Merry Christmas to You and Your Family 聖誕平安

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isiah 9:6
因有一嬰孩為我們而生；有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上；他名稱為奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。以賽亞書9:6

  
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 
就生了頭胎的兒子，用布包起來，放在馬槽裡，因為客店裡沒有地方。路2：6-7

This thousands years old message still rings anew and stirs up such an emotion whenever it is read. You know what, this family of four is going to the Sunday service tomorrow like we always did before Eileen became sick! No one will be left at home alone this time.
這個作古幾千年的信息，每每聽來仍是叫人耳目一新，十分親切。告訴大家，明天我們全家人要一起上教會，這可是藹玲生病後的第一次！不再把她留在家裡。


At Reuben's request, we went out first time as a family for a dinner in the nearby "Italian" restaurant to celebrate Christmas. On this Christmas evening, Hsinchu sky is drizzled with rain and temperature hovers at teen, yet we feel great and joyous.
應老大的要求，今晚我們一家人第一次一道外出到附近的“意大利”餐廳吃晚餐慶祝聖誕佳節。新竹的夜晚飄著雨，氣溫徘徊在攝氏十來度，我們一家人確是十分歡喜。

Wed. (Dec. 23rd) was a long day at hospital like always, yet we came home with great relief when all the reports gave Eileen a clean bill. First it was Dr. Chiu, Eileen's lung doctor. Nothing from her chest CT scan caused alarm and we won't see him until next March. After four month target medication treatment, now she is released to a three month follow up routine like that of her brain situation; then it was Dr. Hsu, her brain surgeon. It was very nice to see him again as if we went to see an old friend and we believed he felt the same way. With his characteristic not-rushed manner and soft spoken tone, he went through Eileen's brain MRI and full body PET scan in details and told us the good news of her brain scar healing well and nothing to worry about her PET reading. We went home exhausted yet happy, very happy.

週三 （十二月二十三日）像往常一樣，我們在醫院耗了一整天，能帶著藹玲的健康報告回家，又怎能不釋懷。先是胸腔內科的邱醫師，胸腔電腦斷層掃描報告無甚異常，我們下次見他是三個月後的回診。經過四個月的標靶藥物治療，藹玲的肺部治療像她腦部的一樣進入到季度性的跟踪檢查；下午去見腦外科的許秉權大夫，我們像是見到一位老朋友，相信他也有同感。一如他過往不徐不緩的態度，溫和地向我們就藹玲的大腦核磁共振和全身正子掃描結果詳細的解說，告訴我們藹玲大腦內的疤痕癒合良好，身上其他器官皆無異常。一天下來身體雖是疲憊，心情卻是好生愉快。

Compared to the above, what we just went through domestically appeared to be a minor annoyance and inconvenience. Eileen together with our maid and the agency went to Hsinchu's labor department to settle the dispute we had with our maid Monday. Who basically quit us barely after two months coming to live with us. Please save me the trouble not to get in the details of this not so pleasant experience. We need a replacement helper and this could take another month or two. Six days passed. So far, Eileen and the boys are working very hard to keep this house in order while Michael is trying to locate a temp. one to alleviate the situation since he is out of the town on the weekdays.  
較之家裡近來發生的事就顯得沒有那麼惱人心煩。週一為處理與印傭的糾紛，藹玲隨我們的仲介和印傭走了一趟勞工處。我們的印傭因不適應，僅僅做了兩個月就離職了。在這裡我也不必就這一段不太愉快的經歷說長道短。目前要覓下一位幫手又得耗去一兩個月的時間。六天過去了，藹玲和孩子們努力地把持著不讓這個家亂了套，永強另一面四下里張羅著找個臨時替代。他週一到五都不在家，家裡實在需要個幫手。

"When the riding horse dies, the rider walks" says Cantonese. Eileen had to run up and down this five story town house few times a day to run the chores herself now. She resolved to suite her own strength and maintained about a stop-and-go pace to carry on the daily routine. The silver lining about this incident is that Eileen and the boys realized how much easier and comfortable their lives were when the maid was with us. This is the first week without a maid.
廣東人常說，“馬死落地行。” 藹玲勉強着一日幾上幾下地跑家務活兒。她也只能量著體力做做停停。這一來讓她和孩子正真體會到有個人在家裡幫忙那日子太舒服了，這才是沒了幫傭的第一個星期。

Until next time, friends and beloved ones, may the spirit of Christmas be with each one of you and your family throughout the holidays and the new year of 2011.
在紀念主耶穌誕生的日子，祝大家佳節愉快，新的一年滿有從神而來的平安。各位至愛親朋，下次再會嘍。

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

在至高之處榮耀歸與神！在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人！路2：14

Birthday Girl 女壽星

Fifty years ago, an infant girl was born to Hoa family...
五十年前，郝姓的一對夫婦家裡添了個女嬰...


Reuben won't talk to her last night because mother and son have certain dispute. The mother feels sad.
因為一些爭執，昨晚回家老大第一次不理媽媽，媽媽好傷心。
Our maid wants to leave while she doesn't think we're the right employer. This drives Eileen nuts.
家中新請的幫傭鬧著要換顧主，女主人想到就要抓狂。
Our birthday girl has been in a pursuit to get Michael a good medical insurance coverage since the sky is about to befall upon this family if a misfortune happens to him. She is really concerned about Michael's health
自從出院回家，精神漸漸恢復，她就沒停過四處張羅為永強選醫療保險。天有不測風雲，家中這根支柱萬一倒下來的話。


Lots of headache and worry, right? Not everyday is about walking in Lavender Cottage.
真是千頭萬緒，生活裡不是每天都在逛“薰衣草花園”。


"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost...Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear...So, amid the conflict, whether great or small, do not be disheartened God is over all..." Doesn't the lyric of this hymn sound familiar? Well, we're reminded to come to Him in time of distress and, as a matter of the fact, anytime .
“當你遇見苦難如同大波浪，當你憂愁喪膽幾乎要絕望...當你掛念世事如同挑重擔，當你背負十架覺得苦難堪...每逢遭遇靈戰不論大或小，主手統治一切你不要懼怕...“ 在教會裡待久了這歌詞聽來一定很熟悉。的確如此，或遭遇不順，其實在各種環境下，我們都當常常來親近神。


We went to had a chest CT and PET scans yesterday, and are about to meet doctors next Wed. Will keep you all posted after doctors' visits.
昨天到醫院照胸部電腦斷層和全身正子掃描，下週三看醫生聽結果。稍候再向大家報告。

Thank You Letter

來信摘要：感謝函 受理單位：院長信箱承辦單位 回覆日期：2010-11-23 11:12:55 處理情形：永強先生，您好：


感謝您的來函，表達對本院神經外科潘宏基醫師、許秉權醫師、癌病中心藍耿立醫師、胸腔外科謝致政醫師、胸腔部邱昭華醫師及173、161病房護理人員之肯定及讚賞，本院深以有此“視病猶親”之同仁為榮，已將您的鼓勵轉知相關單位予以表揚，並刊登於〝本院脈動〞電子刊物，作為同仁模範。我們將因您的鼓勵而益加奮勉，為病患作更好的服務。
另有關您提醒本院停車場收費機語音內容不妥之建議，本院將納入檢討改進之參考，敬請繼續愛護本院並請不吝指教。
耑此順頌
台安


台北榮民總醫院 敬啟

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上述有關您的來函處理情形，歡迎點選滿意度調查表回應您的評價，謝謝！
滿意度調查 來信內容：尊敬的台北榮民總醫院林院長芳郁博士：


I write this letter with great gratitude about the treatment my wife, 郝藹玲 Eileen H. Wong received from your esteemed institute recently.


1. In early April, she was found with lung cancer with brain metastasis and transferred from 新竹馬偕醫院
2. She first underwent a craniotomy in late April
3. A brain radiation, soon afterwards
4. Then a lobectomy of her left lower lobe and radical lymph node dissection in early June
5. Started taking Iressa in July as her first line treatment and this remains current


Drs. 潘宏基, 許秉權, 藍耿立, 謝致政, 邱昭華 (in the order from which treatment received), the nurses and caregivers from wards 中正 173 and 161 and a whole batch of other medical professionals, caregivers and administrators of different department that we encountered left us with an experience that so profound and indelible. Your esteemed institute is indeed worthy the name, the Best in Taiwan and more to it, the quality of treatment and patient care, and the advancement of medical skill, technology and facilities are equal to those of the best in the US if not better, yet only at a small fraction of hospital bill in the US would cost us; therefore we say overall treatment my wife received is far superior. That puts your hospital ahead most of those in US in our judgment. No wonder President Obama is in a dire need to reform the health care system of US.


Moreover, we are here to commend Dr. 許秉權 who went beyond and above what is expected of a fine medical doctor


1. A comforter - He first quelled our anxiety and desperation when my wife was admitted to his ward. “Cancer” was a word so very foreign to us and a potential of high grade brain tumor seemed a synonym of “Death” to us at first,
2. A magician and executioner - He assured us of his credential and would do his utmost to afford my wife the best treatment the hospital and he could provide; and most of all, he did what he said
3. A listener and counselor - Besides giving my wife a battery of scan and test to prepare her for an ultra delicate surgical procedure, hence a successful surgery, he always made himself available explaining to us in details; after awhile we felt rather he and us tackling the tumor problem as one team
4. An advocator - When pathological result indicated the tumor was a brain metastasis after her craniotomy, he ordered tests, scans and other procedures to trace the origin of the tumor and recommended immediate lobectomy once confirmed the location being in her lung
5. A cheerleader - He constantly rallied us to fight on and not to give in or up where survivability improves when the strong-will-to-live prevails


He now becomes “Our Doctor”, a beloved and respected one after about a month or so under his care. He truly exemplifies the finest medical professional and caregiver this modern world defines. He works our brains and hearts besides ones’ illness. We look forward to meeting him every three months on our regular follow up visit as we understand this fight is far from over. But having him on our side, this rapport of trust and camaraderie favorably add good fighting chance for us. All and all, we can’t thank you enough for training up and giving us such a wonderful doctor and gentleman.


Gratefully and respectfully yours,


Michael Wong


p.s. A minor issue about what displays at toll booth of the hospital underground parking garage, it says “Thank you, please leave.” after one pays the parking fee. We believe it means to say, “Thank you. Please drive safe” or “Thank you. Have a nice day.” One could simply leave out the “please leave” part, lest someone miscues it for an unintended contemptuous expression.