9/23/09
9/16/09
18th Sep Cell Meeting Cancelled
Hi pals,
We have decided to cancel the coming cell meeting to allow some bros/sis to spend time with their families.
9/15/09
Amelia's Testimony on Samuel & Family
It is an undeniable fact, across countries, cultures and customs, that parents suffer excruciatingly when their child falls ill – more so when the child wavers between life and death. The total loss of control fuelled with an agony so terrorising raptures them into a nightmare they can never wake up from, into a state where giving up their lives for the sake of the child becomes not an option, but an offer.
Frank and Jo Lim is no stranger to the fear factor scenario – in fact it is wonderful to see them who were once paralyzed with fear, now standing tall, strong, with grateful hands lifted to the heavens, profusely thanking the Giver of Life for the life that was restored once again to Xian.
I clearly remember the agonizing period the whole family had to endure the day in and day out of the hospital. In spite of Frank’s own weakened state of health, he never came first in the picture. His only purpose was to see that Xian got better – that’s it. Deteriorating was NOT an option he would accept. No, not in his lifetime. His black crowning glory slowly showed streaks of grey and his waistline slowly shrinking. Those were obvious signs of a distressed parent. Wouldn’t we? Yes, they were helpless – but never hopeless.
Still, faith of the united family grew only from strength to strength. Their prayer fiery with passion, that God would intervene, that God would heal, that God would be faithful. The support and love was firm, unwavering. And soon, their prayers of plead became one of thanks – Xian was recovering. His body stronger, his skin pink, his eyes finally opened.
Frank and Jo Lim is no stranger to the fear factor scenario – in fact it is wonderful to see them who were once paralyzed with fear, now standing tall, strong, with grateful hands lifted to the heavens, profusely thanking the Giver of Life for the life that was restored once again to Xian.
I clearly remember the agonizing period the whole family had to endure the day in and day out of the hospital. In spite of Frank’s own weakened state of health, he never came first in the picture. His only purpose was to see that Xian got better – that’s it. Deteriorating was NOT an option he would accept. No, not in his lifetime. His black crowning glory slowly showed streaks of grey and his waistline slowly shrinking. Those were obvious signs of a distressed parent. Wouldn’t we? Yes, they were helpless – but never hopeless.
Still, faith of the united family grew only from strength to strength. Their prayer fiery with passion, that God would intervene, that God would heal, that God would be faithful. The support and love was firm, unwavering. And soon, their prayers of plead became one of thanks – Xian was recovering. His body stronger, his skin pink, his eyes finally opened.
9/13/09
9/10/09
11th sep Cell Meeting
Hosts: Frank & Jo
Venue: 10-6-5 Tivoli Villas
Programme: Cell Lesson " Just Walk Across The Room"
Supper Preparation: Carin & Phui Si
Worship: any volunteer ?
Venue: 10-6-5 Tivoli Villas
Programme: Cell Lesson " Just Walk Across The Room"
Supper Preparation: Carin & Phui Si
Worship: any volunteer ?
9/5/09
Carin's Testimony on Samuel
When my husband and I were invited to join Paul Cell Group in 2007 and first introduced to the Cell Group’s leader - Frank Lim and his wife, Josephine - I felt most comfortable with Frank’s way of putting people at ease. You get the feeling that you have known the couple for ages rather than just mere acquaintances.
After knowing the couple, you will also not missed not knowing the rest of the family – 3 tall, good-looking boys together with the only girl in the family (sings beautifully and with looks to match her voice too). Just as in my own family of 3 girls, the baby of the family is always the youngest child, who is always seen tagging along with the parents (with the mother at least!). Most of the time whenever we meet up with the group - being the youngest, Samuel will not be too far away – we tend to miss him if we do not see him around.
When we were first informed that Samuel was not well, our immediate reaction was not of grave concern as we were not fully aware of his actual condition and diagnosis of his illness. It was later along with the sharing and interaction amongst the group members that I realized how ill Samuel was.
I remembered my 1st visit to the hospital when Samuel was hospitalized – it was after visiting hours and I was not allowed to go up to the ward by the hospital security. I was at the lounge area, waiting for the rest of the group to come down, after which, we adjourned for supper nearby. What struck me most then was the behavioral manner in which Frank and Jo carried themselves – they were positive, full of trust and casting the whole burden of Samuel’s illness unto the Lord. They were physically very tired (due to lack of sleep) but I could feel the positive vibes radiating from both of them – how do you explain this kind of strength unless you are truly confident that there is a much greater force within that you could unburden your heavy emotional load and lift you up when everything else seems to fail?
What touched me immensely was the time when I was visiting Samuel (who was asleep) and found myself alone with Jo in the hospital room – knowing how much she has in her mind over Samuel’s condition, she still managed to talk to me about the greatness of God (me being a new believer at that time) and that she will pray for my children, especially for my eldest daughter who is studying abroad. She even got me to write down their names so that she can pray specifically for each one of them! I was truly humbled by her thoughtfulness especially during this trying time over Samuel.
Throughout the period of Samuel’s illness, his recovery, his relapses and his subsequent recovery – I may not understand why God allow this to happen or the reasons for such happenings, but I could feel the genuine love and concern of everyone who knew Samuel, Frank & Jo; the chain prayers throughout for Samuel’s healing and the constant involvement of the church and the pastors.
I came across the title of a Bible session entitled – In the Worst of times is the Best of times (looking at the Book of Ruth) - and it struck me that this is exactly why God permits unpleasant or negative events to happen in our lives. I began to reflect on Samuel, Frank and Jo and the trusting relationship they have with the Lord. I believed it is because of this trust and their unfailing belief that God will guide them and their family through this period of trial; that the Lord will uphold each one of them and should anyone stumbles, He will be there extending His Hand to pull him up to be close to HIM.
This is what I have learned from Samuel’s experiences and I pray that I too am able to sustain the worst of times to entrust all my worries and cares unto the Lord.
It is truly that God is the Great Physician and that His Love does not keep us from trials; it helps us get through them!
After knowing the couple, you will also not missed not knowing the rest of the family – 3 tall, good-looking boys together with the only girl in the family (sings beautifully and with looks to match her voice too). Just as in my own family of 3 girls, the baby of the family is always the youngest child, who is always seen tagging along with the parents (with the mother at least!). Most of the time whenever we meet up with the group - being the youngest, Samuel will not be too far away – we tend to miss him if we do not see him around.
When we were first informed that Samuel was not well, our immediate reaction was not of grave concern as we were not fully aware of his actual condition and diagnosis of his illness. It was later along with the sharing and interaction amongst the group members that I realized how ill Samuel was.
I remembered my 1st visit to the hospital when Samuel was hospitalized – it was after visiting hours and I was not allowed to go up to the ward by the hospital security. I was at the lounge area, waiting for the rest of the group to come down, after which, we adjourned for supper nearby. What struck me most then was the behavioral manner in which Frank and Jo carried themselves – they were positive, full of trust and casting the whole burden of Samuel’s illness unto the Lord. They were physically very tired (due to lack of sleep) but I could feel the positive vibes radiating from both of them – how do you explain this kind of strength unless you are truly confident that there is a much greater force within that you could unburden your heavy emotional load and lift you up when everything else seems to fail?
What touched me immensely was the time when I was visiting Samuel (who was asleep) and found myself alone with Jo in the hospital room – knowing how much she has in her mind over Samuel’s condition, she still managed to talk to me about the greatness of God (me being a new believer at that time) and that she will pray for my children, especially for my eldest daughter who is studying abroad. She even got me to write down their names so that she can pray specifically for each one of them! I was truly humbled by her thoughtfulness especially during this trying time over Samuel.
Throughout the period of Samuel’s illness, his recovery, his relapses and his subsequent recovery – I may not understand why God allow this to happen or the reasons for such happenings, but I could feel the genuine love and concern of everyone who knew Samuel, Frank & Jo; the chain prayers throughout for Samuel’s healing and the constant involvement of the church and the pastors.
I came across the title of a Bible session entitled – In the Worst of times is the Best of times (looking at the Book of Ruth) - and it struck me that this is exactly why God permits unpleasant or negative events to happen in our lives. I began to reflect on Samuel, Frank and Jo and the trusting relationship they have with the Lord. I believed it is because of this trust and their unfailing belief that God will guide them and their family through this period of trial; that the Lord will uphold each one of them and should anyone stumbles, He will be there extending His Hand to pull him up to be close to HIM.
This is what I have learned from Samuel’s experiences and I pray that I too am able to sustain the worst of times to entrust all my worries and cares unto the Lord.
It is truly that God is the Great Physician and that His Love does not keep us from trials; it helps us get through them!
9/3/09
4th Sep Cell Meeting
Hosts: Liu & Michelle
Venue: 36, setia Kasih
Worship by: Amelia
Communion Sharing: Amelia
Cell Lesson Facilitator: HS
Cell Lesson: Just walk across the Room
Special Guest: Pr Mohan raj
8/26/09
DINNER WITH PASTOR J - 31 AUGUST 7.15PM
hi bro & sis, we have managed to arrange a dinner fellowship with Pastor J on 31 August (monday) 7.15pm at Super tanker Restaurant(the club) bukit Utama. Despite of his busy schedule this round (Mission to Sri Lanka & bangkok), he accepted our invitation from Sri Lanka with thanks.
A table of 15 px (7 couples + Pastor J) in a room had been reserved. With regret, our leader Frank & Jo can not make it due to their early commitment. So far the confirmed couples attending are Dr Liu, CH, Alvin, David & WC. (AK & Choong has yet to confirm )
God bless
Please take note , no CG meeting on 28 August 2009 ( last week of the month -fellowship nite) as we are fellowshipping on 31 August 2009.
A table of 15 px (7 couples + Pastor J) in a room had been reserved. With regret, our leader Frank & Jo can not make it due to their early commitment. So far the confirmed couples attending are Dr Liu, CH, Alvin, David & WC. (AK & Choong has yet to confirm )
God bless
Please take note , no CG meeting on 28 August 2009 ( last week of the month -fellowship nite) as we are fellowshipping on 31 August 2009.
8/25/09
Testimony on Samuel
It was two weeks after Chinese New Year 2008 and our Bandung trip with Samuel & family that the devil struck and caused Samuel to be hospitalised.
Samuel and his brothers were the first to board the aircraft as there was no reservation of seats of our Air Asia trip to Bandung, then. He was okay during the trip and had lots of fun there, food and shopping. There was an occasion that Samuel had run back and forth to help me to retrieve the golf balls at the practice green. As I am a total stranger to golf, I was using Samuel’s golf clubs lofting the balls, uncontrollably much beyond the targeted spot. Poor Samuel had to endure my amateurish skills and must have silently shared my first disastrous and embarrassing golf swings with his brothers. Even on our flight back to KL, Samuel cheerfully ate his food on board and even took his packet of food sticks with some chocolate/colourful dip.
On the same day when the news came that Samuel was hospitalised in SJMC, my wife, Evelyn and I went and visited him in the evening. He was sitting cross legged on his bed chatting with us. We joked with him that he could watch his favourite football team, Manchester United on TV, which was hung from the ceiling facing the hospital bed. At the same time, Samuel was also busy with his computer games on his hand held toy/gadget. Together with Bro Frank and Sis Josephine, we mentioned to Samuel that he will be alright and it will be just a few days of observation.
To our dismay, the few days turned out to be many agonizing months, treatment after treatment and at one time it has turned for the worst but thank God, He answers our prayers and Samuel was finally held by the Lord Jesus Christ. All glory to Him.
During observation and after some blood tests were done, Samuel was diagnosed as suffering from lack of blood platelets and there was a need for blood transfusion. Both his brothers, Jeng Chee and Jeng Han donated to replenish the blood bank and Samuel still has to stay back for further observation. However, the count of his blood platelets have still not increased and more blood transfusion was done and there was a time when Sis Jo joked with Samuel that he will be having some of my blood too since I had also donated to the blood bank that afternoon. Despite a few days of blood transfusion, the blood count of Samuel’s was still not improving and instead started to drop. It was then, worry started to creep in.
A few days later, Samuel was diagnosed to be suffering from Aplastic Anemia, a rare disease which is a malfunctioning of the production of red blood cells of the bone marrow. The Specialist Doctor attending to Samuel, Dr Lin and suggested that Samuel’s condition needed some Horse’s serum to be injected into his blood stream to activate the production of the red blood cells.
Though Samuel was on the drip and with bags of blood and saline hanging beside his bed, he was able to chat with visitors and still in his jovial and bubbly self. We shared and joked with Samuel that with the Horse’ serum in his body, he will, in future be able to run as fast as horses. All who were present laughed and no one knew that the treatment had turned out be totally beyond imagination.
His condition started to change after the Horse’s serum was administered into his body. Samuel’s body temperature started to increase and he was complaining of a headache. He started to slam his hands to his head and those around him then comforted him and said that was a normal reaction and would not last long. Samuel too was wriggling in bed and kicked his blankets away from his body, due to the changes of his body temperature. The metal railings beside the hospital bed were pulled up to prevent him from falling over the edge of the bed. He complained of discomfort and back pains. Sis Jo was constantly by his side comforting him. Samuel also complained that he could not see well and had difficulty with his vision and could hardly open his eyes. All the lights in his room were either switched off or lowly dimmed as he said that they were glaring and hurting his eyes.
The next day came and Samuel’s condition was no better and the doctor’s reaction was it would probably take a little longer for the serum to work. There was still more blood transfusion and more medication and despite all the treatments, the blood count has not improved. The serum treatment went on for five days and each day we were around him and prayed for him and yet there was little improvement.
At the end of the 5 Day Serum treatment as recommended by Dr Lin, upon checking with the blood test results, Samuel was discharged from SJMC.
We thought Samuel’s ordeal was all over but two days later, we heard that he was readmitted back to SJMC due to complications. We found out that Samuel was still unwell and still has a nagging headache. At this stage, Samuel was very quiet and did not wish to speak to anyone.
Samuel continued his stay in the hospital and was under observation but his condition continued to deteriorate so badly to a stage when he was not responding to Bro Frank and Sis Jo. Samuel has fallen into a coma.
All of us began to worry over Samuel’s condition.
On the same evening of his readmission, Samuel was wheeled into the ICU and his condition had to be closely monitored by an assigned nurse outside his room. Samuel was all wired up with all sorts of monitoring devices, a tube through his nostril, and a bag for his urine and it was indeed a very pitiful sight. Despite that Sis Jo had the wisdom and plugged in a pair of ear phones to Samuel’s ears playing Praise and Worship songs from a portable CD player.
Praise the Lord, luckily Bro Frank and Sis Jo are blessed with three other grown up children and they are constantly taking turns to help out in watching Samuel on a 24/7 basis.
This section of the hospital was very strict with visitors, allowing a maximum of two persons and for brief visit. Samuel did not respond to me and Evelyn when we visited him at this stage but we continued to pray for him. One of the days, in the ICU ward, Bro AK visited Samuel and with his stern looks , stroke Samuel’s hair and said with a loving voice to the motionless, Samuel…...”The Lord is with you, you will be alright…”
Most of the Paul Cell Group together with Pastor SS Loh and Sis Vivienne have rallied behind Bro Frank and Sis Jo and continuously supported them by visiting them (and Samuel, of course!) nightly. We prayed for healing and continued to encourage them until late hours of the night.
Samuel was still motionless and was not responding but we never gave up praying. Family friends and church members continued to showing their support to the family and Samuel. Our church leaders have announced for prayers for Samuel and the intercessors prayed unceasingly for the Lord’s healing power to bestow upon Samuel.
There was a huge GET WELL card from Samuel’s class sent in with words of encouragement written by his classmates and teachers. Without regaining consciousness, Samuel was not aware of the card but nevertheless, it must have been most encouraging for the family.
A breakthrough came in once faithful day, ……days after Samuel was transferred out from the ICU to the normal wad, Jeng Chee said that Samuel has started move one of his fingers. All of us were so encouraged by the news and when Evelyn and I visited him, Samuel’s eyes were opened but could not speak or move any parts of his body. He could only communicate by blinking of his eyes. His sister, Yoke Mei instructed him to respond to us by the number of blinks of his eyes, once of “a Yes” and twice for “a No.” Hallelujah, we knew that from these signs there is hope and his brain was undamaged, Praise the Lord.
Samuel condition began to gradually improve but there was a need to draw blood from his weak body for tests. Both his arms began to hurt and the Doctors have to perform an operation to place a catheter just below his collar bone to draw blood regularly. The operation went well and the painful needles piercing sessions into Samuel’s arms were avoided.
After a………days, Samuel was discharged from SJMC but he was unable to move his limbs, he was literally confined to his bed. Despite his condition, Bro Frank and family knew that Samuel has to recuperate at home for a speedy recovery.
Samuel was very weak and was confined in bed with curtains of his room drawn most of the times. Each night, Pastor Loh and Sister Vivienne will visit him, pray and anoint him with olive oil. There have been occasions that Samuel uttered some foul words. All of us believed that he was under some kind of spiritual attacks. There were constant prayers for Samuel and the Church and Cell group continued to uphold Samuel in prayers.
Over a week later, Samuel’s condition improved and was able to sit on a wheel chair. His brothers helped him and assisted him around the house. His legs were still weak but he could move with his right hand was able to wheel himself around the house with assistance.
He was constantly encouraged to stand up and finally one day, he managed to stand up with assistance however, all his weight was balanced on his right leg. It was obvious that his sensory system has yet to be fully functional ignoring his left limbs. Samuel could only control with his right hand and right leg. He is gradually returning to his normal self at this stage and it was a real joy to see his recovery since his long periods in the hospital.
Physiotherapy was introduced to Samuel together with Foot massage and slowly but surely, Samuel was able to stand up by himself, limping around the house. At times, he was too eager to move around and fell but was always encouraged by his family members to continue with his progress.
Samuel’s condition continues to improve but there was still the catheter dangling from the outside of his chest. There were suggestions to have it removed but I was told that the Doctors at SJMC had advised against it as they still need to draw blood from Samuel to monitor his platelet’s count.
On the night of 8th August 2008, our Cell group had gathered in my house to witness the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Not long after we have settled in front of the TV, watching the displays at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, Dr Liu received a call from Frank that Samuel has a fever and was shivering. We stopped watching, prayed and subsequently dismissed our gathering. Dr Liu then arranged for each member for a time slot and carried out immediately a 24 Hour prayer chain. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Samuel‘s attack was not serious and he was not adversely affected by the fever.
The fever came and left on several other occasions and one day, it became serious and Samuel was admitted, this time to the University Hospital (UMMC). There were no beds for him but by God’s grace, the staff managed to place him in the Children’s ward. Samuel was under observation for a few days and there was an occasion, Pastor J, Pastor Ron and Pastor Lawrence visited him together early one evening. Pastor J prayed over him and amongst his other prayers, he prayed specifically for the malfunction of bone marrow. I sensed that Samuel is healed.
On 10th September 2008, Samuel’s Catheter was removed in UMMC after a short and successful operation. Praise God, all went well and I took a photo of Samuel without the Catheter after the operation and immediately blogged in that evening. You can see the joy on his face from the photo (http://paulcellgroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/samuels-catheter-removed.html) The main culprit is finally gone and the various bouts of fever was as the result of infection at the catheter and with the removal, Samuel is finally on the road to full recovery.
Bro Frank had also mentioned that Dr Lin, who had earlier written off Samuel said "now I see the power of prayers", after witnesing Samuel's recovery in SJMC
Matthew 19:26- "With God, all things are possible"
Samuel and his brothers were the first to board the aircraft as there was no reservation of seats of our Air Asia trip to Bandung, then. He was okay during the trip and had lots of fun there, food and shopping. There was an occasion that Samuel had run back and forth to help me to retrieve the golf balls at the practice green. As I am a total stranger to golf, I was using Samuel’s golf clubs lofting the balls, uncontrollably much beyond the targeted spot. Poor Samuel had to endure my amateurish skills and must have silently shared my first disastrous and embarrassing golf swings with his brothers. Even on our flight back to KL, Samuel cheerfully ate his food on board and even took his packet of food sticks with some chocolate/colourful dip.
On the same day when the news came that Samuel was hospitalised in SJMC, my wife, Evelyn and I went and visited him in the evening. He was sitting cross legged on his bed chatting with us. We joked with him that he could watch his favourite football team, Manchester United on TV, which was hung from the ceiling facing the hospital bed. At the same time, Samuel was also busy with his computer games on his hand held toy/gadget. Together with Bro Frank and Sis Josephine, we mentioned to Samuel that he will be alright and it will be just a few days of observation.
To our dismay, the few days turned out to be many agonizing months, treatment after treatment and at one time it has turned for the worst but thank God, He answers our prayers and Samuel was finally held by the Lord Jesus Christ. All glory to Him.
During observation and after some blood tests were done, Samuel was diagnosed as suffering from lack of blood platelets and there was a need for blood transfusion. Both his brothers, Jeng Chee and Jeng Han donated to replenish the blood bank and Samuel still has to stay back for further observation. However, the count of his blood platelets have still not increased and more blood transfusion was done and there was a time when Sis Jo joked with Samuel that he will be having some of my blood too since I had also donated to the blood bank that afternoon. Despite a few days of blood transfusion, the blood count of Samuel’s was still not improving and instead started to drop. It was then, worry started to creep in.
A few days later, Samuel was diagnosed to be suffering from Aplastic Anemia, a rare disease which is a malfunctioning of the production of red blood cells of the bone marrow. The Specialist Doctor attending to Samuel, Dr Lin and suggested that Samuel’s condition needed some Horse’s serum to be injected into his blood stream to activate the production of the red blood cells.
Though Samuel was on the drip and with bags of blood and saline hanging beside his bed, he was able to chat with visitors and still in his jovial and bubbly self. We shared and joked with Samuel that with the Horse’ serum in his body, he will, in future be able to run as fast as horses. All who were present laughed and no one knew that the treatment had turned out be totally beyond imagination.
His condition started to change after the Horse’s serum was administered into his body. Samuel’s body temperature started to increase and he was complaining of a headache. He started to slam his hands to his head and those around him then comforted him and said that was a normal reaction and would not last long. Samuel too was wriggling in bed and kicked his blankets away from his body, due to the changes of his body temperature. The metal railings beside the hospital bed were pulled up to prevent him from falling over the edge of the bed. He complained of discomfort and back pains. Sis Jo was constantly by his side comforting him. Samuel also complained that he could not see well and had difficulty with his vision and could hardly open his eyes. All the lights in his room were either switched off or lowly dimmed as he said that they were glaring and hurting his eyes.
The next day came and Samuel’s condition was no better and the doctor’s reaction was it would probably take a little longer for the serum to work. There was still more blood transfusion and more medication and despite all the treatments, the blood count has not improved. The serum treatment went on for five days and each day we were around him and prayed for him and yet there was little improvement.
At the end of the 5 Day Serum treatment as recommended by Dr Lin, upon checking with the blood test results, Samuel was discharged from SJMC.
We thought Samuel’s ordeal was all over but two days later, we heard that he was readmitted back to SJMC due to complications. We found out that Samuel was still unwell and still has a nagging headache. At this stage, Samuel was very quiet and did not wish to speak to anyone.
Samuel continued his stay in the hospital and was under observation but his condition continued to deteriorate so badly to a stage when he was not responding to Bro Frank and Sis Jo. Samuel has fallen into a coma.
All of us began to worry over Samuel’s condition.
On the same evening of his readmission, Samuel was wheeled into the ICU and his condition had to be closely monitored by an assigned nurse outside his room. Samuel was all wired up with all sorts of monitoring devices, a tube through his nostril, and a bag for his urine and it was indeed a very pitiful sight. Despite that Sis Jo had the wisdom and plugged in a pair of ear phones to Samuel’s ears playing Praise and Worship songs from a portable CD player.
Praise the Lord, luckily Bro Frank and Sis Jo are blessed with three other grown up children and they are constantly taking turns to help out in watching Samuel on a 24/7 basis.
This section of the hospital was very strict with visitors, allowing a maximum of two persons and for brief visit. Samuel did not respond to me and Evelyn when we visited him at this stage but we continued to pray for him. One of the days, in the ICU ward, Bro AK visited Samuel and with his stern looks , stroke Samuel’s hair and said with a loving voice to the motionless, Samuel…...”The Lord is with you, you will be alright…”
Most of the Paul Cell Group together with Pastor SS Loh and Sis Vivienne have rallied behind Bro Frank and Sis Jo and continuously supported them by visiting them (and Samuel, of course!) nightly. We prayed for healing and continued to encourage them until late hours of the night.
Samuel was still motionless and was not responding but we never gave up praying. Family friends and church members continued to showing their support to the family and Samuel. Our church leaders have announced for prayers for Samuel and the intercessors prayed unceasingly for the Lord’s healing power to bestow upon Samuel.
There was a huge GET WELL card from Samuel’s class sent in with words of encouragement written by his classmates and teachers. Without regaining consciousness, Samuel was not aware of the card but nevertheless, it must have been most encouraging for the family.
A breakthrough came in once faithful day, ……days after Samuel was transferred out from the ICU to the normal wad, Jeng Chee said that Samuel has started move one of his fingers. All of us were so encouraged by the news and when Evelyn and I visited him, Samuel’s eyes were opened but could not speak or move any parts of his body. He could only communicate by blinking of his eyes. His sister, Yoke Mei instructed him to respond to us by the number of blinks of his eyes, once of “a Yes” and twice for “a No.” Hallelujah, we knew that from these signs there is hope and his brain was undamaged, Praise the Lord.
Samuel condition began to gradually improve but there was a need to draw blood from his weak body for tests. Both his arms began to hurt and the Doctors have to perform an operation to place a catheter just below his collar bone to draw blood regularly. The operation went well and the painful needles piercing sessions into Samuel’s arms were avoided.
After a………days, Samuel was discharged from SJMC but he was unable to move his limbs, he was literally confined to his bed. Despite his condition, Bro Frank and family knew that Samuel has to recuperate at home for a speedy recovery.
Samuel was very weak and was confined in bed with curtains of his room drawn most of the times. Each night, Pastor Loh and Sister Vivienne will visit him, pray and anoint him with olive oil. There have been occasions that Samuel uttered some foul words. All of us believed that he was under some kind of spiritual attacks. There were constant prayers for Samuel and the Church and Cell group continued to uphold Samuel in prayers.
Over a week later, Samuel’s condition improved and was able to sit on a wheel chair. His brothers helped him and assisted him around the house. His legs were still weak but he could move with his right hand was able to wheel himself around the house with assistance.
He was constantly encouraged to stand up and finally one day, he managed to stand up with assistance however, all his weight was balanced on his right leg. It was obvious that his sensory system has yet to be fully functional ignoring his left limbs. Samuel could only control with his right hand and right leg. He is gradually returning to his normal self at this stage and it was a real joy to see his recovery since his long periods in the hospital.
Physiotherapy was introduced to Samuel together with Foot massage and slowly but surely, Samuel was able to stand up by himself, limping around the house. At times, he was too eager to move around and fell but was always encouraged by his family members to continue with his progress.
Samuel’s condition continues to improve but there was still the catheter dangling from the outside of his chest. There were suggestions to have it removed but I was told that the Doctors at SJMC had advised against it as they still need to draw blood from Samuel to monitor his platelet’s count.
On the night of 8th August 2008, our Cell group had gathered in my house to witness the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Not long after we have settled in front of the TV, watching the displays at the Bird’s Nest Stadium, Dr Liu received a call from Frank that Samuel has a fever and was shivering. We stopped watching, prayed and subsequently dismissed our gathering. Dr Liu then arranged for each member for a time slot and carried out immediately a 24 Hour prayer chain. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, Samuel‘s attack was not serious and he was not adversely affected by the fever.
The fever came and left on several other occasions and one day, it became serious and Samuel was admitted, this time to the University Hospital (UMMC). There were no beds for him but by God’s grace, the staff managed to place him in the Children’s ward. Samuel was under observation for a few days and there was an occasion, Pastor J, Pastor Ron and Pastor Lawrence visited him together early one evening. Pastor J prayed over him and amongst his other prayers, he prayed specifically for the malfunction of bone marrow. I sensed that Samuel is healed.
On 10th September 2008, Samuel’s Catheter was removed in UMMC after a short and successful operation. Praise God, all went well and I took a photo of Samuel without the Catheter after the operation and immediately blogged in that evening. You can see the joy on his face from the photo (http://paulcellgroup.blogspot.com/2008/09/samuels-catheter-removed.html) The main culprit is finally gone and the various bouts of fever was as the result of infection at the catheter and with the removal, Samuel is finally on the road to full recovery.
Bro Frank had also mentioned that Dr Lin, who had earlier written off Samuel said "now I see the power of prayers", after witnesing Samuel's recovery in SJMC
Matthew 19:26- "With God, all things are possible"
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