1. Introduction
Hello and Shalom everyone!
My name is Stephen Ong, and I attend Bethesda (Bedok-Tampines) Church (BBTC). I am also a member of BCCM, serving on the worship team.
By God’s grace, He has been good to my family and me. It is also the very reason why I can share my testimony of His goodness.
Nine years ago, my wife and I were not Christians, but we would follow our three children to BBTC for Sunday service from time to time. Our children's deepest desire was to see us come to know the Lord Jesus in a personal way and had always prayed for our salvation.
Today, my wife and I are truly blessed with many friends in the church community who have been there for us in good times and bad.
2. My world came crashing down
Some 9 years ago, in the last quarter of 2013, right through to the Lunar New Year 2014 was one of the bleakest periods in my life. But it was also one that saw miracles, hope, healing, and restoration.
In late 2013, I took two courses of antibiotics treatment for the inflammation on the right side of my upper neck. It did not subside, so I went back to see the doctor who then referred me to the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) clinic at Changi General Hospital (CGH). A biopsy and Computerized Tomography (CT) scan in late 2013 confirmed the worst. I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive skin cancer known as melanoma mucosa cancer at stage 3. It had started in my palate. Only one in a few million people contracts this cancer in a year, and the prognosis is grim with a 5-year survival rate of less than 15%. Upon receiving the devastating news from the doctors at CGH, my world came crashing down!
It was one bad news after another. My only chance of survival was to go for major and highly complicated surgery. The surgeons would need to "open up" my face and neck area to remove the lymph nodes around my neck and nearly the whole of my upper jaw. That basically meant "sawing away half of my mouth”!
I was told to prepare for a drastic change in my quality of life. I had to rely on tube feeding for months and learn to speak again, etc. My family and I consulted at least six cancer specialists and all of them said surgery could not be avoided.
3. Faith - Medical science - Miracle healings
Throughout the entire period, I thanked God for a loving family who was there for me, supported me, and above all, prayed for me.
My wife even opened her heart to Jesus during that time. My children who are Christians serving at Bethesda Bedok - Tampines Church (BBTC) shared with the church about my medical condition. The pastors, elders, cell group members, and friends rallied around my family and me and prayed ceaselessly for me. Yet, there were times I felt totally helpless and very frightened. Fear and anxiety began to grip me. In my darkest hours, I cried out to God to have mercy on me and heal me.
I remember one night I dreamt that I was lost in the wilderness. I asked God to help me and then I heard a voice telling me to turn around and look back. I saw a bridge and another bridge that led me out of the wilderness. I told my family about my dream, and they encouraged me to continue praying.
God answered, in His own mysterious and silent ways, working and making sure that everything fell in place. He brought brothers- and sisters-in-Christ into my life to journey along with me as well as orchestrated divine appointments that led me to one of the best ENT surgical oncologists in Singapore. He was the Director of the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Professor Soo Kee Chee.
Throughout my ordeal, God spoke to me through His Word, and I came across this verse, Joshua 1:9 (NIV): “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
I requested to transfer my medical case from CGH to NCCS on Singapore General Hospital (SGH) campus and I continued with my check-up at Prof Soo's clinic and went for more medical tests, CT scan, and Pet Scan. At this point, my wife and I decided to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and we were baptized before my major surgery, which was scheduled on the 4th day of the Lunar New Year.
A few days before the surgery, I had another dream telling me to request another scan. I told my family about this dream, and my daughter Yew Ling also told us that when she was praying, God also gave her a rhema word/sign of a miracle happening.
I requested a CT scan, but no slots were available. Just a day before the CNY holiday, the hospital called and informed me that there was a slot available due to a patient cancellation.
4. Praise the Lord!
I went for CT scans on my neck, mouth, and palate. After checking in to the ward one day before the surgery, Prof Soo saw me in his clinic with the latest CT scan reports and he asked me what I have been doing. I told him that we have been praying for a miracle! Prof Soo, who's also a Christian encouraged us to continue praying. Another bible verse spoke to me: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out fear." 1 John 4:18 (ESV). Indeed, I experienced the goodness of God once again during this journey.
Prof Soo did a check on my upper palate and his checks confirmed the CT scan reports, that the cancer lesions had lightened and shrunk! I couldn't believe my ears when he said that there was no need to go through major reconstructive surgery! Praise the Lord!
That night, together with my family and church friends we went to the open area on the ground floor of the ward to pray and took the Holy Communion led by my mentor, the late Dr Matthias. I felt at peace and left everything in God's hands. I slept well that night.
The next day as the team of doctors was preparing for my surgery, I asked for permission to pray before they administered the anaesthetic.
This was my prayer: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (10 times)
What was expected to be a 12-hour operation ended in 6 hours. Of the 41 lymph nodes removed, only ONE was cancerous. There was no need to remove the upper jaw, and only the flesh of my palate with the black spots was scraped and two right upper teeth were extracted.
After the successful operation, I was referred to the chemotherapy oncologist.
Indeed, God has given me a new life!
It has been almost nine and a half years since I have been cancer-free.
The Lord has held my hand throughout this journey. But life is not without its fair share of struggles and anxiety.
The right side of my neck feels numb and stiff on most days and there is still a litany of follow-ups and tests I have to go through. I'll be the first to admit worries, anxiety, and fear still fill me every time I have to go for CT scans and appointments with the doctor. The anxiety would creep in days before the appointment.
I would tell God I will leave everything in His hands, and amidst the fear and reservations, there is always a sense of peace and comfort that envelops me. The journey continues no matter how difficult or how dark some days can be, it's about keeping close to God and walking with Him, and never, never letting Him go. For He will make a way when there seems to be no way!
May the Lord encourage your heart! There is HOPE in God's Word.
To God be the Glory! Amen!
Stephen Ong
12 November 2022
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