Highlights from Caring Hearts Support Group (CHSG)
PULSE Issue 47 | July 2026
One of the most moving moments of our 2025 festive season was when our members traded patient gowns for Santa hats, bringing Christmas carols into the foyer and cardiac wards of the National University Heart Centre, Singapore (NUHCS). For many of us, this journey felt deeply personal. Not long ago, some of us were patients in those very wards, taking recovery one day at a time amid uncertainty. Returning now as a choir of survivors carried a powerful message for those behind the doors: there is life, music and joy after a cardiac event. As our voices echoed through the wards, we were not just singing — we were sharing living proof of recovery.
The echoes of our carols had barely faded when we gathered for our CHSG Year-end Celebration. It was a reminder that while our hearts may carry scars, they are also fuller than ever. The evening was not defined by decorations or food, but by the people in the room and the bonds we have built together. Conversations flowed easily beyond recovery updates.
We shared stories of long-awaited holidays, time spent with grandchildren, and new hobbies discovered along the way. Seeing our members vibrant and strong was, in itself, a celebration. A meaningful moment came during our “Circle of Strength” where we paused to reflect on the year behind us, both its challenges and its victories, big or small. It reminded us of something simple but powerful: we are not just patients; we are a family. Whether six weeks or six years into recovery, each of us carries a story that can encourage someone else.
This year’s 8th anniversary of CHSG feels especially auspicious as it coincides not only with the Lunar New Year, but also with the Year of the Fire Horse! In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises strength, endurance, and vitality — qualities that resonate deeply with our cardiac patient community. Just as the horse is known for its steady momentum, our members continue to “gallop” toward their health goals with resilience and heart.
Together with Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Senior Advisor, NUHCS, A/Prof James Yip, Executive Director, NUHCS, A/Prof Raymond Wong, Head of Department of Cardiology, NUHCS, Dr Yeo Tee Joo, Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, NUHCS, and the rest of the NUHCS team, we marked this milestone by reflecting on a shared mission — one dedicated to empowering heart patients and fostering a heart-strong lifestyle.
To commemorate the occasion, members wore newly launched maroon-purple T-shirts and caps – a true “uniform of resilience”. It was a powerful sight, representing every step taken and every milestone achieved.
The celebration continued with an anniversary cake cutting and a lively Lo Hei (Prosperity Toss). Doctors, patients, caregivers, and families gathered together, tossing ingredients high into the air – a joyful symbol of letting go of past challenges and reaching higher for a healthier future.
Since CHSG was launched on 3 March 2018, our goal has been to bridge the gap between medical treatment and long-term recovery. Healing does not end at discharge. It continues through emotional support, shared understanding and lifestyle change. Over the past eight years, CHSG has become a safe space where members speak openly, celebrate progress, and support one another. For many, it has grown into a second family. This anniversary is not simply about marking time. It is about celebrating life, second chances, and the strength we find in one another.
This is not about surviving. It is about thriving.
As CHSG steps into its ninth year, the commitment to heart health remains strong. We renewed our pledge: Exercise and Love Your Heart, alongside the launch of a new dry-fit exercise T-shirt.
More than apparel, it represents a shared promise to keep moving, stay active, and care for our hearts together. During the celebration, we also took part in a simple exercise session, moving together as one group. It was a reminder that heart health is shaped not only in hospitals, but also through daily choices, consistency and encouragement from those around us. This was followed by a joyful sing-along that filled the room with music and laughter. It was a simple moment, yet one that brought everyone closer.
As we reflect on both our year-end celebration and our 8th anniversary, one truth stands clear: a supported heart is a stronger heart. What began as a small support group has grown into a community built on shared experience, resilience, and mutual encouragement. We are not only patients or caregivers; we are survivors, thrivers and supporters walking this journey together.
CHSG continues to remind us that recovery does not end at discharge. It continues in daily life, in small steps forward, and in the connections we build along the way. As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude for how far we have come and a quiet hope for what is still to come. Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much. Here’s to many more years of friendship, resilience and heartstrong members, as “Caring Begins With Me”.
Happy 8th Anniversary, CHSG!
