The start of this year was a rather harrowing one for me, health-wise.

In early January, I noticed something unusual: My heart would suddenly start racing rapidly without any trigger. It felt as though I were exercising non-stop, even while sitting in meetings or seeing patients in the clinic.

Boon Yeow (extreme left) during the early days of St Luke’s Hospital. Photos courtesy of A/Prof Tan Boon Yeow and St Luke’s Hospital.

Concerned, I reached out to a cardiologist colleague. He advised me to capture the abnormal rhythm on an ECG using a device like an Apple watch. Unfortunately, mine was an older model without that capability.

Then came a serendipitous moment. During a meeting with my fellow colleagues, the palpitations struck again. Dr Andrew, who was seated beside me, offered his newer Apple watch, and I was finally able to capture the episode.

To my horror, it was indeed an episode of Atrial Fibrillation (AF).

While I have diagnosed and treated many patients with AF, experiencing it myself was a completely different story.

Facing my own mortality

A flurry of “what ifs” flooded my mind: Could I be having a stroke? A heart attack?

Oddly, my first thoughts were not about myself, but how this might affect those around me.

Subsequent tests thankfully showed that I am otherwise in good health, despite the occasional episodes of palpitations. I now carry a beta blocker with me, as a standby for symptomatic treatment.

Just a couple of weeks later, another health scare landed me in A&E at National University Hospital – this time, due to abdominal pain from a gut infection.

I was admitted for IV (intravenous) antibiotics and monitoring, and given a week of hospitalisation leave to recover.

Zooming with his granddaughter from his hospital bed.

During this time, I was deeply touched by the concern of friends and family who visited or reached out.

Two of my close friends gently asked if it might be time to consider a “recalibration”.

That word lingered. It prompted me to pause, reflect, and ask myself: What would recalibration look like? And is it something I need to seriously consider?

What does it mean to recalibrate?

The dictionary defines recalibrate as: “To rectify, to correct, to change and standardise, to adjust precisely for a particular function, and to re-measure against a standard.”

It also means “to change the way we do or think about something”.

This health scare was a sobering reminder of my own mortality and of the importance of recalibrating my physical health.

But beyond that, it also nudged me to reflect more deeply on my motivations, and the trajectory I am currently on.

It made me ask: Are there areas in my life – personal or professional – that needed recalibration?

Pause for thought: How is the state of your health? Are there any areas in your life that needs recalibration?

Recalibrating the whole self

For me, I have come to realise the need to reconsider my being in a more holistic way – physically, psychosocially and spiritually.

Physically, I have allowed the demands of work to crowd out essential disciplines like exercise – those that build stamina, strength, flexibility, even joy through learning new skills.

My diet has also suffered; my goal of eating more greens and protein, and cutting back on carbs, has often been buried under the hustle.

Psychosocially, I have been weighed down by the fast-evolving healthcare landscape and the impact on work and the patients we care for. To cope, I’ve found myself overcompensating with longer work hours and effort, neglecting rest and activities that promote my physical and mental well-being.

Taking a pause while scaling West Dog Teeth, known to be the hardest hike in Hong Kong.

I had forgotten to “smell the roses” – to pause and savour simple joys with family and friends. I had also been sleep-deprived, often staying up late to clear emails that I could not get to during the day.

Spiritually, I have had to face the reality that I haven’t always given my all to God. I had sought to please men over Christ.

Jeremiah 10:23 puts it this way: “I know, God, that mere mortals can’t run their own lives, That men and women don’t have what it takes to take charge of life. So correct us, God, as you see best.”

Pause for thought: Are you depending solely on your own efforts to make life work? Is there another source of strength that you can draw upon?

Being present with God and self

I have come to realise the importance of being fully present — not just in my relationships or responsibilities, but also in my spiritual life. In his book Incarnational Ministry: Being with the Church, English priest Samuel Wells talks about the idea of being present with God in a way that’s unhurried and without agenda – simply giving our full attention in moments of quiet reflection or prayer.

Being present in this way opens the door to deeper understanding. As we slow down and spend time in reflection – often through reading the Bible – we may uncover insights or a sense of purpose that can guide us through life.

The author (first from right) at a recent Easter service with a colleague and board members of St Luke’s Hospital.

I am still learning. Not just how to be present with God, but also with myself and others. And in that process, I’ve noticed my relationships have become more genuine, and I’ve felt a renewed sense of energy and purpose – both in my work and in the challenges I face.

Heeding that gentle prompting

As followers of Christ, we know the Holy Spirit gently prompts us to recalibrate when we veer off course. The sooner we yield, the less realignment is needed ahead.

I do not know how the coming years will pan out for me, but I have a quiet confidence that as long as I am able to continue recalibrating my life at regular junctures, I believe I will stay on the path God has set before me – and, by His grace, finish the race well.

Is this something you would like too?

This article has been adapted, with permission, from a letter by the author to the staff of St Luke’s Hospital.

A version of this story first appeared on Stories of Hope.

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