Words cannot describe the sorrow and loss that I am feeling. I can’t bring myself to speak so I have asked my son Paul to read out what I feel. Thanks to everyone for being here today to pay tribute to Dr. Kana. I am not sure if I can really express just how much I miss Dr. Kana. He was my Dr, older brother and friend. I have known him for about 33 years. His ability to make everyone feel comfortable, secure and loved were his greatest strengths. His finest quality was his patience and inherent ability to listen. I could talk to him about anything and everything. I have my own blood older brother but I put Dr. Kana above him. He was always there for me and my sons. He was like a pillar to us. He never complained and could always be counted on.

I miss his kindness and humour. Dr Kana was always there if I needed someone to talk to or needed some medical advice. Whenever my sons informed him that I was ill, he without notice will be at my home with his faithful nurse Siti. He truly was a loving uncle to my sons. My life feels so empty now. Sitting at home and realizing that he is no more, I still unconsciously wait for his text messages or for a call as he always did but alas neither will I ever receive from him.

He may be gone but his memory will live on in me forever. There isn’t a single day that went by without me thinking of him or shedding a tear. The pain will never go; it will remain in me till my last breath. You have worked too hard. Rest my precious brother.

I pray that everyone here today will take the time to think of all the fond memories they had with Dr Kana.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/a-tribute-to-dr-kanagalingam-kasipillai-john-baptist

A tribute to Dr Kanagalingam Kasipillai – John Baptist
Published: 25 July 2015 8:16 PM

In the early hours of July 8, 2015, Dr Kanagalingam Kasipillai had breathed his earthly last and embarked on his home-going. I am not sure if any reader is familiar with Dr Kana (as my family had known him for more than 30 years) for while he was in most part a medical doctor par excellence, he had donned many other hats.

Dr Kana was vice-president and steward of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme, Geneva, for 16 years where he attended to medical safety aspects of the riders on the tracks. As a steward, he ensured compliance with rules and regulations and functioned as a judge in disciplinary issues and in the event of protests.

Dr Kana had served for three years as a Captain and Regimental Medical Officer in the Malaysian Armed Forces. More recently, he was a senior lecturer in Emergency Medicine at CyberPutra College where he had helped nurture and produced the nation's first batch of circa 140 qualified paramedics.

Apart from conventional medicine, Dr Kana was also an expert at natural healing therapies such as acupuncture, reike healing, homeopathy, and phytobioscience.

Dr Kana went about doing charity work not letting his left hand know what his right hand was doing. He was also a vociferous and outspoken chairman of the Taman Seputeh Residents Association.

He frequently wrote to the press and alternative media to express his views on current issues without mincing his words. We feared that Dr Kana was rapidly securing himself a place under government hospitality in Kamunting, a fear he heartily laughed off.

Dr Kana eschewed the path to quick riches and simply refused to sell cough mixtures to drug addicts, antibiotics to those who frequented brothels, sell medical leave certificates to those who feigned illness and refused to perform abortions.

He told us that he had remained true to his Hippocratic Oath and to the ethical standards expected of a doctor. Above all, Dr Kana was a very humble man.

At the wake in his honour, a relative lamented the fact that Dr Kana had not received any formal recognition from the government for his immense contributions. I simply felt that no amount of silver would have enhanced the repute of the rare and precious diamond that he was.

Dr Kana meant a lot to many people in different ways and this tribute is an attempt, which is bound to be inadequate, at expressing my family's personal experience with him.

We were first acquainted with Dr Kana some 30 years ago. Even when we moved very far away from Dr Kana's clinic, whenever our mum's health condition warranted it, he would travel the distance with his faithful nurse of over 20 years, Sitie, and examine my mum, administer medication, while refusing to accept any fee. He treated my mother as his own sister.

To us, Dr Kana was blessed as an extension of God's healing hands. Whatever our health conditions, Dr Kana was able to find the right remedy for each of us.

However troubling the condition of a patient, Dr Kana was always a picture of calm. He was well aware that any countenance of fear on his part would have adverse effects upon the infirmed patient. He would wait for the right opportunity to tell the patient how bad things were.

At any time, when we were perforce to see another doctor and had medication prescribed, we would call or send Dr Kana a message, detailing our condition and the medication prescribed. Until approved by Dr Kana, we would not consume the medication.

Dr Kana was never a true fan of conventional medication, particularly antibiotics, which he prescribed as a last resort.

His knowledge of alternative treatments saved many from unnecessary surgeries, incisions and pain. He was able to prescribe herbs, spices and organic products that worked just as well.

I watched with absolute amazement and joy when my brother who had suffered from excruciating knee pain was treated with acupuncture by Dr Kana. Having undergone surgery previously to address that pain, the knee was in such bad shape to the point that my brother was barely able to bend his leg.

After a brief treatment of 20 minutes, my brother suddenly felt no pain at his knee and was able to bend it 90 degrees. Whilst we were thanking Dr Kana profusely with tears in our eyes, he acted as if it was just another ordinary feat.

When our mother underwent a cataract surgery, imagine our delight when Dr Kana turned up with Sitie to visit without notice. Not only that, he also prepared coffee in a flask for all of us.

Dr Kana spent a lot of time with us, checking on my mum and giving us advice. Dr Kana always went beyond the call of duty and would often call or send messages to enquire if we were better a day or two after we sought treatment from him.

In April this year, my mum had lost her younger brother who had returned to the Lord and was and still is very distressed over it.

Aware of this, Dr Kana had indicated that he wanted to visit my mum as she had fallen ill for an unusually long period. We asked Dr Kana to hold on because we felt that our mum would not be able to handle further crying, which she was bound to do at the sight of him.

On June 11, 2015, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Kana at a clinic where he was on locum duty. We had a pretty long chat and he examined me very thoroughly.

As usual, Dr Kana asked about my mum and my brother too. The nurse must have been rather curious to see Dr Kana spend so much time with me and so she entered the room with a look of enquiry on her face.

Dr Kana told her that I was his patient of about 30 years and then uttered prescient words that brings tears to me every time I remember them – "After I am gone, please remember to take very good care of him!"

Unable to wait any longer, Dr Kana informed us that he was going to drop by our home to check on our mum on a Tuesday, likely June 23.

As fate would determine, he was admitted to Institut Jantung Negara on the day before his planned visit to our home for breathing difficulties. On Tuesday, my brother and I visited Dr Kana and the doctors had administered oxygen to help him breathe.

Even under such distressed conditions, Dr Kana yanked at the mask with the little strength he had and asked us: "How is mummy?" My brother quickly replied: "Doctor, now you are the patient, so for once please think about yourself and rest. Don't worry about mummy, she is better now." He smiled.

When we were leaving, I touched Dr Kana's feet and urged him to get well quickly. He waved back and smiled. I never realised that that was my final farewell to our beloved Dr Kana, who had been such an avuncular figure in our lives.

As we attended the wake to honour Dr Kana on July 9, 2015, it was excruciatingly painful for us to see our now stilled and silent doctor's mortal remains within a casket. Our mum went nowhere near the casket as it would have been too painful to see the person she regarded as an elder brother permanently asleep.

Dr Kana had been there for us in so many ways as a doctor, brother and friend. He has left a void in our lives that will never be filled. We are quietly confident that after God created Dr Kana, He destroyed the mould so that we will never see the likes of him again.

My family would like to thank Dr Kana's mother, Madam Rajeswari Kasipillai, for giving birth and raising such a wonderful son who had been a great blessing in our lives and certainly, in the lives of an untold many. We can only pray that God will comfort you in this painful time of bereavement.

When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine,
That all the world will be in love with night,
And pay no worship to the garish sun."
– William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Our dearest Dr Kana, rest from all the pain. On the tablets of our hearts are engraved indelible memories of our selfless, loving and ever-dependable, Dr Kana. – July 25, 2015.