Again Give Thanks

The radiation therapy was completed on Nov 30. Each Friday during the treatment period, I had a review with the radiology doctor. By the 4th week, he mentioned that by then most patients would have burning sensation when urinating, or had blood in the urine, diarrhea and so on. Thank God all these side effects did not manifest. I only have tanned/darkened skin around the pelvic area where the radiation was targeted. When the doctor saw me on completion of radiation therapy, he examined me and said there was some skin tear on the backside. He assured me that everything should return to normal after 2 weeks. He said with the completion of the RT, I could enjoy my Christmas!

Each time I underwent the RT, in the tunnel of the machine, I would recite and meditate upon two of my favorite psalms, Ps 23 and 91. 

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Psa 23:2  He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 

Psa 23:3  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Psa 23:4  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

Psa 23:5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Psa 23:1  （大卫的诗。）耶和华是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏。 

Psa 23:2  他使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边。 

Psa 23:3  他使我的灵魂苏醒，为自己的名引导我走义路。 

Psa 23:4  我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为你与我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。 

Psa 23:5  在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席；你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。 

Psa 23:6  我一生一世必有恩惠慈爱随著我；我且要住在耶和华的殿中，直到永远。 

Psa 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 

Psa 91:2  I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 

Psa 91:3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 

Psa 91:4  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 

Psa 91:5  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 

Psa 91:6  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 

Psa 91:7  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 

Psa 91:8  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 

Psa 91:9  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- 

Psa 91:10  no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 

Psa 91:11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 

Psa 91:12  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 

Psa 91:13  You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 

Psa 91:14  "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 

Psa 91:15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 

Psa 91:16  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." 

Psa 91:1  住在至高者隐密处的，必住在全能者的荫下。 

Psa 91:2  我要论到耶和华说：他是我的避难所，是我的山寨，是我的神，是我所倚靠的。 

Psa 91:3  他必救你脱离捕鸟人的网罗和毒害的瘟疫。 

Psa 91:4  他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你；你要投靠在他的翅膀底下；他的诚实是大小的盾牌。 

Psa 91:5  你必不怕黑夜的惊骇，或是白日飞的箭， 

Psa 91:6  也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫，或是午间灭人的毒病。 

Psa 91:7  虽有千人仆倒在你旁边，万人仆倒在你右边，这灾却不得临近你。 

Psa 91:8  你惟亲眼观看，见恶人遭报。 

Psa 91:9  耶和华是我的避难所；你已将至高者当你的居所， 

Psa 91:10  祸患必不临到你，灾害也不挨近你的帐棚。 

Psa 91:11  因他要为你吩咐他的使者，在你行的一切道路上保护你。 

Psa 91:12  他们要用手托著你，免得你的脚碰在石头上。 

Psa 91:13  你要踹在狮子和虺蛇的身上，践踏少壮狮子和大蛇。 

Psa 91:14  神说：因为他专心爱我，我就要搭救他；因为他知道我的名，我要把他安置在高处。 

Psa 91:15  他若求告我，我就应允他；他在急难中，我要与他同在；我要搭救他，使他尊贵。 

Psa 91:16  我要使他足享长寿，将我的救恩显明给他。 

I thank God for these comforting words, as I meditating upon them while going through the treatment, they gave me strength and peace. They took away my cares and all worries as I lay down there in the radiation machine each time.

Yesterday afternoon met with the oncologist. Blood and urine samples were taken early in the morning. After he reviewed the results, he said everything was good. Tumor markers CEA, CA125 and CA19,9 were good. He then examined me. I asked when the last chemo drug could be stopped. He recommended to have another PET scan done to decide. The scan was scheduled to be on Jan 4. Next review with the oncologist would be on Jan 7. He would then decide when to stop the drug. He said pray for good results......Yesterday the drug was prescribed for another 4 weeks, the pump which dispensed the drug would be changed every Monday at the hospital. This particular drug gives minimum side effects, other than carrying the pump, there is no much inconvenience.

I am grateful that this challenging journey would soon be over. Reflecting upon the promise of the Lord when this started, I thank Him and friends and family for taking care of me. It is difficult to put the feeling in words. Your prayers, visits, messages have helped me coping thus far. I am very appreciative of all your kindness. Like my hair that has slowly grow back, it feels like a new life. May you too experience newness as you do kind deeds and send kind gesture each time. May God Bless you, have a great Christmas!

Weather the Storm

Before the chemotherapy was started, the doctor had advised to load up protein by eating lot of meat and warned about the possible side effects. From my previous experience, I was coping quite well with side effects. But how wrong I was!

What I went through was just unimaginable. The diarrhea was so bad.. I was rushing to the washroom 24-hr non-stop. My stomach was churning, vomit came and went. Fortunately it was just liquid and nothing else, as I had not been consuming much at all Every 2 hourly I took Imodian, which was supposedly very effective to stop the diarrhea. It offered little help.

After few days,  I felt too weak and exhausted, we went to see the doctor. Hydration was done for 3 times over the 5 days, along with the nutrition, protein and other stuff.  When the blood test report came out, the doctor said the salt (Na, Cl) level was so low that it was like someone in coma..

The battle did not stopped there, this waged on for 10 days, The Imodian supply at the pharmacy near our place was cleared out by my dear wife. She had to travel to another pharmacy to purchase more. Poor her, who woke up every couple of days to help me record the time medicine was taken. I was totally grateful that she ｗａｓnot stressed out.

Finally come to a much welcome stop on Sunday, what a huge relief. Towards the final 2 days, I was able to eat more too.

The 2^nd round of chemo was due to start yesterday. My stomach wall was still in pain. After the doctor examined me, he decided to postpone giving me the particular drug that caused diarrhea  by a week. It was a wise decision.

Throughout the ordeal, I thank my wife for standing by me. She was a pillar of strength, the kids have been very helpful. We prayed together daily for strength and divine protection. Thanks to friends, colleagues and relatives who prayed for us, supported us in various ways. Some rallied their churches to pray for us, this really touches my heart.

I am very happy to inform that the latest blood test results show that the tumor marker has become normal again, the CEA reading was 1.3 (safe level is <5). It was 10 when tested at the 1st hospital. Praise God for His special healing!

In the hospital there were many patients from overseas. Many travelled from Malaysia and Indonesia. We met a couples in the sixties from Kuching. They usually travelled a day ahead of chemo and flew back the same day. They have a son-in-law from my hometown. The couple seemed very serene, taking things in their strides. When I was undergoing my 1^st chemo, I was pleasantly surprised he walked over to me and offered a prayer. May the Lord bless them. They spent 30-40k RM each month to seek treatment here. It was not easy. And there are some many like them. I sympathized with them, especially those more elderly ones. They have suffered much, and traveling to-and-fro no doubt adds to their burden. So overall, still feel very blessed just to be here.....

106 

Psalm 106:1-2 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

     for his steadfast love endures forever!
² Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?

詩 篇 106 ¹ 你 们 要 赞 美 耶 和 华 ！ 要 称 谢 耶 和 华 ， 因 他 本 为 善 ； 他 的 慈 爱 永 远 长 存 ！ ² 谁 能 传 说 耶 和 华 的 大 能 ？ 谁 能 表 明 他 一 切 的 美 德 ？

Faith, Hope, Love 信望爱

(1) Visit
The church sent another visitation team to my house. Bro E and 2 others visited. He encouraged us with his personal experience with the Lord. It was always good to be lifted in faith.
At the end of the visit, Bro W told us the Lord had impressed on him 2 passages to share with us, Psalm 103 and Psalm 23. What a pleasant surprise. These were the 2 psalms that the Lord had prompted me to read few days earlier. He read for us the 103th Psalm:


^1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I'll bless his holy name!
   O my soul, bless God,
      don't forget a single blessing!

 ^3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
      He heals your diseases—every one.
      He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
      He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
      He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
      He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence. 


Later my university roommate also send me Ps 23 as assurance - ⁴ Even though I walk 
   through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, ^{they comfort me.}

 How wonderful it was to see confirmation of His words. God is ever caring for us.

(2) Bonding
I have the opportunity to spend more time with my younger son, age 11, simply because he spends more time at home than his 2 siblings. They are busily engaged in school for studies and extra-curriculum activities.
Of late, he grows very protective of me. He would help me to carry stuff, serve me drink, and always challenge me like:
"Papa, are you sure you can drink/eat this?" (due to the fact that I am on food restriction)
While accompanying him to basket ball court, he would said: "You can only shoot the ball, not running allowed(due to my wounds)."


Last weekend, we went to buy something from the neighourhood shops. After that, he helped me to carry stuffs back. Alomng the way, he asked: " Papa, do you enjoy spending money? " Since shopping itself is a therapy, I gladly said, "Yes, I do."
He replied: "So do I, I also enjoy spending money." I did not ask him whether it is because he is spending my money.


(3) Chemotherapy Session # 8 (1 more to go!)
Yesterday, my wife and I made our way to the hospital. As usual, did the blood test. Then proceed to see the oncologist, Dr K. He examined me, and asked about the side-effect from previous rounds. My feet has been experiencing large scale peeling of skin. On looking at them, he asked: "Do you want to postpone the treatment for few days?" Since we were already there, I decided to proceed with it. Then he said: "Next round, we can postpone by 1 more week." So the next and the last chemo will be on May 18. 


After reviewing everything, Dr K said: "You are doing very well." I could proceed to fix appointment with the colorectal surgeon to finish off the last medical procedure. "My job is done!!", Dr K declared. We thanked him for all the cares he has rendered. He was all smiling. So when would be next appointment, we asked. Dr K said, "2 months from next chemo. If you really have nothing to do, drop by for a chat." Normally serious, he did have some humor.


The nurse at the chemo screening station mentioned that the skin peeling off is side effect from the oral prescription. She also said the blood test results were excellent. So I proceed to the chemo. The nurse attending to me was superb. She took care of the injection with such skill that  I hardly felt the pain. She arranged for the warm pad which helped easing the numbness and tingling effect, and re-heat it 2 more times to ensure that the pad remain warm and effective.


Truly, thank God for keeping to His promise on healing. It is great to come to this part of the journey. We are looking towards going back to our normal routine soon, as the kids have always pray.

2Cor 5:7
 For we live by faith, not by sight.
^{歌 林 多 後 書 5 
7} 因 我 们 行 事 为 人 是 凭 着 信 心 ， 不 是 凭 着 眼 见 。