8th July 2022. My name is Geetha. In 2017 was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of appendix (with secondary malignant peritoneal deposits). This involved multiple organs. On 13 October 2017, I had to go through a 14-hour major surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)]. This surgery is a two-step procedure that treats cancers in the abdomen. Cancerous tumours are surgically removed, and then heated chemotherapy drugs are applied directly inside the abdomen to eliminate the remaining cancerous cells.
During my post-surgery 17 days in the ICU, high-dependence and surgical wards, I looked like a ‘transformer’ from the movies. I had multiple tubes, attached to the left and right of my body. I encountered two devastating events. In January 2018, my 60-year-old elder brother suddenly passed away due to a brain haemorrhage. My bubbly 80-year-old mother’s health condition took a turn for the worse – she had a massive heart attack and onset of dementia. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in March 2018.
It was challenging to manage my medical condition. I lost 20 kilos. During my recovery, I had to be rushed to the hospital three times for complications and dehydration. Each time, God gave me His strength and grace to commit my challenges to Him and not to focus on my problems. God was with me all the time. My mantra during this time was “Jesus heal me, Jesus be with me, Jesus bring angels to give me the courage to move forward.” I spent my 6 months recovery time meditating on scripture. It was a period of rest, renewal, and strengthening my relationship with God. My problems may seem big, but God is bigger. My circumstances were overwhelming but I cling onto God’s promise that He will never leave me or forsake me. My journey ahead is uncertain but I am certain of this – God is great. All the time.
My stoma bag was reversed and I went back to work on 30 April 2018, after 6.5 months. With God’s grace, I have been on remission for 4.8 years now. All praise to God for His blessings and favour. My grateful thanks to His angels on Earth (healing prayer team at SJSM, fellowship team at HCF, multi-disciplinary medical team at NUH, bosses and colleagues at NUS, friends, well-wishers and strangers who reached out to me). Last but not least, my gratitude to my treasured siblings, ever-supportive family and angelic domestic help (Sini). Every day is a gift. Thank you, Jesus. All glory to God. Amen.