Hope takes center stage as musical honors healthcare professionals
Their dedication continues to ground columnist with Duchenne MD
Last month, I attended “The Sun Will Shine,” a jukebox musical staged at The Star Performing Arts Centre in Singapore. I was invited by the SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network (SPAN), a collective of patients and caregivers who offer feedback to improve healthcare services.
As someone living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), being part of SPAN has given me many opportunities to advocate for my community, but that night reminded me of something different — that joy, humor, and lightness can sit alongside chronic illness in ways I often forget.
The show commemorated SingHealth’s 25th anniversary as Singapore’s largest public healthcare group. What made it special was that the cast featured real healthcare workers performing reimagined pop songs to tell stories of courage, long shifts, hospital friendships, and small moments of encouragement. Seeing clinicians, nurses, and other staff perform onstage felt unusual, but also very human.
Performance led to reflection on life with Duchenne
The musical is set in a fictional hospital on a “mystical island” called Pulau Singa, which is much like modern-day Singapore. Through comedic moments, clinic scenes, and heartfelt ballads, the show portrayed how people in healthcare carry their responsibilities with care and humor. As I watched, I found myself thinking about the countless hours I had spent in hospitals.
With Duchenne, my quality of life is shaped by heart scans, respiratory checks, and long conversations about how to manage my weakening muscles. DMD progressively affects mobility, breathing, and heart function, and most people with the disease rely on wheelchairs and ventilators full-time by adulthood.
Seeing hospital life portrayed in a warm and hopeful way made me think about why I am still here today. It is because of the very people this musical honored: healthcare professionals. They are the ones who have cared for me since childhood, supported my transition to 24-hour ventilation, and guided me after my brother, Isaac, died from Duchenne-related heart failure.
Show inspires feelings of gratitude
Some scenes in the musical touched on medical crises and the weight of responsibility. Others focused on friendship and the quiet encouragement that keeps teams going. These themes resonate deeply with anyone living with DMD. Our days are shaped by fatigue, respiratory support, cardiac dysfunction, and caregiving schedules. Yet they are also shaped by laughter, inside jokes, and unexpected joy.
As I left the theater, I felt grateful. The show celebrated healthcare workers, but it also reminded me of the community that surrounds me. My caregivers, parents, and medical teams have kept me alive for three decades, and their dedication continues to ground me.
Life with Duchenne is not easy, but moments like this remind me why hope still matters. When stories are honest, warm, and shared from the heart, they give people like me the strength to keep going. Sometimes, they even make the sun seem a little brighter.
Note: Muscular Dystrophy News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Muscular Dystrophy News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to muscular dystrophy.
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