It's a tragic loss to both Vancouver and especially in Hong Kong, where she will be remembered as one of the city's best actresses. As a kid, I grew up watching some of her Chinese programs. She was legendary: a huge and widely respected figure in both cities. She regularly sported her signature dark rimmed glasses and hairstyle, and was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei (肥肥, literally Fat Fat or Fatty). Her daughter, Joyce Cheng, now 20 years old, was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated from Crofton. She is also well-known in both cities, and aspires to be a singer. Fei Fei has also participated in many SUCCESS concerts in the city. And she's also a Canadian citizen.
She will be buried in Vancouver next week, with a televised public memorial in Hong Kong on March 3.
Shum had several chronic ailments : cholangitis, diabetes, and hypertension. In 2002, she was admitted to hospital and had 36 gallstones extracted. In September 2006, Shum was diagnosed with a liver tumor and cancer around the gallbladder. Immediately, doctors removed one third of her liver.
Prior to the cholecystectomy done in 2002, she had a history of bile duct inflammation as early as 1978. The inflammation recurred in 1989. On September 22, 2006 the bile duct inflammation had recurred, and 4 days later, the inflammation had complicated the liver and her coma began. She woke from the coma on October 1, 2006. On January 29, 2007 she once again entered the operating room to remove a liver tumor which weighed 2.7kg. On March 8, 2007 the tumor was found to be growing again so she had a cholecystectomy once again.
On October 11, 2007, Shum collapsed at home due to pleural effusion, and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong for emergency treatment. She was transferred to the QMH later that day. She was discharged from the hospital on October 16, 2007.
Shum was admitted to the intensive care ward at QMH on 22 January, 2008 and checked out on 26 January, 2008. Her mother passed away in Canada while Shum was in the hospital.
She was once again admitted to the intensive care ward at QMH on 2 February, 2008. Her conditions worsened, so on February 19, 2008 - 3 a.m. (local time) her family decided not to let her suffer more. It was decided that her breathing apparatus would be removed from her, her family spent time with her by her bedside till she passed away peacefully at 8:38 a.m. (local time). It was unfortunate that she was not able to say her last words then.
Prior to her death, she was known to be suffering of liver cancer and had been fighting it for 2 years. As part of the treatment for her illness, she underwent Chemotherapy and several Kidney dialysis.
Tears flow over spirit of Fei Fei
Nickkita Lau
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A public memorial ceremony for Lydia Shum Din-ha will be held early next month in Hong Kong, but her body will be taken to Vancouver next week to lie next to her parents.
The actress, singer and television show host, nicknamed "Happy Nut" for her signature laugh, died on Tuesday morning aged 62 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Her daughter, aspiring singer Joyce Cheng Yan-yee, spoke publicly for the first time yesterday since her mother's passing. While calm at the beginning of the nine-minute press conference Cheng burst into tears as she talked.
Cheng said her mother had been very strong and courageous in the long fight against her illness. "Don't be sad," she said. "She was suffering. She is now in a more peaceful place."
Cheng got moral support at the conference from her mother's close friends - Amy Cheung, wife of late director Chang Cheh, and Florence Chan Suk-fan and her son Chan Ka-ho - as well as Shum's sister Viola Chiang and brother-in-law Chiang Jia-ling.
Florence Chan said Shum turned down many requests from friends to visit her in hospital because she did not want them to see her in her ailing condition. "She believed she would go home one day," said Chan. "She wanted to wait until she was in better spirits. But don't worry or feel sorry for not being able to see her in her last moments - she would have wanted all of you to be happy when you think of her."
Shum's body will be transported next week to Vancouver where a private funeral will take place. The burial will be at Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks and Mortuaries.
Video clips of the funeral will be shown at the Hong Kong Coliseum memorial service to be held on March 2. Admission will be free but ticketing details are still pending. Television Broadcasts, where Shum worked for almost 40 years, will broadcast the ceremony live.
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