Some stories stay with you long after the moment has passed.
For us at Brera, the story of David Lang — a father, a husband, and a quiet pillar of strength — is one of them.
In June 2021, during a season when the world already felt heavy, we shared David’s story on our social platforms. We never expected what happened next. In just three days, our small bakery community raised S$100,000 for the Lang family — a family caring tirelessly for children diagnosed with one of the rarest and cruellest genetic disorders: Niemann-Pick Disease Type C.
This disease slowly steals cognition, mobility, and basic functions.
David and his wife, Loo Geok, have spent decades tending to their three children — all diagnosed, all once healthy, all loved beyond measure.
Their second child, Timothy, passed away in 2004 at just 11 after a sudden choking incident at church camp.
Their eldest, Justina, continued fighting bravely until age 30, passing in 2022.
Their youngest, Titus, now 28, is still battling — with worsening seizures, dystonia, and frequent emergencies that send him in and out of ICU.
Caring for their children is a 24/7 calling.
Tube-feeding. Lung suctioning. Ventilator checks.
Sleepless nights. Medical costs that can reach over S$7,000 a month.
David works full-time as a lecturer at Singapore Bible College, while he and his wife live simply, frugally, quietly — pouring every ounce of strength into caring for their children.
When we shared the fundraising appeal back in 2021, we expected a few regular customers to help.
Instead, nearly 1,000 people — many of them children — stepped forward.
The generosity was so swift, so overwhelming, that even David, a man who has spent his life in service and faith, was left speechless.
I still remember writing these words with him:
“We are utterly humbled, grateful and floored by your remarkable response. You have allowed us to taste the craziest love beyond our wildest dreams — a glimpse of heaven.”
It is a memory I will treasure forever.
A Visit in 2025 — And Why We Are Sharing This Again
This year, on Father’s Day, I visited David again. He had just woken from a short nap. Titus was being bathed by his caregiver. Despite exhaustion etched across his face, David welcomed me in and began sharing — not out of complaint, but perhaps as a release, a prayer, or a longing for someone to understand.
Just two days before my visit, Titus’ condition had worsened so quickly that doctors nearly prepared to put him into a coma. A letter was drafted for the worst-case scenario.
Miraculously, he pulled through and was discharged the day before I arrived.
When I gently asked David how he was coping, and whether he felt prepared for what may come next, his response was quiet, surrendered, and deeply human: “Please pray for God’s mercy, good health, and comfort.” Then, through tears, he added what no father ever wishes to voice: “Losing the last one is difficult.”
And yet, he continues — one day at a time.
This is a father’s love: quiet, enduring, sleepless, sacrificial.
Why This Story Still Matters
Though the fundraiser happened years ago, people still ask about the Lang family. Some still give. Many still pray. All still remember.
We’re sharing this story again today because:
-
compassion does not expire
-
grief does not disappear
-
courage deserves witness
-
and love — real, gritty, unglamorous love — deserves to be honoured
David’s story is not just about hardship.
It is about faith, resilience, and the extraordinary kindness of strangers who chose to step in.
For us at Brera, it remains one of the clearest reminders of why we do what we do.
Behind every loaf, croissant, and pastry is a community — capable of extraordinary goodness.
If you’re reading this, thank you for being part of that story.
With love,
Thrina
Founder, Bakery Brera
