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Truong Thi Cuc, known affectionately as Ah Cuc, is a Vietnamese-born mother living in Singapore, raising two daughters while caring for a husband whose health is rapidly declining. What makes her story remarkable is not just what she has endured, but how she has endured it: with quiet grace, fierce devotion, and a love that has never once faltered.
Both of Ah Cuc’s daughters, Eve (14) and Eva (13), were diagnosed with Dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), a rare neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, cognition, and emotional well-being. Their father, Sheng, carries the same condition. There is no cure.
When her husband could no longer work, Ah Cuc taught herself Mandarin and stepped forward as the family’s sole breadwinner. Working six days a week, she also shoulders the role of caregiver to her children. She has navigated Singapore’s complex medical and social support systems largely in a language she is still learning, all without the support of extended family in Singapore.
Ah Cuc with her younger daughter, Eva.
Last August, Ah Cuc’s younger daughter Eva passed away. She would have turned 14 this November. In the weeks leading up to her passing, Ah Cuc made the difficult decision to stop working for a month so she could remain by Eva’s side until her final moments.
Since February 2025, HCA Star PALS (Paediatric Advanced Life Support) has been supporting Ah Cuc’s family — providing home palliative care for children with life-limiting conditions, and the psychosocial support that families like hers need to cope and carry on.
To provide Ah Cuc with some respite, Eve stayed at St Theresa’s Home for close to a month through our inpatient respite care collaboration. Eve has also participated in Star PALS’ programmes, including our family camp last year.
For families like Ah Cuc’s — facing serious conditions, language barriers, and the grief of losing a loved one without nearby relatives to lean on, our care team offer more than medical support. We journey alongside them, through difficult decisions and through the long days in between.
Ah Cuc with her elder daughter, Eve.
This Mother’s Day, your generous gift makes our care possible. It ensures that no mother in Singapore has to navigate grief, illness, and uncertainty alone.
