a virus, and in their weakened state, catch a bacterial infection.
He said how well a person does depends on various factors, such as how fit the person is to start with, and how aggressive the bug causing the pneumonia is.
He added that so long as the patient remains on life support, the condition is considered critical, as "things can change very fast".
According to the Health Ministry, nearly one in five deaths in 2013 was caused by pneumonia, the second-highest cause of death in Singapore after cancer.
The Health Promotion Board recommends that people aged 65 and above get vaccinated for pneumococcal pneumonia, which is one of the most common bacteria causing pneumonia.