Suffering is not what everyone can accept and endure, but Ada Chan Ying-hong accepts her leukaemia and faces it with a different attitude – joy.

 

Back in January 2011, Ms Chan, now 39 years old, was found abnormal illness in Cheung Chau hospital, then immediately sent to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital by helicopter. Following blood and bone marrow test, she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL).

 

No fate of family match

After four doses of chemotherapy and a brain electrotherapy, the doctor told Ms Chan that she must receive bone marrow donation despite the estimation of 40% recovery rate.

 

All of Ms Chan’s six siblings were called for blood test. Among them, her brother Roy Chan Lap, who lives in Australia, took a blood test there. The blood sample was then sent to the Red Cross Australia and to Hong Kong.

 

“I am glad that they are willing to donate bone marrow to me,” said Ms Chan with gratitude.

 

According to statistics, a sibling has a possibility of 25% matching chance. However, regardless of six siblings, this is not valid in Ms Chan’s case.

 

Having the closest HLA type with Ms Chan’s, Mr Chan unfortunately failed the further test. “It was very devastated and disappointed result because I was the last hope and knowing everyone else between the brothers and sisters were not the suitable donor,” he said.

 

“Sad to accept the result and it’s even harder to stay positive right away,” Mr Chan was even upset of not being able to visit his ill sister as he was far on the other side.

 

On the other hand, Ms Chan’s husband Johnson Kwong Yan-yin has been prepared from optimism to pessimism towards every challenge. “Ada and I hold a cautiously optimistic attitude by assuming no match, so we feel easier to accept the truth,” he said.

 

“When I knew that all of my family members do not match mine, I had a down feeling,” Ms Chan admitted, but she believed there would be someone matches. “There are good-hearted people.”

 

Waiting with hope

Disappointedly, there was no match in Hong Kong. Ms Chan had to receive further chemotherapy to make sure the cancer cells were in a containable level before receiving new bone marrow.

 

While her body was going downturn and weak, there was still no result of suitable bone marrow. “I had cried in this situation,” said Ms Chan.

 

“I was worried but because I believe in Christ,” said the pastor in church. “I pray and trust that God would lead and prepare for me if He continues giving me life.”

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Ms Chan also called on brothers and sisters in church, and friends to register bone marrow donation.

 

“My feeling was that I still have hope in front,” she said. “If there is no [donor], I am still willing to receive chemotherapy and wait for Christ in relief.”

 

Although the waiting process was not easy, she had no desperate feeling but peace, and kept going and looking forward to somebody with matching bone marrow.

 

Then, the hospital and the Hong Kong Bone Marrow Donor Registry continued finding a matched donor for Ms Chan in Asia region then over the world.

 

Finally, Ms Chan got good news. There were eight suitable donors from Taiwan, the US and the mainland, which the closest Taiwanese was chosen.

 

It was ten months after her ALL diagnosis and seven doses of chemotherapy till bone marrow transplant.

 

Recurrence: treatment starts over

Ms Chan got well after bone marrow transplant but it only lasted for one year and four months. Her cancer recurred in April 2013. The doctor told her that they can help but doctors in the US normally would not treat patient who recurred less than one and half year.whose cancer recurred less than one and half year.

 

In spite of 20% survival rate, Ms Chan chose to start over chemotherapy and transplant to fight against the cancer battle.

 

“I have thought of death,” she said. “But even if I pass away, I know where I will go. I have hope.”

 

Her husband Mr Kwong keeps reminding himself the brevity of life. “We hold an attitude that is to treasure every day as we may not be here the next day,” he added. “We have to live for now, treasure and do well to avoid feeling regretful when looking back. And there won’t be no hope.”

 

After half a year, Ms Chan matched another Taiwan donor and underwent bone marrow transplant. Mr Kwong perceived it as a miracle, “It is not certain to survive.”

 

Ms Chan expressed much thanks to her Taiwanese donors but they are not allowed to contact directly due to international guideline. They communicate through letters.

 

The process right after the second transplant was hard that she felt painful and slept worst. She could not eat and even drink water since there was something in her throat.

 

“The downside is not only pain but also nobody understands your pain. Even though I spoke to doctor and nurse, it was useless,” she said. “I could only shout to God and tolerate.”

 

The next day, she was relieved after vomiting a splash of blood and an object like a thick worm.

 

Love people as mission

“I have never grumbled to God or anyone, but instead I ask God how to face it, because everyone has the opportunity to suffer illness and natural disasters,” said Ms Chan, believing that it is a blessing to live to receive treatment.

 

"I accept my illness which many people don’t, but I accept my illness given by God. I accept leukemia happens on me. But it depends on how I face it,” Ms Chan faced it with the love from Christ and people around, which transcend all difficulties. “Love empowers one to face bravely.”

 

Ms Chan has never thought of giving up, but she even encouraged others in the hospital.

 

“I had a fellow patient, who felt so painful and wanted to jump off,” she said. “Then I listened to her and comfort her.”

 

Her motivation to fight the cancer battle also comes from people’s visit. “When everyone comes to visit me, I treasure the moment to share my real life experience,” Ms Chan feels happy about their mutual encouragement.

 

“I am beloved after illness,” she said, “so I feel love and know how to love others.”

 

Irene Ip Chor-wah, Ms Chan's close friend and sister in church, supported Ms Chan by driving her back and forth between her home and the hospital.

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"After bone marrow transplant, hygiene has to be done well," said Ms Ip, who is willing to clean her car with one part of household bleach in 99 parts of water which taxi may not.

 

"She is very tough before people," said Ms Ip, who had told Ms Chan to cry out to express her emotions. "But she was fast to adjust herself and face the illness."

 

Ms Chan’s attitude inspired Ms Ip to give thanks, treasure life and time with people around. Ms Ip said, “Ada gives support and care not only to other cancer patients, but also to their family."

 

To Ms Chan, suffering does not matter, but knowing what to do and how to help people in the rest of her life is the most important.

 

“To love people is my life mission,” Ms Chan added. “I hope I can bless more people to live brilliantly in difficulties.”

 

Sweet burden to people around

During illness, she spent lots of time to write down her treatment progress and mental state so her friends, brothers and sisters in church, family can remember her and pray for her.

 

“Her illness has pulled many relationships together, such as family and classmates,” said Mr Kwong. He believes an optimistic patient helps lighten the stress to her family and attracts people’s visits.

 

“She is an absolute fighter, strong believer and mentally tough,” said Ms Chan’s brother, who views the ward as a devastating environment that some fragile patients are waiting for their lives taken away. “She faced her illness very positively and she made her way out of that door.”

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Mr Chan remembers that his sister was one of the best athletic in her high school days, “Her mental toughness was again deployed into this battle.”

 

She has changed a lot in appearance such as hair, weight, skin, eyes, and her organs have been badly damaged internally, said Mr Chan. “However, her beliefs never change. Her heart never changed, still love her god and love her family and friends.”

 

After transplants, Ms Chan has suffered urinary, skin, mucosa and eye rejections. Her daily life is therefore affected.

 

“My lacrimal gland was destroyed, so I cried without tear,” she said and laughed. “If I cry, I only have a running nose.” So she has to put eye drop frequently. She also has blurry vision to read and identify the person on the way.

 

But she feels good, “Illness indeed affects my daily living, but I don’t mind because it is wonderful to live.”

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Seeing the weak atmosphere of blood and bone marrow donation in Hong Kong, Ada has been trying to promote it since getting leukaemia. She believes having experienced patients who need bone marrow or have finished transplant to promote to people nearby and on media will facilitate more donations.

 

She added the importance of family education. “In fact, my family has never donated blood until I got leukaemia,” she said. “My parents have never donated blood. There is no family education to teach us to donate.”

 

Ms Chan now adjusts her lifestyle and takes good care of her health to avoid another recurrence. She said, “It’s my responsibility to take care of myself. I don’t want others to worry me again.”