On the 10th Day of Christmas

SK is preparing for the time of thanksgiving to God. It is only a small group, so we cannot cater the food. Some will cook, some will buy.

Looking forward to this party.

On the 9th Day of Christmas

SK is well enough to go ahead with a small gathering this weekend. Let's pray for good weather.

On the 8th Day of Christmas

Happy New Piggy-Pig Year!

To all my family and friends, here's wishing you a wonderfully exciting new year!

On the 7th Day of Christmas

Ending the old year and beginning the new ... SK has the radio and tv on for the countdown.

On the 6th Day of Christmas

No news is good news ...

Continue to pray for a "wet" mouth for SK.
Continue to pray for her to eat and drink well.
Continue to pray for her to rest and sleep well, not too much.

Continue to pray for our walk with GOD ...

On the 5th Day of Christmas

Getting better and better and better ... well enough to read through own blog.

Yes, praises and thanks to GOD! That SK goes safely over another little bump in her life.

On the 4th Day of Christmas

Getting better ...

On the 3rd Day of Christmas

SK will continue medication and monitor.

On the 2nd Day of Christmas

Yesterday, SK began to experience shivers and sweats. This time she really thought she caught the flu virus. She even threw up twice.

Oh no! Today SK got worse. ENT appointment was off.

SK called Dr Melvin Chua who also thought she had flu and asked her to see her GP for medication. In the afternoon, she dragged herself to see the GP. The GP said her throat was very red and badly inflammed, and advised her to see her oncologist immediately.

Uh oh. SK called MC who advised her to come down to see him. MC said he was surprised her mouth dryness did not seem to be getting better and prescribed medication for her tongue, throat and stomach. He wasn't sure why she got the shivers and sweats, and why her mouth was getting drier. He said if she still didn't recover, he would refer her to a gastroenterologist.

Thank God for Ai Min, she took SK home. In this kind of cold, wet and floody weather, words cannot express the gratitude for this thoughtful act of kindness.

BTW, the ENT appointment has been rescheduled to Wed 10 Jan 2007, 9.10am.

Christmas Day

Ooops, may have caught the flu bug from church ... not feeling too well.

SK started feeling weak yesterday after coming back from church. And today, she started feeling feverish. She also felt nauseous and threw up later in the evening. She suspects that she has caught a flu virus. But with no cough, runny nose or sore throat. How strange.

SK has an ENT appointment at SGH 12.10pm tomorrow with Dr Bala. Will try to keep the appointment.

No news is good news

Everything is going smoothly. SK is beginning to get out, work and resume life as usual. So far so good. Praise God!

And Christmas is coming, yay!

Another week gone by

SK is recovering well, praises to God.

A small gathering in thanksgiving to God will be held on Saturday 6 January 2007. This day/date is finally confirmed.

It has been a most blessed time of "shopping" for SK. She found a good supplier for her Novasource, which will deliver to her home, if she orders a certain minimum amount.

A visit to the dentist

SK saw dental surgeon Dr Lum yesterday afternoon. Hmmm, it was not a very fruitful visit, he did not do much. He tried to "repair" one tooth but the pain seemed to worsen so he stopped work on it.

Seems like SK's jaw bones have been weakened and have been badly affected by radiation. Some of her teeth are loose but extraction is out of the question. Because of the weakened jaw bones and lack of saliva in her mouth, SK's teeth do not have the strength to bite food, and it may take another 2 months for her teeth to regain strength. She also has to wait till her jaw bones are healed before she can go for further dental treatment.

Please pray that the Lord will heal her jaw bones & help her teeth to regain the strength so that she can eat solid food again ... Thai, Japanese, Penang food ...

SK's mum returned to Singapore on Wednesday with SK's niece and nephew. SK's brother arrived from BP today. He will return to BP with the two children tomorrow.

Outing, Meeting

On Tuesday, SK went out all by herself to SGH to get some medicine. She survived it although it was tiring.

Yesterday, a few friends visited her to help discuss the parT. Booking for the venue was made for Friday 5 Jan 2007 instead. SK's mum returned to Singapore with a few other family members yesterday. Her mum as away for the weekend.

Reflection 3 by SK : To God be the glory!

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Some of you have written to ask how I am. Thanks for your love & concern. Indeed I have so much to praise the Lord for my recovery.

I completed my 7 weeks of radiotherapy (RT) on 30 Oct 2006. I must say it had been the most difficult & painful journey in my life. I was hospitalised twice for a period of some 2 weeks. I was not spared any of the side-effects of RT either. I developed dry mouth, painful ulcers, thick phlegmy saliva, burned neck, some hair loss, weight loss, toothache & blocked nose. I had nausea & constipation, & vomited a lot. I couldn’t drink or eat through the mouth & had to be on tube-feeding. I couldn’t talk for weeks due to the pain & phlegm in my mouth. All in all, it had been a most agonising experience, one which I will never forget for a long time.

Some friends told me I was so strong & courageous. But I was not. Many times when the going got tough, I pleaded with the Lord to take away the pain & suffering. Many times when I felt so weak, helpless, hopeless, discouraged, frustrated & depressed, I wanted to give up the treatment as it was taking a heavy toll on me. But God’s Word came to me, “My grace is sufficient for you.” I am thankful to God for providing me His grace & strength to endure the pain & suffering. I may not understand what is happening to me but I know God has a purpose in allowing the suffering. It’s now 5 weeks since the end of my RT. God’s healing is slowly but surely taking place. God has been teaching me all this while to be patient & to wait upon Him to heal me in His way & in His time.

God has been faithful & good, & has never left me to struggle on my own. Right from the time I discovered I had nose cancer, God had sent many angels to provide for my needs in practical ways. It would not have been possible for me to cope with my illness without support from family & friends. I was overwhelmed by God’s love in action as He sent His angels to minister to my needs. My mum & sister came from Malaysia & the States respectively to look after me. My church discipleship group & friends rallied around me. My greatest support came from my Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class. These angels took turns to drive me to the hospital for my daily treatment. They cooked & delivered food to my home. They sponsored my liquid food & other needs. They came to sing & fellowship with me. Twice when I had to rush to the hospital immediately, they became my “ambulance” & stayed with me throughout the ordeal. And when I was warded in the hospital, they looked after me & mum. It’s amazing how God worked through these angels to assure me He is Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides.

To all these angels who had sacrificed their time to minister to me, thank you for journeying with me through my illness. You have truly made a difference in my life.

I’m also thankful to God for the many saints around the world (particularly from Malaysia, Australia & the States) who faithfully uphold me in prayers. To these angels from overseas (many of whom I do not even know personally) who had taken the time to pray, phone or email me, thank you for your encouragement. I’m so thankful to the Lord that His love has drawn us together as one body of Christ. Through my illness, I’ve experienced the beauty of Christian love.

How is my condition now? Last Monday (27 Nov), my oncologist did a nasendoscopy on me & told me there seemed to be no sign of tumour left. I praise the Lord for this good news. But he added that I would need to go for an MRI test in January to confirm if the tumour has completely disappeared.

And how am I now? I now feel so much better physically, although I am not able to eat solid food yet as my mouth is still not completely healed.

Please continue to join me in praising the Lord for His goodness & faithfulness & pray that God will heal me completely in His time. As I trust my life in God’s sovereign hands, I look forward with renewed strength & hope to a new life & relationship with my Creator God who “is the strength of my heart & my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

Shalom,
sockkim
sms : 9107-0036

So what did the doctors say?

SK went for her check-up on Monday. All seems well, she is getting better and putting on weight. The doctors are very happy with her progress. Nose - she has to clean it 2-3 times a day. Pain in the mouth - she has to check with the dentist about this. Thrush is going off. Food / Drink - she has to continue taking 3 packets of Novasource a day for another 6 months, she has to try to eat and drink (other foods) more. SK has already started eating oats. And her sense of taste is back.

At the home front, SK is working hard - cooking and cleaning.

ParT date is set for Saturday 6 Jan 2007. Please mark your new calendars.

Praise God for SK's recovery !!!

Ouch !!

Ulcers have not gone off yet. Still giving pain.

Tongue and inner lips have developed white spots (thrush).

Looking ahead

SK is almost back as usual, to her routines.

Yesterday, SK had two visitors, Elder Lim and his wife, from Batu Pahat. They stayed overnight at her place and they will be going home today. Looking ahead, SK will make a trip home (to Batu Pahat) for Christmas if she is well enough.

For now, SK is so thankful to the Lord for her healing - Her phlegm miraculously disappeared last Friday. Now she has normal, plain saliva again. Do continue to pray for patience to wait upon the Lord to heal her ulcers, in His way and in His time. Currently, her mouth is still in pain. At night, her left ear seems to have some slight on-off pain.

Please note : Next check-up with the oncologist is on Monday 27 Nov at 11am.

Please also note, meals for SK's mum next week (27 Nov-1 Dec) will be discontinued.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!

Three weeks after RT

SK is back on her feet. Last weekend she did some housecleaning. And good thing too because Ah Guat and Siew Hoon visited her (with dinner).

Great news! SK's phlegm has gone. Watch out, she can talk! There is still some pain from the remaining ulcers which have yet to go off. Otherwise SK is feeling much better.

Please note change: Check-up with the oncologist is on Monday 27 Nov at 11am.

Please also note, meals for SK's mum this week (20-24 Nov)
Mon : Lunch and dinner - Margaret
Tue : Lunch - Lee Peng, Dinner -CFen
Wed : Lunch - Lee Peng
Fri : Lunch and dinner - Margaret

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS !!!

Dietician says ...

SK saw the dietician this morning. She drew up a daily meal program as a guide to ensure SK maintains her 48kg weight.

Hmmm ... today was a different machine, SK weighed 46.5kg only.

Ideally, SK should be taking a minimum of 2.5 pkts Novasource together with other food like oats, porridge with fish/meat/eggs, fruits or NutriSoy soybean milk to give her the necessary nutrients & calories per day.

For the time being, as it is too troublesome to prepare food for just one person, SK will stick to drinking 3 pkts of Novasource a day.

By the way, does anyone know how to use the nasal pump correctly or is there someone who has used it before?

TGIF 17 Nov

Always giving praises and thanks to GOD ---
Although there is still some pain from the ulcers, there has been some improvement. SK's phlegm is much less and her nose is not as stuffed as before. She can also TALK more now.
Yay!
Heh heh, beware!

Please note, next check-up with the oncologist is on Tuesday 21 Nov at 9.30am.

Please also note, meals for SK's mum next week (20-24 Nov)
Mon : Lunch and dinner - Margaret
Tue : Lunch - Lee Peng
Wed : Lunch - Lee Peng
Fri : Lunch and dinner - Margaret

THANK YOU !!!

Wonderful Wednesday

SK has an appointment with the Dietician this Friday 17 Nov at 10am in SGH Block 3 Clinic L. Thanks to God for CFen, she will take SK to the hospital.

Thanks to God also, that yesterday, SK managed to drink 3 packets of Novasource. This is the minimum required amount which gives her 1500 calories of energy. Please continue to PRAY for SK to be able to drink well. How wonderful, LP prepared steamed tofu and taohuay. It was soft so SK could sawllow it and so SK had something extra to eat.

Praises to God. SK's weight has gone up to 47.1kg.

Feeding tube finally removed

SK could not handle the stuck nose anymore. Breathing was getting too difficult.

Thank God for Ai Min. She surprised SK's mum, brought lunch over for her this afternoon. Then she took SK to SGH. SK's feeding tube was removed. Her nose is clear now. She does not need to see the doctor again tomorrow.

Weekend

Yesterday, SK did not go to SGH after all. She is not ready to remove the feeding tube yet, will wait a while more.

Praises to God for this time of recuperation. Slow but steady.

Thanks to God that SK's Novasource supply has been replenished and that her mum's long term visa has been approved.

Next check-up is on Tuesday 14 Nov.

Please note, meals for SK's mum next week (13-17 Nov)
Tue : Lunch - Lee Peng
Thur : Lunch - Lee Peng

Wed Mid-week

SK went for her check-up with Dr Chua yesterday. There has been some improvement, some weight gain. The doctor advised SK to continue her Novasource feeds. If possible, to take more. She also has to "exercise" her mouth, gargle her mouth, keep it moist, sip water and talk.

The doctor asked SK to see him again this Fri, to remove the feeding tube. SK is encouraged to drink Novasource and water (mouth, not tube). Do PRAY for SK confidence, strength and courage to do this. She prefers to get the tube removed at a later date, not so soon.

SK cannot sleep well due to her blocked nose. The doctor has prescribed her the entsol pump to clean the nasal passage-way. This can be done after the feeding tube has been removed.

PRAISES to GOD for SK's recuperation !!!

Please note, meals for SK's mum this week (6-10 Nov)
Tue : Lunch - Lee Peng
Wed : Lunch and dinner - Ai Fong
Thur : Lunch - Lee Peng
Fri : Lunch and dinner - Chuay Fen
Sat : Dinner - Ah Guat

Still the same

Give praises and thanks to God for this time of healing. Remember, the final RT was not too long ago, just last week.

SK is still the same, feeding through the tube as her ulcers are still painful. This will continue for approximately another one or two weeks.

The par-T has to be pushed back again, SK wants to be off the tube, able to enjoy eating and drinking with us at the part-T.

2 Nov

Praise God our Great Physician, for this time of healing ...

We continue to pray for SK a speedy recovery, for all the pain, ulcers and phlegmy saliva to go off, so she can eat, drink and talk. Please pray also for SK to sleep well, no blockage but to have a clear nose, clear throat and clear breathing.

We also lift SK's mum up. We pray for her strength and stamina, as she looks after SK full-time.

We thank God for LK and SC who helped with lunch and dinner for SK's mum today. Tomorrow, AF will bring lunch and dinner over. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Resting ...

SK is still feeding via the tube. On Monday, she weighed in at 45.9kg. PRAY for SK to regain her weight.

Thanks to LP for providing SK's mum lunch today.

For those of you who can help by bringing lunch or dinner to SK's mum, please let PS know [Click on Email Manager, under Links, on the right column of this blog]. So far, LP has offered to do Tues lunch and Wed lunch. Thank you.

Chapter 3 begins

Now that RT is over ,,, we continue to PRAY for recuperation, recovery, renewal and restoration. Yet never forgetting to PRAISE and THANK GOD for everything.

Last RT today, yay yippee hooray !!!

At long last, final RT session today.

Thank God for seeing SK through it all.

PS and CG accompanied SK for her RT. Meanwhile, CF and KH entered SK's home to decorate it for SK's home-coming. Many friends also joined in for this special ocassion. Even God had a part to play to keep this event secret from SK. SK did not check her email over the weekend. If she had, she would have found out all about it and it wouldn't have been a surprise.

SK is most thankful to God for the joyous time of worshipping GOD in prayer and singing.

Part Two - The End

BSF Leaders’ Sharing – 28 Oct 2006

16 Aug 2006 was the darkest day of my life. It was the day I learned I had nose cancer. I was dazed. I couldn’t believe it. How could it be? Haven’t I already lost one sister thru cancer? Haven’t I made every effort to read every available book on cancer & nutrition, & followed what the books say? Haven’t I been careful about my diet & avoided food that is said to cause cancer? How then could I have cancer? It just didn’t make sense to me. I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I felt so alone & lonely. I was on my knees, crying out my heart to the Lord. I did not question God “Why me?” I prayed, “Lord, what am I going to do? How am I going to walk through this unknown journey? I’m afraid. I’m scared. I do not know what to do but my eyes are on You. I do not understand what is happening to me. But Lord, I know You have a purpose and I will trust You all the way.” That night, the Lord led me to Psalm 73:26 : “My flesh & my heart may fail, but God is the Strength of my heart & my Portion forever.” That verse brought me comfort as I was assured that the battle belonged to God & He would guide me through this journey.

It all started as an innocent ringing tone in my left ear after 2 weeks of swimming lesson. The ringing tone later developed into ear blockage & I lost some hearing in my left ear. Little did I expect the problem to turn out to be so serious, a malignant tumour behind my nose. Thus began the 2-month journey in my battle against cancer. The 33-sessions of radiotherapy (RT) treatment began on 12 Sep, & as at today, I have one last session to go on Mon. As I have nose cancer, the RT is focused on my face & neck, resulting in side effects such as dry mouth, mouth ulcers, thick phlegmy saliva, all of which make eating, drinking & talking difficult. As the ulcers became more painful & unbearable, I could not eat & drink & began to lose weight. I had to be put on the feeding tube to enable me to eat & drink. The pain fromthe ulcers & phlegmy saliva grew more intense with each passing week. Many times I cried to the Lord to take away the pain & suffering but for some unknown reason, the Lord wanted me to go through the pain & suffering of cancer. He said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The journey was so tough & difficult that there were times I felt like giving up. I was hospitalised twice as the side effects of RT took a heavy toll on me. But through each ordeal, I could sense the presence & testify the goodness of the Lord. He never let me suffer more than what I could bear.

Initially, I had a lot of concerns when I learned that I had to come for RT treatment every weekday for 7 weeks. How am I going to SGH for treatment everyday? Who is going to look after me? But God never deserts His children. I was soon overwhelmed by God’s loving & timely provisions. He sent many angels to minister to my needs. God enabled my 75-year-old mum to come from Msia to look after me full-time. Ai Fong initiated a “Milk Fund” to sponsor my Enercal diet. My co-CL, became my personal manager who coordinated all my needs for prayers, transport, food & supplies. She even initiated a personal blog to provide daily updates on my condition. Many angels came forward to drive me to SGH for treatment, cooked for me, brought me my daily supplies, stayed & looked after me when I was warded in the hospital & even took care of my mum when I was warded. I experienced true Christian love in action. These Godsend angels selflessly sacrificed their time & energy to minister to my needs in various ways. I’m thankful to God for all His provision.

I have a lot more to share but time does not permit me to go on. There are just too many miracles to mention in this short sharing. Although I do not yet know the outcome of my RT treatment, I know that my life is in God’s sovereign hands & I will trust Him all the way. There have been many trials in my life but this has been the most challenging one. But through it all, I have experienced God’s goodness & faithfulness. With God behind me & His arms beneath me, I know God will enable me to face whatever lies ahead of me. I pray that I will be restored totally (RT) by January to be able to come back to BSF, after having been away for the last one month. See you all in January 2007!

Last October Weekend

At last RT sessions are coming to an end. The final RT will be on Monday 30 Oct. PS and Cyndi will accompany SK to SGH. We should be back at SK's home about 9.30am.

RT-32, just 1 more

Thanks to Sarah for taking SK to SGH again. RT-32 today. Just 1 last RT to go. Please PRAY for a smooth weekend of rest and recuperation.

The final RT session will be next Monday ... do PRAY also that the CA cells would be totally destroyed, that SK will recover and be restored.

RT-31, 2 more to go

Thanks to Sarah for taking SK to SGH. RT-31 today. As the doctor said, side effects will get progressively worse. Please continue to PRAY :
- for comfort from pain from ulcers and boils; for pain relief in her mouth, tongue and throat.
- that the thick phlegmy saliva will not thicken further, will not choke SK.
- for SK to receive sufficient nutrition from Novasource, at least 3 packs a day.
- that SK's meal will hold down; she will not throw up (feeding through tube).
- for SK not to be constipated.
- that SK will experience God's loving hands holding her and God's presence surrounding her.

SK's mum went for her medical tests. Waiting for results now. Do PRAY that the results will be good, so that application for her long term visa will be smooth, will be granted.

RT-30

Thank you CF and CG for accompanying SK to hospital for her RT this morning.

And for yesterday, Hari Raya holiday ... thank you KH for picking SK's mum from home to go to the hospital although there was some hiccup with the car "key". Thank you also for sending both SK and her mum home later. SK was discharged from SGH yesterday afternoon.

4 more RTs to go

SK went for her RT this afternoon. After a long wait, she saw Dr Melvin Chua. He checked on her pain and the medication. He is happy with SK's weight, considering her second hospital stay and her meagre intake. SK still has some constipation.

SK may be discharged tomorrow. Can only confirm this after the ward doctor sees her tomorrow morning.

Countdown - 7 days

SK is still in hospital. RT-29 has been scheduled at 3.30pm. Tomorrow is a public holiday, so no RT.

Just one more week to go. The last few RTs scheduled are - RT-30 Wed, RT-31 Thu, RT-32 Fri and RT-33 next Mon.

BTW, Par T date will be pushed back a week to give SK more time to recover. Par T date is Saturday 18 Nov.

5 more RTs

Today
8.23am SK is not sure if she will be discharged today. She seems too dehydrated, the doctor wants to put her on a drip.
10.36am Doctor didn't ask SK to be discharged. She will be put on the drip soon, when the nurses are not too busy.
5.31pm SK is sleeping soundly now. She cannot eat the hospital food. She was drinking the high calorie drink since lunch time until an hour ago. She couldn't drink because her mouth was too painful. SK drinks after taking muccaine (3 times a day), the medicine to numb her throat.
5.51pm Nurse taking temp with ear thermometer 37.5, retake with normal thermometer 36.8
7.14pm Feeding tube was just inserted. Another ordeal. The nurse gave SK Prosure.

Please note: SK is warded at SGH Block 4 Level 8 (Ward 48) Room 20 Bed 6


Yesterday
8.30am RT-27.
2.55pm SK will go for her RT-28 at 4pm. PRAY that her body will be strong to take it. PRAY not to have any unbearable side effects.
4pm RT-28.
Kim and Diana (cooked steamed egg) took SK's mum to SGH. Ai Min brought lunch - mashed cauliflower carrot soup. Ai Fong bought more Novasource and Prosure (complete meal replacement drink). Sarah took SK's mum home.

RT-26 and 7 more to go

Thursday was a day of adventure.
2.30am The MO managed to remove some very hard stool. The nurse will administer fleet enema later to help SK clear soft stool still inside.
7.45am SK managed to pass motion.
9.05am SK went for x-ray to make sure all is clear.
11.05am SK went for RT-26.
4.28pm SK is taking a shower after which she will move to another room.
5.29pm SK is now in SGH Block 4 Level 8 Ward 48 Room 20 Bed 6.

Thanks to Annie and Cyndi who took SK's mum to hospital. Annie also drove her mum home later in the morning. Poi Leng stayed by SK's side practically the whole day.

Tomorrow, Kim and Diana will take SK's mum to visit SK in the morning. SK will take RT-27 at 8.30am and RT-28 at 4.45pm. PS will take SK's mum home later in the evening.

SK will only be discharged from SGH on Saturday morning.

PLEASE PRAY PRAY PRAY : For healing in the mouth, throat and tongue. For healing from stomach cramps and constipation. For pain relief. For the ability to eat and drink without throwing up. For physical and spiritual strength.

THANK YOU !!

RT-26 due today

Waiting for more news about SK ...
RT-26 is due this morning. Annie will drive SK's mum to the hospital with Cyndi.

Yesterday, RT-25 went on as usual. Even more chaotah now, with ulcers in the mouth, throat and tongue. Very, very painful. Eating was such a difficult task. Confirmed that RT will be on twice this Friday, at 8.30am (Kim) and at 4.45pm (PS).

Quick summary of what happened last night:
7.15pm SK had to go to the doctor, she had v v bad constipation. She was given the enema.
9.15pm Sarah visits, only to find SK still in pain.
9.30pm Sarah takes SK to SGH A+E.
10.24pm Doctor is attending to SK.
11.21pm SK is on the drip. She is sleeping in the observation ward now, still waiting for motion to be passed. Poi Leng also at SGH.
12mn SK admitted, Ward 48 Room 9 Bed 1, temporarily in B1 until there is a vacancy in B2.

RT-25

Today was the usual, getting more and more chaotah. New ulcers visited SK's mouth, throat and tongue.

Phew! 8 more to go !!!

It is confirmed. This Fri, SK will have two RTs, at 8.30am and 4.45pm. Drivers, Kim and PS, please take note.

Isa 40:28-31 Eagles and Renewal

The lifespan of an eagle is about 70 years. However, in order to live this long, it must make the toughest decision at 40. At 40, its beak is too long and curvy that it reaches its chest. Its wings, full of long, thickened feathers are too heavy for easy flying. Their claws will start to age, losing their effectiveness and making it hard for them to catch prey.

The eagle is left with 2 choices - do nothing and await its death or go through a painful period of transformation and renewal.

It first trains itself to fly beyond the high mountains, build and live in its nest and cease all flying activities. Then it begins what is called the molting process. It knocks its beak against granite rocks till the beak is completely removed. When a new beak is grown, the eagle will use it to remove all its old claws and wait quietly for new ones to be fully grown. When the new claws are fully grown, the eagle will use them to remove all its feathers, one by one. Five months later, when its new feathers are fully grown, it will soar in the sky again with renewed strength and would be able to live for the next 30 years.

In life, as an individual, in a ministry, even in an organization, sometimes we have to learn to make difficult decisions so as to make room for changes. Changes bring about renewal. And the only way for us to soar again is to let go old ways, old habits, old lives. For as long as we are prepared to surrender to God our old baggage - past glory or shame, past success or failure - be willing to become zero before God, with an empty cup mentality, God will be able to help us rediscover our potential and head towards a renewed perspective in any aspect of our lives.

There is another interesting feature of this molting process. During these four to five months, the eagle cannot hunt for food. Other eagles would drop food to this molting eagle. Invariably it is not the young eagles that drop the food. These are the eagles that have gone through the molting process themselves.

RT-24

Last night, thick phlegmy saliva came back again. It tastes "salty" and it "stinks" ... a couple of new and painful ulcers also appeared. Please PRAY against these unfavourable side effects.

Looks like the oncologist is in a hurry to get all 33 RTs done by Mon 30 Oct. Since this Sat is a holiday and he does not want the RT to be pushed back to Tues 31 Oct, he has asked for the make-up RT to be done on Fri 20 Oct instead. Which means, this Friday, SK may just have to go through double RT, one at 8am and one at 3pm. To be confirmed if this is possible.

Anyway, today SK did RT-24, another 9 more to go.

RT-23

Haiyah, this Sat is Deepavali, no RT. So ... 15 days till the end of RT, last RT day is Tuesday 31 Oct. Another way of counting, just 10 more RTs to go. Yippee!

After 23 rounds of RT what do you expect? Besides getting chaotah in the mouth and throat, besides all the dizziness, giddiness and nausea, taste buds have finally gone hay-wire. Ears can hear better, although there is still a slight ringing sound.

After the last RT, get ready to Par-T tentative date 11.11.

Weekend

Over the weekend, SK has been feeling a little giddy from time to time. Before meals, she takes her medicine which has been quite helpful. For Saturday dinner, she managed to eat mee suah and an half-boiled egg. Even ate AM's special dessert. Praise God that she could hold all of it down. She can take soft food that can be swallowed easily.

Starting tomorrow, RT is back to the 8.40am schedule.
Drivers for this coming week - Mon till Sat - PS, Angie, Chuay Fen, Annie, Kim, Poi Leng. Thank you, ladies!

Thank the Lord for all His providence!

RT-22

Yong Foon brought SK's mum to hospital.
9.00am RT-22 was scheduled.

Poi Leng helped with the discharge and the return home.
3.24pm Home at last and resting.

Ai Min made a special dessert - low sugar beancurd barley agar agar.

Please continue to pray that SK will be able to eat, drink and rest well. Pray also for comfort and relief from pain in the mouth and throat. Pray against phlegm, dizziness and nausea. Thank you for being partners in prayer.

11 RTs more to go.

RT-21

RT-21 was scheduled for 9.30am. SK was wheeled to Blk 2 and back.

Kim and Cyndi picked SK's mum to SGH, while Sarah took her mum out to dinner and sent her home, too.

At first the doctor wanted to discharge SK from the hospital. But SK was still not strong enough. Besides, she also has another RT session the next day. So she will be discharged tomorrow, Saturday. The physiotherapist and social worker also came to see her. Ai Fong brought chawan moshi for SK's lunch and she finished it all up, yay! Yummy! SK had another round of chawan moshi for dinner, too. Yummy, yummy!

Praise God for the food that SK can eat.

12 more to go.

Thursday update

1.35pm Praise the Lord, so far so good! SK taking kuay tiaw soup now. PRAY that she can finish her meal and hold it down well.
5.03pm After all this time in the hospital (since Sat) SK finally could pass some motion.
8.03pm SK managed to finish half her baby food dinner, plus some taohuay that YF bought. Not bad (good), SK is doing very well.
9.34pm Please PRAY for a phlegm-less sleep and another day of eating well, no more vomitting.

SK has RT-20 scheduled for 10.30am.
Please PRAY that her food and drink will hold down well, that she will be nourished, that she will regain her strength. PRAY for comfort and relief, the pain in her mouth and throat can be most unbearable. PRAY for SK to be encouraged.

9.22am Poi Leng reporting live from SGH - Praise God, SK managed to finish the whole bowl of oats and an half-boiled egg. Now sipping milo.
10.39am Annie reporting - Praise God, SK was able to eat her breakfast today. She slept well last night. She seems much better and she is very alert.
10.53am Poi Leng reporting again - SK just wheeled in for her RT.

Last minute change - SK's mum followed Shuli to the airport this morning. Shuli's friend will take SK's mum to the hospital after seeing Shuli off. After work, Yong Foon will take SK's mum home tonight.

RT - 13 more to go

THANK YOU for praying.

RT - 13 left

RT has been scheduled for 10.30am.

Annie and Cyndi will take SK's mum to hospital, 10am. Yong Foon will take SK's mum home, 7.30pm. SK's sister is leaving this afternoon on the 1.55pm flight.

RT - 13 more to go.

RT back on again

Mon and Tue, SK was not strong enough, so RT was off. She is supposed to make up for it, over the coming Saturday (14 Oct) and the following Saturday (21 Oct).

Today SK resumed her RT. It was scheduled for 12pm, but after a 45-min wait her turn finally came.

RT - 14 more to go.