September 2, 2020
“Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.” (Psalm 125:1-2)
Thank the Lord for constantly comforting and encouraging me with these verses. Thank him for filling my family with His peace and assuring guidance over the past week. On August 23, my daughter Sarah took me to see the oncologist to decide on the day of the operation. First I got a PET scan. Then I waited in the waiting room for a long time. Finally the doctor came in and explained to us that, according to the results of PET scan, the cancer cells had reached the blood veins leading to the liver and they are not able to perform a surgery. Mrs. Ko asked the doctor via the phone “How long is the survival time without the surgery?” The doctor said it could be two to three years. Sarah started crying when she heard this I asked the doctor if he could recommend another doctor for a second opinion, and he recommended me to a specialist at St. Louis’ Washington University Hospital, the largest hospital in the Midwest with a department specialized to gastric cancer treatment. In my devotion the next day, the Lord used Psalm 125:1-2 to remind me again that His hand is constantly looking after His people. His words filled my heart with complete peace and rest. I truly thank the Lord for His presence with me. That day the brother from our church who is a physician contacted the doctor in Barnes-Jewish Hospital of Washington University on my behalf and briefed him on my condition. The doctor said it looked like they could operate on me, even though his schedule was full. He would make arrangements for me to see him on Monday. Seeing the Lord’s gracious hands are upon this, my heart is more peaceful.
On August 31st, my daughter and my sister went to St. Louis with me. Mrs. Ko had returned to California for her doctor’s appointments. We brought all the medical records. After reading all the information, the doctor told me that it didn’t seem that cancer cells has affected the blood veins, and even if it did, he could have that section of blood vein removed. The approximate surgery time will be about four and a half hours. It would take nine and a half hours in Columbia. He advised me to finish the remaining three rounds of chemotherapy, take a six-week break, and then schedule a date for the surgery probably in mid-November. When I heard what this doctor said, and saw that God’s gracious hands are leading me to go to a better hospital with more experienced doctors for treatment, I have great peace in my heart believing that what the Lord has begun, He will accomplish. When I commit my all to Him, He will accomplish His great work concerns me. How wonderful it is to enjoy the peace and joy from the Lord when we surrender ourselves to Him.
Thanks be to the Lord again! Chemotherapy for some people is associated with the body becoming weak and suffering various unpleasant side effects. But for me, my body is getting better day by day! Thank the Lord! These several weeks with Mrs. Ko back to California, Sarah’s company allowing her work from home so she could come to take care of me. We haven’t lived together for so long in more than ten years. I enjoyed the time with her very much. My appetite is better. Sometimes it seems that I eat more than Sarah, and my weight is slowly recovering, my energy level and physical strength are better than at the beginning of chemotherapy. It did take me three separate times to record one message in early June, but now I can finish a message in one recording. I really thank the Lord for His grace and healing power. He is our healer (Jehovah Rapha), and those who believe in Him live in His grace. As the psalmist said: “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me.” (Psalm 131:2)