Cancer Warrior

I am very encouraged by this recently diagnosed cancer “warrior”, she wrote in her blog, “Like battle scars, which are nothing to be ashamed of, a bald head means I am fighting the cancer and glad to be alive!” There is a certain courage in her and I know this is from the LORD, the inner strength that allows her to face each day, that moves her to get into the car and drive to hospital for her treatment. Some of the procedures she has to receive are not pleasant. As she recounted of the canula that was pierced into her vein so that anti-cancer drugs are infused, I remembered the time when after a few months of infusions, the nurse could not find a strong vein, the veins on both my hands were moving and too soft, between the doctor and the nurse, they had to pierce me three times before the canula could be inserted (ouch and double ouch!).

Yes, I am glad to be alive! I am thankful that there are fellow “warriors” to encourage one another on in the rather difficult journeys we each have to walk. Look at the photo. It was a picnic on Vesak day at the Botanics. From the photo you would not know but there are three with cancer and one with aneurysm. Our friends have organized a picnic for us. We had a lovely morning, walking the gardens at the Botanics and enjoying the delicious bee hoon, pau, carrot cake etc. Our brother KJ though unsteady in his legs, was able to strum the guitar as we sang songs of praise and hymns. Our dear friends made special efforts to ensure our comfort; they brought foldable picnic chairs for us to sit on. We are definitely not alone in our “journey”, our dear friends are with us, cheering us on each step of the way! Praise the LORD for this big family that we are a part of. Thank you, D, S, LM, SL, A, W, M and of course, our dearest spouses.

Quick Medical Update

Paul writes: On May 7th, Li Leng had her usual monthly treatment and blood tests. The M-band is now 8. The doctor has advised doubling of her weekly maintenance and so from May 19th, Li Leng will be taking this dose on Mondays and Thursdays. In addition to the prayer requested at the last posting, please do pray along with us that she can tolerate the increased dosage and for the M-band to come down. We are praying to be well enough to attend the church camp in June and the council retreat in July. All thanks and praise to our LORD who sustains us and give us life.

Medical Update

Paul writes:

We have not updated this for quite a while and thought this might be a good time to do so. Li Leng completed the targeted therapy and radiotherapy on December 3rd and since then she had been on a lighter regimen of maintenance. This allowed her to recover her strength and by God’s grace, she has been able to resume a number of activities albeit at a more leisurely pace.

On April 9th, after our return from a short break in Kyushu, she had a bone marrow aspiration done. The results are very encouraging. The average percentage of plasma cells in the marrow is now 4% - down from 44% when this was first done in June 2007. Flow cytometry showed that plasma cells is 3.4%. Below 5% is considered remission if the M-band is also zero. The cytogenetics report and FISH results are also good with no abnormalities seen in the chromosomes. Dr. Gerrard Teoh is pleased with this and remarked that this is a 50 to 60 fold improvement.

Unfortunately, the M-band is still there and is reading at 6.7. Also, from the bone marrow, some degree of dysplastic cells were also seen. These are abnormal cells. This condition is known as myelodysplastic syndrome. However, the FISH report did not detect this and so we hope that this condition will go away with some light treatment.

The treatment regimen has also changed and consists of weekly medication taken orally and a monthly IV injection. Dr. Teoh is hoping that Li Leng’s own immune system will strengthen to take over the fight against this disease.

Please pray along with us.
Thanksgiving for good results from the bone marrow aspiration and for daily strength and mobility.
Strengthen the immune system.
Restore the function of bone marrow to produce normal cells – red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Protection of bones and strengthening of muscles especially the neck and back muscles. Protection against infection.
Relief from pain. This is always there and Li Leng has to take pain killers once or twice a week.

We are very grateful to all our friends who continue to stand by our side and pray for us. We are very thankful to our loving GOD for sustaining us all this time.

Praise the LORD, all of us, extol Him. For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD. (Adapted from Psalm 117).

Many Questions, No Answers

It was 4am and I had to answer nature’s call. Paul still wake up every time I do, just to make sure I am OK and not trip in the bathroom, he is such a precious dear, always watching over me. However quietly I tip-toed out of the bed, he somehow can hear me. As we settled back into bed, I laid there thinking and after some minutes, I turned to Paul and softly said… “I still have questions and no answers…How…” After several seconds, he replied, “the psalmist said in 73…I try to understand, until I enter His sanctuary…” Paul did not elaborate and turned back to sleep. I quietly meditated on these words…enter GOD’s sanctuary…. instead of thinking over my questions. My thoughts also went to the grieving mothers of Thaddeus, Capt. Ho and Russell Koh (the 8 year old boy in the mini bus accident). They would have many questions and there is no perfect answer.

What is in Psalm 73?
The struggles of human kind;
Those burdens common to man;
But the irony is that the wicked and the godless are not plagued by human ills (so says Asaph)
They become proud, callous, conceited and arrogant.
They are carefree.
The psalmist on the other hand, felt plagued all day long and punished every morning.
His foot had almost slipped and he nearly lost his foothold.
He tried to understand, and it was oppressive to him;
Until he entered the sanctuary of GOD.
Then he understood their final destiny.

Though this psalm does not specifically relate to my questions and these are not the issues that are presently on my heart, it tells me one thing…we need to enter the sanctuary of GOD to find peace if not answers. And when grief and sorrow overwhelm, when “my flesh and my heart may fall, GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” How does one stay courageous and be strong; and when no one can give you an answer. Enter into the sanctuary of GOD.

Charles Spurgeon said this –
“It is well to make sure of what we do know, for this will be good anchor-hold for us when we are molested by those mysterious storms which arise from things which we do not understand. Whatever may or may not be the truth about mysterious and inscrutable things, there are certainties somewhere; experience has placed some tangible facts within our grasp; let us, then, cling to these, and they will prevent our being carried away by those hurricanes of infidelity which still come from the wilderness, and, like whirlwinds, smite the four corners of our house and threaten to overthrow it. O my GOD, however perplexed I may be, let me never think ill of thee. If I cannot understand thee, let me never cease to believe thee. It must be so, it cannot be otherwise, thou art good to those whom thou hast made good; and where thou hast renewed the heart thou will not leave it to its enemies.”

Enter into His sanctuary …. remember and recall GOD’s past faithfulness – these are the certainties, these are the tangible facts. Cling to them; they will protect us from falling and failing. And look forward to GOD’s future grace, it will give us hope. May we pray this same prayer (above) for GOD will never leave us nor forsake us. Amen