A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang  (June 14, 2009)

<Love, Intercessory Prayers, and Support>

(A report after my wife, Mrs. Su Chang’s brain tumor surgery)

Praise the Lord for His love and mercy! My wife, Su-Cheng, finally had her brain tumor surgery on June 11 (Thursday.)  

June 11 and 12 these two days, my son, Jeffrey’s and my cell phones and our home’s and church’s phones have received more than 100 phone calls. Those calls were from South East Asia, Taiwan, China, and many places in the USA. But most of them were from our two churches. These are the calls of love and care. But unfortunately I have difficulty to receive them all. I am overwhelmed by such kind of love. I know that some of you did not call but only in prayers. I also appreciate that, because you have saved me from repeating the same story again and again. Actually, yesterday, Saturday (6/13), I also received more phone calls. But it is O.K. Now let me report to you the process and the result of my wife’s surgery:  

It was a little bit raining on the Thursday morning (June 11) when I was driving my wife and my son Jeffrey to go to the Staten Island University Hospital. We arrived at 9:00AM. After registration, my wife and I went to the preparation room to change cloths. The schedule for the surgery was 11:00AM. We kept waiting and waiting until 1:10PM, a nurse came to explain to us what was going on, but she could not tell us very clearly. Until 1:30PM, Dr. John Shiau, the Neurosurgeon, who is the doctor discovered the brain tumor and in charge of the surgery, came. He apologized to us and explained why he was so delayed. It was because of a car accident, and a person who broke the head needed to have an emergency operation. He was called to do it since 5:00AM.  

My wife was carried into the surgery room around 2:30PM. Waiting for almost one hour for resetting the room, the surgery actually started around 3:30PM. Originally according to Dr. Shiau, the operation would take one hour and 30 minutes. But actually when the surgery was completed, it was after 9:30PM. Dr. Shiau explained that the tumor was big and it was very deep and closer to the brain. He needed to be cautious to operate. He told us that it was a very successful surgery, because he has done the best to clean the tumor at least more than 90% away. In other word, whatever the screen had shown the tumor, it was removed. Praise the Lord! It was a high tech surgery through two nostrils to move the machine for operation.    

Dr. John Shiau, 41 years old, a second generation of Taiwanese, grown up at Fair Loan Reformed Church in New Jersey. His parents are good Christians. He is quite a humble and good responsible man. I remembered the day of surgery, when many people were in waiting room to wait for the results of their love ones’ surgeries. I had opportunities to talk to some of them. We asked each other: the reason for surgery? Who was the surgeon? When I mentioned Dr. Shiau, the surgeon, many of them know him and said to me, “He is one of the best neurosurgeons!”  Praise the Lord that He provides a good medical doctor to take good care of this illness for my wife.  The anesthesiologist for the surgery was Dr. Yu from China. The team was very good and strong.  

After the surgery, my wife was brought to the recovery room. The first night she was in pain and the doctor gave her good medicine for killing the pain and to give good sleep. She actually recovers quite well. The next day when Jeffrey, Faith, and I went to visit her, she mixed up Jeffrey with Campbell, my older son. She so far still has some confusion. I called Dr. Shiau, he said, it is normal after a big brain surgery. It takes a few days to recover. I hope so. A few more days later, she can be released from the hospital and come home for a complete recovery. This is my prayer.  

I deeply appreciate the love that my family has received which is so tremendous. May the Lord bless all of you! And it is because of you, I experience again the Love of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Thank you!