7 Years Ago...

today, my mom and I camped in Mount Elizabeth hospital. Dad was wheeled into the operating theater for a major open-heart surgery at about 10am. It was the longest 7 hours of our lives. Every time the huge door was opened, we would look up, anxious for any bits of news of what's going on inside. At the back of my mind, the heavy thought descended that I might have to adjust to a life without dad. The thought was so horrid that I had to struggle to keep it at bay and to be strong for my mom. All we could do was to keep on praying for dad in our hearts.

When my dad was finally wheeled to the ICU at about 7pm, we were so relieved and thankful to see him conscious. The operation was a success! Praise God! Thereafter, the main bulk of our activity was taking turns to walk in and out of the ICU to check on him. Mom and I couldn't bear to leave him all alone in the ward and so we huddled up together on the hospital bench through the night.

Dad couldn't remember seeing us at all in the night and the first thing he said when he saw us the next morning was, "Where did you two disappear to when I came out of the operating theater?" He actually thought we went out for coffee or something! Heh

During that trying time, my family and I are grateful for my great-aunt and her daughter who took good care of us while we were there and provided their place for dad to recuperate fully after his operation. I am immensely grateful to dear Tapoh for being a friend in need and for the Hope of God Singapore church members who visited my dad and comforted and reassured me of God's love when I most needed it. They were so concerned to see a girl, sitting all by herself in church and weeping at the thought of losing the dad she loved with all her heart, that they surrounded her and her family with love.

Seven years may seem like such a long time. But my family and I would never forget the kindness and love shown to us by all of you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.