How one Make-A-Wish moment at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok brought unexpected joy to a devoted caregiver and his family.
In December 2024, Mr Roger Tan, 75, came across a festive booth at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok. Members were invited to write down a wish on a Wishing Star and drop it into a box for a chance to have it granted.
The initiative was part of the HomeTeamNS Once Upon a Wish campaign, which saw HomeTeamNS clubhouses decked out in holiday cheer, hosting activities like games, craft workshops, and magic shows.
In a moment of heartfelt spontaneity, Mr Tan made a wish — not for himself, but for his wife, Mdm Betty Lim, 73, who struggles with chronic knee pain and uses a wheelchair. His wish? A multi-function microwave oven to help him prepare more varied hot meals for his spouse. “I thought I would just try my luck,” he recalled with a laugh. “Normally I never win anything — except maybe a smile from the counter staff!”
Though Mr Tan handles most of the cooking at home, he’s quick to admit that it’s a work in progress. “The first time I cooked soup, I forgot to add salt. My son said it was like drinking water!” Still, he, along with his spouse and son, has been trying to change their habit of eating out, being mindful of the high levels of sodium, fat, and sugar often found in restaurant meals. He hopes that a better kitchen setup might allow him to cook nourishing dishes at home that suit Mdm Lim’s dietary needs.
Then came the surprise: an email from HomeTeamNS informing him that his wish had been selected.
“Roger thought it was a scam,” Mdm Lim recalled with a smile. ““He kept saying he didn’t know whether it was real. But I was excited!”
On 20 May 2025, HomeTeamNS Chief Executive Ms Agnes Eu visited Mr Tan and Mdm Lim at their home to present the microwave oven, along with a set of microwave-safe containers.
The couple welcomed the team warmly, sharing stories of their life together — starting with how they met through Mdm Lim’s sister at a friends’ gathering. Mr Tan, ever the chatty one, was immediately drawn to Mdm Lim’s quiet charm. “I thought she was pretty,” he recounted. “We started going out together – for walks, shopping, and eating. Sometimes we would go to the cinema to watch movies starring our favourite actress Lin Ching-hsia.”
They got married in 1981. While Mr Tan worked in shipping and later banking, Mdm Lim became a homemaker. When she fell ill, he left his job in a bank to focus on selling insurance — a more flexible career that allowed him to care for her. Eventually, he became her full-time caregiver. “She needs more care as she is in a wheelchair,” Mr Tan explained. “And I don’t like to be away from her too long.”
Despite mobility challenges, the couple still enjoys going out together, just like they did when they were dating. In the past, they have travelled to destinations like Sydney, Melbourne, Xiamen, and Macau. These days, they stay closer to home, frequenting Northpoint City for meals at their favourite eateries like A-One Signature and Seoul Garden.
Mr Tan originally served as a Singapore Armed Forces NSman but was seconded to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) following the Hotel New World collapse in 1986. He became a HomeTeamNS Ordinary Member in 2005 and has remained a loyal member ever since.
The couple visits HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok regularly, often after attending church just across the road. They enjoy having lunch at Saizeriya and relaxing at the members’ lounge with friends and family. “Sometimes our son joins us too,” said Mr Tan. “It’s nice to sit and chat after church.”
On birthdays and special occasions, Madam Lim and Mr Tan would celebrate with friends at karaoke. “We like singing Hokkien songs. Our favourite is Ai Pia Cia Eh Yia,” said Mr Tan. “Singing is fun, and the venues are usually not too crowded on weekdays.”
He also visits HomeTeamNS Khatib, which is closer to his home, to swim and check out the week’s activities. The swimming pool became his go-to exercise spot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I really want to thank the HomeTeamNS staff for all their hard work,” he said. “It’s not easy organising all these programmes. I especially enjoy initiatives like Make a Wish — they bring members together in a meaningful way.”
For Mr Tan, the microwave oven isn’t just a useful kitchen tool — it represents a small but meaningful gesture of care from the HomeTeamNS community. And for Mdm Lim, it means easier, more nutritious meals and continued support from a husband who’s stood by her side for decades.
“I always tell my friends to renew their HomeTeamNS membership,” said Mr Tan. “There are so many great facilities and activities. I just hope there’ll be even more inclusive programmes in future — especially for seniors and those in wheelchairs, like my wife.”
And as for his wish beyond the Wishing Star? “I wish for good health for both of us,” he said. “As health is the one thing you can’t buy.”
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