Friends & Loved Ones

I used to feel very awkward around people who were ill or bereaved. I didn't know what to say, was afraid to say the wrong thing, and did not want to be too nosey.

In my time of crisis though I have learnt so much about giving and receiving comfort. My family and I are thankful for the many friends we have who did allow awkwardness to keep them away. Sometimes, words are not even necessary; a hug, a squeeze on the hand, convey the love and concern they have for us.

Thank you one and all who rallied around to visit, pray, to give practical help, support, cheer. Almost daily I receive telephone calls, SMS and e-mail messages of encouragement, scripture verses, prayers, tips on diet, positive thinking etc. It is true, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

Some of the things I and my family have been priviledged to receive: lunch (brought by a dear friend who came to visit); fruits; bread, cakes, cookies and chocolates (I am cutting down but the kids love it!); reading material on cancer care, healthy diet; Orased jel for my sore gums; caps and bandannas to cover my bald head; special shampoo for my scalp, etc.

Apart from physical things, we received acts of service: offers to take me to the doctor for my appointments and to sit with me during the chemo; transport for the kids to tuition; doctor friends offered to make house calls. Today, my friend's mum who's been battling lung cancer and brain cancer called to comfort me, give me tips on coping and fighting with cancer!

More than anything, just knowing that we are being remembered and upheld in prayer daily means so much to me. We have been blessed by you and we pray and look forward to opportunity to bless you in return.

This year our church will be going to Melaka for our annual church "camp" (more like a conference as it is held in a hotel!). I won't be able to go although I was really wanting to. The theme is "Strength in Weakness", they'll be studying the second letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. I just want to leave you with an extract from 2 Corinthians 1:3-11.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ... We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Feeling Good

"What does it feel like to inject yourself with the booster shots?" my sister asked.

It was actually quite easy. I opened the pack and had a good look at the needle and the syringe. The needle was fine and short (1cm) and the amount to inject was only 0.5 ml (I think or 5 ml). I just cleaned an area of tummy fat with alcohol swab, fixed the needle on the syringe, got rid of the air. Then I took a deep breath - pierced my skin with the needle - breathed out slowly while pressing on the plunger.

I had the booster shots on Tue, Wed, Thu. On Thursday morning, i woke up feeling pretty good - well rested, no aches & pains, no fatigue. I was more able to sit and focus, managed to do some bible study etc.

In fact I felt so good I even baked in the evening! 9 little loaves of citrus and poppyseed cake. A few friends came to pick up their cakes in the evening and have a chat. All in all a very good day.

Cycle 1 Wk 1

Praise God for the 1 week milestone which I passed yesterday. I must report that while I expected the worst side effects, I only experienced them very minimally. Fatigue, some aches and pains, queasiness on a couple of days, runny stools, sore gums - that's about it.

Yesterday, I went back to the doctors to have a blood test (full blood count). My white blood cell count was low so I had to have booster jabs for 3 consecutive days. The nurse gave me the injection in my tummy fat. Instead of going back today and tomorrow for the injections (waste of time, parking charges - astronomical in Gleneagles) I said I will do it myself or get someone to do it.

I could have asked my mum to help - she's a midwife by training - but I chose to inject myself. Maybe it's just my stubborn streak. It was not too difficult and years of watching my mum do it for her patients gave me confidence to do it!

Today I was reading my BSF notes on Matthew 8 about the Roman centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant. He is an example of living by faith and not by sight!

5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." 7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." 8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.

The notes say, "The centurion's faith was absolute. He did not need to see at once the answer. Christ's word was enough. He knew he had already received the answer to his prayer and was content to wait until he reached home to see it. Faith is being sure of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1)." Amen!