Compliments of the Season

Blessed Christmas everyone! The year 2009 is fast drawing to a close, imagine tomorrow is the last day of 2009. It has been an eventful year and a eventful pre-christmas, but through it all we drew strength from God and friends, who was always around rallying us. Our family had a very meaningful and peaceful Christmas. We sang our hearts out at midnight mass. I was very happy that I on Christmas my coughing was much better and I could sing/praise without coughing. We also had several days that we spent as a complete family, going to church, having fun and eating together!

I believe Iressa is working. A week after I started on it, I cough less and able to sing / talk without coughing. There is still the occasional cough but much less and not the sort that get's you winded. Praise the Lord.

Jo and I had gone to MacRitchie in the morning for a walk and practise our Qigong breathing this week. Hope to do it daily for the rest of the week. Feel good even after having to wake up a little earlier! (better start have to wake up early on Monday!!)

Wish every one a Happy New Year!!

Love
James Family

Praise the Lord, Mum is ok!

Thank you all for your prayers for my mum. Did the scope and Doctors say she has the condition called divesticulitics, which is condition affecting the intestines due to age. The intestines' lining is compromised and 'bumpy' and at times can cause bleeding. It is not life-threatening and no surgery advised at this stage. If she can manage the soft diet she had been given tonight and there is no bleeding, she is due for home tomorrow. What a relief and Thanks be to God!

Please do continue to pray for Pete, that the Oral Chemo will be effective for him.

what a day

Hi, been awhile since the last posting. Well I am clearing my annual leave, started on 14 Dec. Went for my blood test and CT Scan on Monday, Saw Dr Kong on Tuesday. The cancer markers are up, the scan show that the cancer tumours are active, comparision of the last scan 2 months ago, show that there are some growth. The radiologist thinks it due to inflamation, but since I don't have any fever or been ill the last week besides the cough, Dr Kong does not think it is inflamation. Started on the oral medication (Iressa) yesterday. Will take it for 30 days and go for a blood test and Xray on 13 Jan 2010. Since it is a targetted drug, it will either work well or not. Samples taken for lab test suggest that I am suitable for the drug. I pray that it will be able to work. This is the last silver bullet medication that does not have side effects that impact quality of life. I ask for your prayers, not only for myself but Jo too. This months has been tolling on her more than me.
Ask also that you keep Jo's mum in your prayers. She was admitted to TTSH this morning. We received a call at 4am, called and ambulance and rushed to Toa Payoh. Apparently she was bleeding when she went to the toilet, it could be due to piles, we don't know and will have to wait for the doctor to advise. At the moment she has been admitted. will update.

Qigong & Lifegiving

Jo and I started Qigong 3 weeks ago, to exercise and also to improve our breathing. When Fr Edward found out about my lung cancer in August, he was very concerned, showed us a few Qigong breathing exercise and asked me to try it. We tried it for awhile but was not consistent.
When Fr Edward restarted a small weekly class 3 weeks ago, he asked us to come see. We jumped on the chance and joined in the exercise. He demonstrates and explains in English which helps alot. I was very surprised that with the breathing and non-vigourous movement, I was sweating and feeling good after the 2 hours session. Time really flies and it is really hard to imagine 2 hours pass so quickly. I have been coughing the past few months, last week it was pretty bad, while we were doing some meditation, Fr Edward stood next to me and passed me some 'chi'. I felt much better and did not cough that night and the next day. Only last night's did he mention that after the session last week, he started coughing after the previous week session. Knowing that he would cough again, he again passed some 'chi' last night.
Jo and I were talking this morning over breakfast and wouldn't you call what Fr Edward did LIFE-GIVINIG? Just wanted to give thanks to Fr Edward for what he has done (teaching us Qigong and also helping us decide and giving us information to make our pilgrimage to Lourdes in September so meaningful.
Like I said many times in the past 9 months, God has sent many Angels and Saints to my life, and giving testimony of the Angel and Saints is my way to Thank God for his graces. It is all God's graces and your prayers that I am still working these 9 months everyday, mild/no side-effects from the chemo sessions, take weekly walks with Jo in the nature reserve, travel to Lourdes, eat well, sleep well and so many things we have taken for granted . Thank You!!!