Surgery Is Likely to Be Next Sat. (June 5th)

We've been waiting for call from the hospital whole day today and it didn't happen. I'm afraid the surgery date is moved out to June 5th.


Our patience never quite loses her appetite. It was Vietnamese cuisine yesterday. Today is Thai. And ice cream or gelato in between. What should I put on table comes tomorrow? Indian or any other exotic food? I'm clueless. Oh, God help me!  Can't we just have beef noodle. Taiwan has the best one this world can offer.

Hello Again - 久違了。

Dear All, many have enquired through other venues when several days went by without new update.

本部落格沒有新消息才幾天而已，不少關心的親友們就致電或電郵詢問藹玲的情況。

Well, Dr. Hsieh (謝致政) met our patient in his office this afternoon. Here we are -

版主自然不敢怠慢，以下是今天到謝大夫門診的報告：

With results of tests and scans all point to lung, Eileen is in Dr. Hsieh's department now. He believes the benefit of getting rid off her cancer tissue by surgery. But there can be two to three alternatives depends on how good is her palmonary reserve. If excellent, the surgical with the aide of bronchoscopy means the excision will be more precise and the cut can be limited so that as much as her lung can be saved or if OK, the surgery ends up a lobectomy (removal of a lobe of her lung). Image living on 3/4 of one's lung for the rest of her life, Eileen will struggle with short of breath, no more heavy excercise and work. Or when the palmonary reserve is poor, Dr. Hsieh may skip the surgery at all and leave her with the only option - chemothrapy.

所有的檢測結果都把矛頭指向肺部，看來肺腺癌是八九不離十了。從數據和記錄上看，謝大夫認為開刀仍為上選。但視乎患者的肺活量，手術方法和結果也有不同。若肺活量上好，借助內視鏡，可以準確下刀，把切除範圍限制到最小；肺活量普通，則是要報廢幾乎一片肺葉，試想病患用餘下的四片肺葉過下半輩子的日子。用這樣的描述也許比較貼切，本來完好的四肢，突然少了一支胳臂或一條腿。若肺活量差，手術則根本就不予考慮，化療成了西醫的唯一選擇。

Depending on the availability of surgical slot, Eileen will either be admitted on this Sun. (May 30th) and have the surgery on next Tue. (June 1) or in hospital next Thur. (June 3) and surgery on Sat. (June 5).

視乎謝大夫的時間安排，要么是星期天（5/30）入院，星期二（6/1）開刀，或是下星期四（6/3）入院，星期六（6/5）開刀。

What about chemotherapy? Our patient will undergo chemotherapy about a month after lung surgery if she is going to have a lung surgery after all.


至於化療嘛，則是術後一個月後的事情。

Lots of information to gurgitate on. This is another day.

今天就先消化開刀的資訊吧, 別的下次再談。

週一在台北基督之家見到剛從中國國內短宣培訓經台返美的紹涵哥，曙光教會的主任牧師。倩芬師母幾年前罹患鼻咽癌，走過一段他們的死陰幽谷，他用過來人的身份鼓勵我們，十分受用。“那賜諸般恩典的神曾在基督裡召你們，得享他永遠的榮耀，等你們暫受苦難之後，必要親自成全你們，堅固你們，賜力量給你們。”這是他在為藹玲禱告時得到的感動。

不只如此，他還帶來教會和團契弟兄姐妹的問候。一同服侍十年有久建立的情感，相見的愉悅非言語可以形容。看到他舟車勞頓為中國教會的事工的擺上和付出的辛勞，不能不為他擔憂，唯有求神親自看顧保守，願神更加謙卑和大大地重用他。

藹玲回家了！

藹玲在5/21（星期五）回到新竹可愛的家了！
經過一連串的治療，終於告一個段落，這幾天需要養足精神及體力，因為下星期三(5/26）必須回到榮總看胸腔科謝醫生的門診，預計6/1（星期二）必須作肺部腫瘤切除的手術，之後還需要進行化療，請為藹玲的心情及信心禱告，會有些擔心及害怕，因為接下來的手術，復原會比較痛，化療又比放療更艱鉅。
目前正在進行外勞聘用，求神為永強及藹玲預備一位合宜的人選，可以讓他們放心及信任，成為生活上的助手。

Home Sweet Home

Our patient gets home around 6:00 PM tonight. Last time this family were together in our house was about 5 weeks ago. There sure are lots of catch-ups to do before Eileen goes again to stay in the hospital late next week.


Eileen is in good spirit and remains good about her appetite, but are getting particular about her taste palette. This palette is rather fickle, say like she is having a morning sick all over again.


Thank you again readers for your sustaining prayers and generous acts of kindness. Will keep you posted of her status.

To Chuck's Parents

Dear Chuck's parents, Michael & Eileen,

我是 Chuck 主日學老師，Esther Lee.

下學期，Chuck 將會在大堂崇拜，我將沒有機會再教導他，所以，我將在主日學課堂上，Chuck 的表現，來跟你們報告。

Chuck是班上最聰明，反應最快的孩子，是近乎天才的小孩。他喜歡被愛，被注重及被接納。他喜歡交朋友。最近因為媽媽生病，他又更成熟，是件很 blessing 的事，這也是我最願意看到他成功的地方。他接受了耶穌成為他個人救主，我盼望若有機會，請引導他受洗及重生。因Eileen生病，Chuck樂意禱告，而且也知道要禱告的事項，平常禱告總是最後一位安靜，但如今是第一個安靜下來的孩子，所以Eileen要加油，大家都在為你禱告。

我很榮幸有機會教到Chuck,尤其是媽媽生病後的表現，真是太好了。只能感謝神的恩典在Chuck身上，相信你們看到有神的恩典在Chuck的身上，一定要讚美神的慈愛及大能，將榮耀歸於神。

Dear Eileen,
Chemotherapy/radiation is painful. 沒有人能與你同行but God. 他說他永不丟棄你，他以他慈愛的手扶持你。不能為你做什麽，只有禱告...。

Love in Him,

Esther Lee

A Time to Weep And A Time to Laugh 哭有時，歡笑有時。

Other than the grin afforded in the picture, our patient lies in her bed most of the day and barely eats.

除了照片上的笑容，勉強打起的精神，病人整日閉目臥床，少有食慾。

Thank You, but No Thanks.

The number of call, text message and email continues everyday. Eileen and Michael are very touched by all these acts of kindness. They carry us thus far and cheer us up all along.


Nevertheless, a flu season is picking up recently according to the hospital, therefore we are advised to keep visitation down and give the patience time and space to rest from the stress of radiation treatment and brain surgical trauma. 


With your loving care, Eileen knows she need to stay strong. We want to say thank you in person someday when all these are over. Therefore, we appreciate it that one remember us in his/her prayer instead of visiting the patient in the hospital since many of you have to make extra efforts to travel all the way from Hsinchu to Taipei and return. May God bless your all.

Get Ready for the 2nd Run

藹玲腦部的放射治療會一直做到星期四（5/20），預計是5/21可以出院，回新竹休養，5/26回榮總看謝大夫的門診，預計安排在6/1進行肺部腫瘤切除手術，這次在手術結束後會住在加護病房比較多天，手術後的疼痛會比較厲害，請繼續以禱告支持藹玲有體力有毅力，接受接下來一連串的治療，由正子測試及肺癌檢測，確定藹玲是肺癌，所以在手術後需要接受化療。


PET, and CK-7 and CK-20 tumor markers all suggest pulmonary origin of lung cancer.


Like he always do, Dr. Hsu sat down with us again early today to go through PET scan images and explained to us the interpretation of PET scan confirm lung cancer while no other lesions detected elsewhere.


This patient will be discharged from Neurosurgical Ward next Friday and come back to visit Dr. Hsieh, Pulmonary Surgical Department on May 26th, then be admitted to Pulmonary Surgical Ward within a day or two and prepare for a lung surgery on June 1st (Tues.)


We're told this time to prepare to stay in ICU a lot longer, say 2 - 3 days at least and it might take longer time to heal the surgical wound while enduring much sharp and excruciating pain when it is about lung this time.


The story doesn't end here. Once the patient is ready, she will undergo the much talked about chemotherapy flushing her whole system to stamp out the cancer cells of which might have spread inside her body.

Haagen-Dazs 英雄本色

A pint of Haagen-Dazs, rum raisin flavor, all done in 10 min. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this photo essay is about 4,000+ words long.

近500毫升份量的蘭姆葡萄口味冰淇淋，十來分鐘便吃得精光。好一個第四期癌症病患！

搬家囉！藹玲換到十號病床 We've Moving!

今天傍晚接到通知 - 單人房有空位。藹玲從今晚起搬到同樓層的十號病床 （173-10）

We've moved. Now Eileen is in Bed # 10, the same ward - 173 or 173 - 10

電話 Tel. 02 2871 2121 Ext. 6549 分機

藹玲今天幾乎整日臥床，7A 和 7B 的七八位媽媽們來時，都沒法與大家交談一句。食慾不振。

Our patient is bedridden the whole day today. She couldn't even receive the mothers coming from 7A and 7B. She lost her appetite.

院牧的禱告團隊來病床前為藹玲禱告。

The praying band from Chaplian's office came to visit us and pray with and for Eileen.

Chapter 2 Stage 4 Lung Cancer 第二章 肺癌第四期

藹玲的媽媽和小弟媳

永強的父母

Eileen started the day upbeat. After her quiet time, first came Michael's parents, then Eileen's mom brought by Ben, her baby brother and Rita, his wife, and last came Grace Yu, Elder Yu's wife from our church in Hsinchu. A wonderful time with family and sweet fellowship with a sister with whom she confides often. It was 1:00 PM by the time Grace left the ward.

本是個愉快的日子，先是永強的父母，接著藹玲的小弟弟帶著母親和太太；然後是清玲姐（教會俞長老的太太），彼此有很美好的交通和分享，俞師母離開時已過午後一時。

3:00 PM the dreadful time came to pay her due, going to the basement for her fifth radiation treatment. Nevetheless, it's comfort to know one time less after every treatment, it will be done by next Thursday, Hallelujah!

下午三點到地下室進行第五次的放射治療，雖然害怕，老大不情願的，但每次也不過三五分鐘的時間，起碼知道做一次便少一次。雖然事後疲倦，腸胃不舒服，一到週末休息兩天，人又活過來了。

4:00 PM Dr. Hsieh came, our lung surgeon with his assitance. When enquired about how seriouse 1.3cm size lesion in her lung is . The answer came, 'regardless the size, once the tumor is a metastesis one, it is in its stage 4.' As far as lung surgery is concerned, it seems premature to discuss at this time while it depends on how well the patience rehabilitate from current brain surgery. We will need to come back to visit Dr. Hsieh in another two weeks. Nevertheless, chemotherapy is inevitable. 

下午四點，，藹玲的胸腔外科醫師謝致政大夫帶著助理應約來病房探視。當問及謝大夫 1.3cm 的肺部腫瘤有多嚴重，謝大夫告知我們，腫瘤不在大小，擴散了就是第四期；至於治療方面，肺癌切割手術要看藹玲腦部手術後的恢復，最早也要等一兩個禮拜後再說（術後起碼一個月的時間），化療是不可避免的。

"Survivalbility" instead of "curability" is medical profession's jargon while "survivalbility" sounds rather negative in its Chinese translation, to us at least. This, in turn, weighted our hearts down, like falling from few floors. We're left to wonder what stage 4 actually mean in layman's terms in the wake of Dr. Hsieh's departure.


對於癌症治療，醫生們往往不談治愈率，存活率才是他們的術語。可想而知，“存活率”三個字活生生地把病人和家屬摔到了地底下。事後才想到第四期肺癌到底有多嚴重，回過神來時已是半小時後的事了。

Treatment details need to wait and "survivalbility" is just too scary to comtemplate. Well, then let's switch the subject. Dr. Hsieh agreed to a PET/CT Scan, scheduled Thursday afternoon. Also Lung tumor marker tests, CK20 and CK7 were ordered. 


好吧，既然這壺不開，我們提另一壺吧。謝大夫同意病人住院期間照正子掃描 （PET/CT Scan)。時間排在本週四下午。肺癌指標CK20和CK7正在檢驗中。

May our patience sleep tight tonight.

求神讓藹玲今晚仍能安然入睡。

"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.
Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." Ecclesiates 7:14


“遇亨通的日子你當喜樂；遭患難的日子你當思想；因為神使這兩樣並列，為的是叫人查不出身後有甚麼事。”傳道書7:14

園區媽媽小組 - 美伶、秋蘭、名慧、翊純 探望藹玲

星期一上午我們一行四人，到台北榮總探望藹玲(在17樓)， 她是實驗雙語部10年級的媽媽，
我們為她禱告、唱詩歌給她聽，
請姊妹們持繼地為她代禱。


姊妹們亦可打電話關心她，為她代禱：榮總總機 (02)2871-2121 藹玲病房分機#5947

Happy Mother Day 母親節

Our hero，Dr. Hsu - 青年才俊，許秉權大夫

As mother's day gift, Dr. Hsu went through all the recent  checks and exams with and explained to us in details. Long story short, we traded a lung tumor (highly suspective of primary one) for a high grade brain tumor. The odd of survivalbility of former is much better. Nevertheless, we're not out of the woods yet. The fight ensues.

說巧不巧今天是母親節，許大夫給我們看了術後藹玲所做的各式各樣檢查的圖片，一一詳細地給予專業的解釋，耐心地回答我們提出的問題。長話短說，目前懷疑肺癌是元兇，相較於手術前所推斷的嚴重惡性腦瘤要來得好，前者的存活機會要比後者來得高。然而，我們也沒有太多僥倖的本錢，路漫漫，其修遠兮，這場仗也才開始而已。

充電的母親節 Recharge

第一道菜 - 排骨面 First Course - Noodle Soup with Spare Rib

第二道菜 - 小籠包 Second Course - Dim Sum

第三道菜 - 炒豆苗 Third Course - Stir Fry of Mung Bean Seedling

第四道菜 - 肉粽 Sticky Rice Dumpling with Pork

甜點 - 意大利冰淇淋 Gelato

Our patient is dreadful of radiation treatment, yet we're reminded, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Let's eat and be merry.

老實說， 一想到（放射）治療就害怕。但是耶穌說，“所以，不要為明天憂慮，因為明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天當就夠了。” 不吃白不吃。

The Verdict Is Delivered

Dr. Hsu delivers the diagnosis of his colleagues in respiratory department - lung cancer and he will hand our case over to them now.  Mammogram eliminates breast cancer.


The Act I of this blog is about to close and we're to embark on the next chapter. Eileen and I are ever so grateful of your supplication to the Lord on our behalf and acts of kindness. May our Lord richly bless you for what you have done unto us, ones of the little ones. Yet, it's our plea, please remain vigilant and do not cease to pray for Eileen and this family.


"You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain" Psalm 139:5


"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever -
do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

New Coiffure 新頭飾

A gift of kindness, a pass-down from a friend who went throught the similar ordeal 一位短暫相識的朋友，將自己過去治療時曾經用過的頭飾轉贈給藹玲

The toll of radiation starts to weight in. Eileen feels sleepy constantly and her appetite is not as good, but that doesn't drop a hint she catches the anorexia bug. She is not anywhere near that category. She still eats, but just not as hearty.

放射治療的副作用開始在病人身上作祟，藹玲常常覺得疲勞想睡。食慾不如從前，倒也不至於厭食，只是不再大快朵颐。

Colonoscopy comes back negative. Mammogram result has yet to come. And technically she can be discharged from the hospital now. To be vigilant Dr. Hsu believes she'd bettter stay for the time being and even if she will need to undergo another surgery or two to remove tumor lesion(s) from her lungs or breasts when identified as primary one, she needs to wait a month from this brain surgery to be physically ready to say the least.
大腸鏡並無異常。乳房X光檢查結果還未出來。即使找到腫瘤源頭，做切除手術，也是一個月後身體略有恢復之事。許大夫讓藹玲目前仍然留院查看。

She washes her head first time after the surgery.
今天是術後第一次洗頭，太爽了。只是搖頭時少了飄逸的長髮作伴。

5/6 eileen 近況分享

5/6

星期二（5/4）英文部牧師及包姐探訪永強及藹玲，在病床旁為藹玲剝餅祝福，讓藹玲在病痛中仍可領聖餐，體會到耶穌為我們流下寶血，我們的罪得拯救，體會到神對我們的愛，藹玲很感動。

目前藹玲做過很多檢查，都很正常，子宮頸抹片報告尚未出來，在藹玲的肺部發現有1.3cm的黑點在心臟的後方，另外在乳房檢查中也有些異樣，須做進一步的檢查。

藹玲已經開始做頭部放射治療，一共有12次，每天10分鐘左右，六日休息。藹玲感到很疲倦，耳朵及腮幫後方不舒服，請為藹玲禱告，在治療過程，可以忍受其中的不舒服，可以有好的睡眠，強壯的抵抗力，渡過12次的療程。

昨天晚上永強的爸爸媽媽由香港飛來台灣，可以照顧兩個孫子，也求神保守，這段時間，永強的父母，可以很平安，特別是爸爸已經80幾歲，相信上帝看顧一切，謝謝弟兄姊妹，請持續在禱告中記念。

Grantparents come to help out from Hong Kong

Michael takes the chance to ask his parents to fly over from Hong Kong to help him out. The reason being that Michael's dad is over eighty, senile and frail. Pray that grandprants stay healthy and adjust to the life here in Taiwan fine. Hope the boys enjoy grandma's cooking and pampering.

Radiation treatment starts today

Each treatment lasts about 10 min. and she will undergo the treatment for next 12 days while taking break on weekends. Effect of radiation is already felt while she begins to feel certain discomfort right below her ears and behind her cheeks. Pray that she will sustain the treatment well.

By His Wounds We Are Healed

Pastor Rockie Bronson administered the communion by the bedside Tuesday. What a privelidge to break the bread and take the cup in rememberance of our Lord even in sickness.

Post Surgery Tests and Checks Done and Will Be Done

• Tumor markers (no abnormality)

1. CEA
2. AFP
3. CA-125
4. CA-19-9
5. CA-153

• Abdomen ultrasound (no abnormality)
• Gallium tracer (spots on chest, suspect of tumor lesions of breast, breast mammogram is ordered tomorrow.)
• Pap test (cervical smear) - result available in few days
• Pelvic ultrasound - cysts found but not malignant
• Chest CT Scan - 1.3cm size spot found in her chest right behind her heart, doctors want to decide what to do based on the result and interpretation of Gallium tracker
• Colonoscopy check is due tomorrow
• Mammogram check is due tomorrow
• PET (Positron Emission Tomography), not necessary at this stage

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad...

Three Moms from Mom's Fellowship (園區媽媽小組) brought much uplifting joy to the patience in waiting

Roommate No.1 came back to cheer Eileen up.

Ben, Eileen's twin brother

Buddies in Oncology Ward 戰友

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Waiting 安息日的等待

Another day of waiting.

Amidst the waiting, James and Jean (興政，侶君), our would-be pastor couple gave us a pleasant surprise, coming back to Taiwan during their seminary school break from Boston.

A Day of Downcast

Chuck spent two nights with Eugene and Eugene's mom took good care of him. His staff got well organized.
Remarks came from Ms. Candy from his class are also encouraging that his class participation and schoolworks are fine.
Friday night he went to sleepover at Sidney's place.


He went to hospital with Michael today and was taken aback when he first spotted mommy at the hospital main lobby, even though Michael had prepared him beforehand by showing him Eileen's post surgery pictures.


Reuben is pretty much on his own and takes good care of himself. He is working on his AP exam - environmental science now. Only he needs to get the garage door closed every time he leaves the house. Our Lord is patient and merciful that He didn't allow thieves to ransack our house while Reuben offered them chance three times over the course of last two weeks.


*********************************************


Pastor Chang, Robert came again to visit Eileen and pray for and with us today.


Shady's parents showed up too, what a pleasant surprise.

**********************************************


With tumor markers and ultrasound show no particular omen, result of today's Gallium scan won't be available until Monday. No explicit clue points us to where the cancer's origin is. We're getting anxious. Our human nature prevails for the moment, and the waiting is killing us. Eileen is quiet today and downcast. Everyday is a challenge.


She is scheduled to undergo chest CT scan on Monday and colonoscopy Wed. (PAP) Cervical smear test too soon.


Dr. Hsu also prepares Eileen that she will undergo chemotherapy soon, on top of the radiation therapy which may take place in about a week or so. Dr. Hsu tends to believe the trouble starts in her reproductive organ. If identified, his opinion is to totally remove the troubled part as quickly and completely as possible lest the cancerous cells spread out of control...

High School Reunion - 三誠

Day Out - April 30

•  Sonogram came back with no specific abnormalty
• She will undergo colonoscopy and tumor survey
• She will partake a 12 treatment radiation in about 2 weeks

Eileen and her aide - 藹玲和她的看護 - 李素芳

Dr. Hsu and his team make a round this morning. Eileen will be off her close wound and urinary drainage ducts (引流管和尿管）today. Eileen is advised to get off bed to walk to resume
Her MRI comes back good. All tumor markers CEA, AFP, CA-125, CA-19-9 and CA-153 come back normal. He has yet to read her abdomen ultrasound from yesterday. As for the radiation treatment of her brain, it needs to wait until her stiches are removed.
Another battle is calling...

許大夫早上巡房告知核磁共振結果證實腫瘤清得很乾淨，五項腫瘤化學指標並無異常。待拆線之後，就要開始頭部（鈷60）放射治療。她身上的傷口引流管和尿管今天都可以拔掉，要下床開始走動了。

接下來的挑戰會更精彩。。。

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Look who is here...

瞧，誰來了。。。

April 28th (Wed.)

AM - Eileen had her post-surgery MRI and an abdomen sonogram (ultrasound) in the morning.
今天早上做了術後核磁共振和腹部超音波。
Her sister-in-law cooked her fish soup and she finished up everything to the last drop.
大哥送來大嫂煮的鱸魚湯，連肉帶汁被我們的病患掃的精光。
Hospital Christian Caring Ministry stopped by to pray with us. Then came Frank and Jesper's moms and Andy's dad from 10th grade. How kind is their act. 
醫院關懷事工的姐妹前後來探視過兩次，與我們一起唱詩歌和禱告。十年級，Frank 和 Jesper 的媽媽，Andy的爸爸也專程來探訪, 聊得很開心。
She likes the 24hr aide, Ms. Lee. She is an experienced and kind person. Only that Eileen was combarded by snoring from both side last night and she had to ask for earplugs, a minor inconvenience.
With the hiring of the aide, it gives Michael much needed break, whose load is much lightened up and he may go back to Hsinchu tomorrow night to check out the boys. 
我們的二十四小時看護，李素芳，四十九歲，四川綿陽人，蠻有經驗，藹玲覺得人不錯。只是昨晚酣睡聲在兩旁此起彼落，不得已要用耳塞隔音，小事一樁。有了看護，永強的擔子輕省了許多。也許明晚就可以回新竹看看兩個孩子。

4/27藹玲的近況

4/27

藹玲早餐和午餐胃口都很好，手術很成功，復原得很好。

下午2:00已經轉到一般病房，根據許醫生的判斷，手術很成功，可是這應該不是原發性的腦癌，腦瘤的部份很硬，可以切除得很乾淨，但是他判斷應該是由身體其他部位轉移的。

永強問醫生，由他專業的判斷，可能事由哪個部位轉移，許醫生認為婦科的可能性最大，必須經由其他的檢查來確定，所以接下來會有許多的的檢查，如果確定，會進行放射性治療。

請為永強及藹玲禱告，接下來會有許多的檢查及治療，請神用大能的膀臂，守護他們，勇敢堅強，藉由醫生的手，得到醫治。

順利的話，今天會將藹玲身上的導引管去掉。

7:00  24小時的看護已經請到，看護的個性很好相處，感謝神。接下來的日子，有許多需要她的協助， 也求神保守，相處愉快。

April 27th - Out of ICU, Into Regular Ward

Today is another day. For breakfast, Eileen eats a poached egg and two delicious buns with custard filling, and then cleans her lunch box like she always does before. She is back to being herself, always with good appetite. She needs this for a speedy recovery.

11:00 AM - One hour visitation with family, she recounts her experience of last night. Everything is so tranquil that she feels she is in paradise or a green pasture by the water. “Comfortable” is another word she uses.

She reclines on her bed, semi erect. She voice recovers a lot more and talks more.

She will be transferred to a regular neurosurgical ward at 2:00 pm today, according to Dr. Hsu. The surgery is a successful one since Dr. Hsu and the team do a good job ridding off the solid tumor as whole. A follow-up MRI will confirm this. Yet we’re told this is not a primary brain tumor, rather one infiltrates from other part of her body outside the brain. It’s a malign one for sure. Never a dull moment, Ah-ha!

2:00 PM - Soon she will undergo a battery of tests, first ultrasound, then followed with CT scan when the tumor origin is identified. At the same time, radiation treatment of her brain will be administered soon lest the lesion spreads already, pretty much nipping in the bud The silver lining of this not being primary brain tumor is that there will be more alternative treatments indicating more ammunition to either bludgeon the cancerous cells and/or contain its growth to spread further out inside the body.

6:00 PM - Dr. Hsu stops by Eileen's bed. Told her that he will have her close wound blood drain (引流管）pulled sometimes tomorrow. She will have a thourough ultrasound check about her internal organs to start the hunt for the origin of tumor. Dr. Hsu suspects this tumor may belong to gynacology dept. (婦科) when asked to where his professional hunch would points.

7:00 PM - Ms. Li, our 24 hrs. care aide shows up. She seems to be quite confident what this job involves.  She is about mid-size but strong and well built. She is from 四川，綿陽 and has been in Taiwan for over 8 years now. Eileen tells her that Michael loves Sichuan food.

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When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my sould.


It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
…


And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.


It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

暴風雨中之避難所

一 主是磐石容我藏躲，
暴風雨中之避難所；
災禍來臨我得穩妥，
暴風雨中之避難所。
二 日間遮蔭，夜間保護，
暴風雨中之避難所；
無事可驚，無敵可怖，
暴風雨中之避難所。
三 狂風暴雨四面來襲，
暴風雨中之避難所；
我們絕不離開蔭蔽，
暴風雨中之避難所。
四 神聖磐石，親密隱處，
暴風雨中之避難所；
一旦有難，作我幫助，
暴風雨中之避難所。
（副）
主耶穌是磐石，我之避難所，
如沙漠地，有蔭涼所；
主耶穌是磐石，我之避難所，
暴風雨中之避難所。

4/26藹玲近況

4/26

感謝神，藹玲開刀很順利！

今天早上10:00左右進開刀房。

一直到7:10由手術室推出。

8:00左右讓家屬進去，護士請藹玲手腳都試試看，

都可以使用，眼睛可以睜得很大，可以開口講話，聲音比較小，有些疲倦，感謝神，都很正常，9:30----10:00間看恢復的狀況，會到加護病房，請為手術後藹玲的恢復，病理報告，及請看護順利禱告。

PS:今天下午梁牧師及梁師母在藹玲開刀中，來探訪永強及藹玲，為他們禱告，感謝主，一路有弟兄姊妹，牧者及朋友支持鼓勵。

• At 7:10 PM - After almost nine long hours, Eileen was wheeled out of surgery unit
• At about 8:00 PM - Michael and her baby brother were summoned in to check her out. She barely woke from the drug effect, but awaken, barely whispered. She lifted her arms and legs fine, said, "she's comfortable."
• At 9:10 PM - Eileen was transfered to ICU at neurosurgical centre. By this time, she could talk, weak yet above whisper level. She said to Michael, "I'm glad to see you." When told she looked fine and maintained her rosy cheek, a tid bit pale though, she followed with, "Thanks God and thanks Dr. Hsu." Asked why she was speaking English only all the time now. One wondered if Dr. Hsu altered her brain. She countered that English words were easier while Chinese sentences were a bit difficult now
• Michael then read her few emails coming from brothers and sister to cheer her up. She drank small amount of soy milk and took her Epilepsy drug
• We might be able to see Dr. Hsu to have him explain about the surgery tomorrow

This is one day, a very long one.

"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."


Cole and Melissa came to stay in Wongs' place overnight with the boys while Michael stayed in Alan and Alice's (陳志宏 莫元樂）place in Taipei.

Out of Surgery

Eileen came out of surgery at 7:10pm, and we are waiting patiently until 8:00 to find out how everything went. Please keep praying, especially now for a quick recovery.

手術改到早上十點

When Michael got to the room from home around 8:30 am, Eileen was lying on her side and almost done her shaving. Elder Ben Wang, from our church in San Jose, stopped by to pray and cheer Eileen up, on his way returning back to the States while he just finished his short mission from China.

8：30AM - 永強和基督之家四家王紹湖長老早晨趕到病房時，藹玲側臥在病床上，頭已幾乎理光，她用餘光親切地叫了聲,"王長老“ 像是見到了久別的家人一般。 王長老到中國培訓，路經台灣，特地來看望我們的姐妹。不久後，英文部的牧師和師母也到了。進手術房前，有主內的牧長們一同為她禱告，代求，藹玲甚覺安慰，倍受鼓舞。

Eileen took her last shower and doned in operation gown. Then walked in Pastor Rockie Bronson and his wife, Rebecca. Eileen remained in good spirit. How endearing those prayers we had with Elder Wang, Pastor Rockie and Rebecca. And we knew there were many other kept pray vigil for us all over the places.

10:00AM - 在手術室等候時，藹玲的兄嫂和弟弟也分別趕到，約莫在10：20左右，她被送進手術間。目前仍在手術中 - 下午2：00

Not too long after, she was wheeled down to the operation room and admitted in around 10:20 am. As this update posted now, she remains in the surgery room  1:30 PM

The surgery is moved up to10:00 am here now

4/23-4/25藹玲近況

4/23-4/25

4/23

雖然藹玲的室友不是基督徒，但是仍舊願意藹玲及永強為她禱告，讓她有勇氣面對治療中的痛苦，及克服心中得恐懼。

早上有孩子在學校七年級及十年級的媽媽來探訪

藹玲，中午有來自龍山小組的樹勻，來探訪藹玲及永強。

下午藹玲及永強到榮總14樓去關懷也是實驗雙語部十年級的為媽媽，她的名字是翁雅蘭，她是罹患肺癌，目前有轉移到腦部及骨頭，安慰她及她的先生，並為他們禱告。

今天是忙碌的一天，藹玲到了晚上有些疲倦了，不過可以安慰一些正在生病的人，見證神的大能，心中非常高興。

4/24

永強帶著兩個孩子，來看媽媽，渡過愉快的一天。

4/25

今天早上9:00左右，許醫生詳細的解說MRI的報告，感謝神許醫生的體力及精神都很好，目前跟據檢查報告判斷，是屬於高階的腫瘤，可能是原發性的腦瘤，也不排除是其他部位轉移的腦瘤，如果是後者，就必須是一場持久戰，請大家為藹玲及永強禱告，求神讓他們有信心除去心中的擔憂及恐懼，藉由許醫師的手，讓神的大能醫治藹玲的疾病。

詩篇62章1節專心等候神---我的心默默無聲，等候

神，我的救恩是從他而來。

藹玲明天4/26午餐後開刀（是徐醫生的第一刀）

請大家繼續為永強藹玲禱告，耐心等候，手術可以順利，接下來藹玲會先在加護病房，穩定後再到一般病房，也為手術後的恢復禱告，也求神托住永強有好的體力及耐心，照顧藹玲，兩個孩子在家中都很平安，求神垂聽眾弟兄姊妹的禱告。

April 25th (Sunday)

April 25th (Sunday)

Michael slept well last night, got up at 6:00 am and got the hospital a little after 8:00 am. Today we’re going to see Dr. Hsu (許秉權). Eileen’s Mom and brothers all got here before 9:00 am. Dr. Hsu was ready to see us around 9:20 am.

He showed us most recent MRI, some image in 3D and lung x-ray as well.

From the MRI image, he suspected this was a high grade tumor which indicated the possibility of a malignant one, but he had yet to confirmed the details until her biopsy of which took about 4 – 5 days after the surgery; there was also possibility this tumor was not primary one but came somewhere else from her other part of the body. Let me not to bog our readers down with all technical jargons and the rest of medical details, anyway I was not trained to articulate them like a doctor lest one would be misled.

Dr. Hsu did encourage Eileen to be courageous since he believed this whole process would not be a simple course like a sitcom that everything was resolved well within 30 min. time slot. To fight the cancerous illness, we need to be prepared to persevere in a long course.

The good part was Eileen was physically fit for the operation. Her surgery would likely start sometimes after lunch tomorrow and could be done around 5:00 – 6:00 pm barring any unexpected development. She would stay in ICU overnight and transfer to the regular medical ward for recovery.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.”
Psalm 62:1

Visitor Day

This editor is simply too tired to carry on the work tonight. He is going to get up really early tomorrow morning to meet Dr. Hsu preparing for the operation on Monday. He promises to write something tomorrow night. Good night or day!

April 23rd (Friday)

April 23rd (Friday)

“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Joshua 1:7-8

This was what came to our mind today.

AM - Eileen had her 3rd MRI today since check-in the hospital. This time she needed to inhale carbon dioxide to simulate tumor growth.

馮樹勻 from our cell group stopped by to check Eileen out when he had business in the vicinity area today, and whose wife, 沛芳 had been faithfully kept Eileen’s status updated in Chinese besides being there in care and praying support for Eileen and our family.

Five more moms from 10th grade came to cheer Eileen up and they were so modest that they didn’t want to be shown in this blog; three moms from 7th grade showed up. May our Lord remember your kindness and generosity, and reward you abundantly, mothers.

At the mean time, our patient’s appetite grew more voracious, she cleaned her meal plate every time.

Eileen’s roommate, Peichee would undergo a gamma knife treatment today and when we asked if we could pray for and with her together with her mother. Her eyes beamed with joy and gladness, and she readily accepted our invitation. We bade her to call on Jesus’ name whenever she felt scared or lonely. After many hours of anxious waiting, she was wheeled out for the treatment around 7:00 pm. Our Lord would be with her throughout and we looked forward to seeing her tomorrow morning.

We heard it somewhere in a sermon, it said, “there was no atheist in the trench at the battle field.” Today what we witnessed attested this true indeed.

PM - Pastor Robert Chang and his wife (張宰金牧師和師母) came to visit Eileen. What a sweet fellowship we had with our pastor of way-back many years ago when we worshipped at Main Line Chinese Christian Church, west suburb of Philadelphia, PA. At the end, we prayed for one another to supplicate each of our bodily weakness to the Lord on each’s behalf.

Through moms from 10th grade, we came to know 翁雅蘭, a mom from 10th grade was in the same hospital building undergoing a follow-up treatment of lung cancer. This time, our Lord shifted our focus from licking our own wounds and self pity to others that we could reach out. Eileen was urged to pray for her ever since this afternoon before we went down to 14th floor to meet her and her husband 庭魁 early evening. We were able to appreciate the pain and brokenness each had to endure when we swapped our stories. Still we comforted each other to cling on Jesus in this time of suffering while walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
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Evening - After an eventful day, Eileen retired the day around 8:00 pm. She felt a bit exhausted, may be breathing little too much of  carbon dioxide earlier.


In their dance party attire, the boys came home around 10:30 pm. Happy yet tired. After scripture reading and a round of prayer, they too retired for the night, cause they needed to rise early tomorrow and go to Taipei to see their beloved mommy.