Only Six Months To Live!
Anna came from Lahad Datu, Sabah in East Malaysia. When her stomach started growing to a state that she looked pregnant, her elder brother slapped her thinking she got pregnant out of wedlock which was quite an alarming thing in Lahad Datu during that time! Due to that she was taken for a medical check-up and the conclusion was she had a huge growth in her womb! Coming from a poor family, they scratched enough money to send her to the University Hospital in Petaling Jaya where she stayed in as a cancer patient without any friends, family members visiting her for a few months!
Taken in 1982
During that period my mother-in-law was also in the same ward, being treated for ovarian cancer and that’s how I met Anna. She was scrawny, thin, bald and every day she suffered pain. When I met her, she got only three more months to live. We took her to our home during the in between chemo treatment and that’s how we get to know her life story. Anna became part of our family. Going to hospital for the chemo, stayed there for a few days then back to our place and suffer the terrible after effects of chemo. Always noticed her vomiting and groaning and unable to eat anything for a couple of days.
One day, she told my mom that she could not stand the pain anymore and would be glad if she could drop dead there and then. Mom, a Christian woman asked her permission to pray for her. I guess anything is fine if the pain goes away. After that little prayer, the pain subsided and since that day she never experienced any pain plus she got better day by day. To cut her story short, she is still well and alive today! Yes she continued with the full course of the chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. Literally everyone in that ward died, none exceeded the six months pronouncement from the doctors! Well mom succumbed to her cancer whereas her disciple survived!
For the past 20 over years Anna faithfully comes back to the University Hospital for her routine annual check-up and today she and her husband were here and we had dinner together. She became a Christian and hey! she is pastoring a church up in Kulim! Anna’s life was a life full of the miraculous since then and this evening she shared with me and rock about the wonderful things that had happened lately. If you listened to her you will be amazed at how God comes into her life on the small little things as well as major things too. Her testimony had bring hope to many people and whenever she was invited to share in other places in Malaysia, Singapore and even China, it would be about her life and her relationship with her God.
Anna & Albert 2007
So what would you do if you face the same pronouncement like Anna, only six months to live? Would you despair like so many? Rush all over the world in search of a cure, or some mystical treatment? If I am told that, Anna’s story reminded me as well as encourages me to hope in our God of Glory! One point that always brings joy to our family is the power of a small gesture of kindness, a moment of empathy towards those who suffers, someone’s live changed forever and the result of that life, many other lives will be touched! As the Bible teaches, do good to strangers for you may be entertaining Angels! Yes, the angel that came into our lives was Anna!
16 Responses to “Only Six Months To Live!”
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thanks for sharing yet another wonderful story
it is always encouraging to read how God works in people’s lives as a reminder that He can do the same in ours.
i know ppl always say i’m only 20 yrs old and what do i know about life but i’m still gonna share my opinion.
i am a strong believer than life is not about how long you live, but how much you’ve lived. it’s not about being happy with your life but being content (complete).
when ppl says that they’ll do this and that if they were told that they have 6 more months to live, it always puzzle me. i just think, why don’t they do it now? why wait until you get your ‘death sentence’?
hmm.. when my best friend passed away, i knew that’s it. i am going to live a life like i will never regret. and if i have to die even now, i will happily, peacefully go.
thanks for another wonderful post uncle.
it’s a great reminder to not only me, but EVERYONE who reads this that life is, indeed, fragile, and everyone should take a minute or two off their busy life to whisper a prayer, meet a friend, say i love yous and all that. 
Wow.. Thanks BokJae,
This post really sets me thinking — What would I do if I only have six months to live??
Bok Jae, nice sharing and good food for thoughts! I heard this news before about my dad.. he only had 6 months to live.. though actually he was gone in 3 months.. :-((
God’s plan is different for each of us.. and I am really glad to hear some one who has given a longer chance to live!
How strange BokJae that we should both write about cancer today and having but a few months to live.
There were lots of tiny miracles in your story including the love and friendship for a stranger and how that stranger is still in your life after all this time - although now a firm friend. People sometimes don’t realise the effect they have on others and your family’s kindness made a marked improvement on a lonely, displaced person.
It’s such a happy ending to a tragic event, thank you for shining your light on many readers.
hi tracy, so good to see you here again! Enjoy your trip to Xian! Thanks
hey ehon, even 20 year olds do have things to share from life! Yes it is good to live life out rather than procastinating it forever and regret for not doing it when time is short!
thanks waterlearner, life is full of many mini lessons for us isn’t it!
trinity, always so good to see you here! Yes lets share our life experiences to bless others! thanks!
Wow WFW, read your post on cancer too! Great piece of work! Thanks
Bokjae, I just pains me to hear someone with only a few months to life. I’m glad things turn around & live longer than expected. This is God’s gift & really blessed
WE must cherish our lifes now & live it to the fullest.
Stay healthy
Janice Ng
hi bokjae..when my mom saw Anna’s pic..she recalled back that is her childhood neighbour..She told my mom’s family that when she got cancer, she met with a very kind-hearted couple in kl and stay wf them.And the couple is you and ur wife!! You are so kind. Million thanks for u to be a very kind and patient person..It’s great i can meet up with you also..I have to learn alot from you..Take care..
Yeah j@nice I know you will feel that way because you are a kind hearted person! As for verona, hey this is a real small world! hehe! Its God who loves us first!
Praise the Lord!!
I cam here to grab my BlogRush code (so you’d get the credit, friend)and I find this wonderful post. I know it’s been awhile since I’ve been around…schooling three kids and such…and I’ve missed your posts. This one is just beautiful and I am so touched that you all took this very sick woman into your home…what a powerful testimony of God’s love you and your family are…I’m glad I know you!
Hi! Thanks for visiting my blog. Yeah, life is unpredictable and it seems that almost all of us have one encounter one way or another with sadness of loosing someone. The most heart wrenching is the most dreaded cancer. My grandpa pass away many years ago of stomach cancer. I was just 10-11 y.o. at the time and do not really grasp what is going on then. Every once in awhile, I will think of my grandpa and wish that I was older so that I can learn to appreciate him more while he was still around.
Thanks Bokjae for reminding me how wondering God are and to have faith in Him.