Character Relationship Map: Stoma

Characters

• Lim (played by Lam Yiu-Sing) — protagonist

  Lim is a Hong Kong photographer diagnosed with rare abdominal cancer. He undergoes risky surgery in Switzerland and returns with a stoma that devastates him, but gradually finds purpose through photog...

• Andre (played by Stefan Kollmuss) — supporting

  Andre is Lim's former lover, whose repeated choice of work over being present leaves Lim feeling abandoned during treatment. He later returns to Hong Kong and appears at Lim's exhibition, saying he st...

• Lim's Brother (played by Derek Tsang Kwok-Cheung) — supporting

  Lim's Brother is a family member whose home becomes an important source of support while Lim faces cancer treatment and recovery. The strain of caring for Lim eventually leads to a painful confrontati...

• Lim's Father (played by Chan Wai-Man) — supporting

  Lim's Father clashes with Lim before his son leaves for Switzerland, as they disagree over Lim's life and career. The synopsis does not specify the details of their disagreement, but it presents their...

• Jane Maya (played by Michèle Hirsig) — supporting

  Jane Maya is another person who has undergone the operation and offers support to Lim during his recovery. Her shared experience gives her a direct connection to the bodily changes Lim is struggling t...

• Pat (played by Ruth Schwegler) — supporting

  Pat is another cancer patient who has a stoma and meets Lim during his recovery. Drawing on this shared experience, Pat encourages him to keep living and not let the appliance define him. This support...

• Dr. Mohr (played by Adrian Furrer) — supporting

  Dr. Mohr is the doctor in Switzerland who treats Lim's cancer. He removes most, but not all, of the cancer during surgery; the operation also leaves Lim with a stoma that may not be reversible. The ou...

• Stefen (played by René Grünenfelder) — supporting

  Stefen encourages Lim to consider alternatives as he faces a risky and expensive operation for his cancer. Lim later remembers Stefen's kindness and outlook as important sources of help during treatme...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Lim's Father → Lim (father)
• Lim's Brother → Lim (brother)
• Lim → Dr. Mohr (Professional Surgeon And Patient) — Dr. Mohr's operation leaves Lim with a stoma that may not be reversible, profoundly affecting Lim's sense of his body and future.

  Lim travels to Switzerland to be treated by Dr. Mohr, who removes most, but not all, of the cancer.

• Lim → Andre (Romantic Former Lovers With Unresolved Feelings) — Their reunion is strained by Andre's earlier absence. At the exhibition, Lim reveals his stoma, and Andre accepts his changed body, leaving their future uncertain.

  Lim hopes to reconnect with Andre, described as a former lover. Andre later says he still cares about Lim, but Lim reminds him that he was absent when...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lim → Stefen (Social Encouraging Friend) — Stefen's encouragement and outlook remain a source of strength for Lim during treatment and recovery.

  Stefen encourages Lim to consider alternatives to surgery. Lim later remembers Stefen's kindness and outlook as helping him through treatment.

• Lim → Jane Maya (Alliance Mutual Stoma Support) — Her shared experience provides Lim with support as he adjusts to life after the operation.

  Jane Maya, who has also undergone the operation, offers support to Lim.

• Lim → Pat (Alliance Supportive Fellow Patient) — Pat's encouragement helps Lim see a future beyond his illness and stoma.

  During recovery, Lim meets Pat, another cancer patient with a stoma, who encourages him to keep living and not define himself by the appliance.

Story Analysis

After cancer treatment changes his body and future, Lim confronts isolation and gradually reclaims purpose through photography and openness.

Plot Progression

1. Diagnosis and Difficult Choices — Lim learns he has rare abdominal cancer and confronts the risks of surgery and a possible permanent stoma. He seeks another opinion while facing family tension and Andre's absence.
2. Treatment and Bodily Loss — Lim travels to Switzerland and undergoes surgery with Dr. Mohr. Waking with a potentially irreversible stoma devastates him, and remaining cancer prevents reversal for now.
3. Return and Family Strain — After three months in hospital, Lim returns to Hong Kong and relies on his brother's home. Their painful confrontation leads Lim to leave and attempt to manage alone.
4. Recovery Through Photography — Pat encourages Lim not to define himself by his stoma, and Lim gradually rediscovers purpose through photography. His intimate portraits make his vulnerability part of the work he shares publicly.
5. An Unhidden Reunion — At the exhibition, Andre returns and says he still cares, while Lim challenges him about his earlier absence. Lim shows Andre his stoma, and Andre accepts it, though their future remains unresolved.