Cancer teaches her to stop and rest

"To me, the biggest lesson is to stop!" Cathy Fung Kar-wai laughed.

 

Ms Fung was a typical Hong Kong person and perfectionist. She had been always busy for her life and enjoying the brilliance of Hong Kong.

 

Being a teacher at secondary school, she has worked and studied very hard for better profession, and devoted herself to the needs of her students. She even felt guilty to take sick leave.

 

In her early 30s, Ms Fung believed she was young, energetic and used to fight.

 

“Why should I sleep so much?” asked Ms Fung. “I thought sleeping is a waste of time and five hours a day are enough. I had to do and complete a lot more in other time.”

 

But everything had to stop when she found abnormal body weakness and then was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in December 2011.

 

“In most of the times, I wanted to do a lot more. I planned a lot of work and set time to complete. Everything seems to be controlled in my hands,” said Ms Fung. “But when illness came, I cannot even control my life and health.”

 

“Illness slows down my living pace to learn to feel life and my body condition,” she said. “I don’t need to be so nervous as things operate well without me.”

 

In the midst of her illness, she underwent a lot of ups and downs, “Nothing is certain. I feel trembled in every treatment.”

 

Despite five doses of chemotherapy and the following reactions, she said the saddest part was seeing her fellow patients’ recurrence and death.

 

“You doubt why the ending may turn the same even [you] suffer so hard,” Ms Fung said. “I also consider if it would be easy to reenter the society in future after recovery.”

 

“It is very easy to leave as I can give up treatment and optimism,” Ms Fung admitted. But she wants to live because of her family and many relationships on earth, who were looking forward to her recovery.

 

“You find that living on earth and suffering from illness are painful,” the Christian continued, “but you are not willing to go because many people around you and experiencing God’s grace are wonderful.”
 

Gradually Ms Fung started a habit to count her blessings and give thanks every day. “I have learnt how to live for now,” she said.

 

A blessing since birth

Growing up in a big family of five siblings, Ms Fung, the youngest, felt unfair as it caused competition for resources but it turns to be a blessing when she got cancer. The doctor told her usually one in four siblings will have bone marrow match. Consequently, her sister Carmen Fung Ka-man has become her match.

​

“My sister and her husband put the donation at first and said to rescue and help me,” Ms Fung said but she was worried the donation would affect and delay their birth plan.

 

“She told me no need to think, donate for sure,” Ms Fung expressed thanks to her sister’s family.

 

Ms Carmen Fung, who has emigrated to the US, flew to Hong Kong for the bone marrow test and donation when she knew her sister got cancer.

 

“I never think more than a second to donate. I am just glad my bone marrow can match and save her life, more than happy to do so,” Ms Carmen Fung continued. “Nothing needs to be concerned.”

 

While waiting for the donation, she tried her best to keep healthy.

 

“I got general anaesthesia during the process, just very tired after that, and the wound was small so just feel little bit hurt like tiny cut,” Ms Carmen Fung said of the donation process. “Most people may think it's a serious surgery like organ donations, but actually it's just a very simple process and totally no side effect.” She got her second child after donation.

 

Ms Fung received transplant right after her sister’s donation on 19 June, 2012 which she regarded as her “born-again day”. Due to the very close gene in bone marrow with her sister, Ms Fung did not have much rejection, only skin and joint problems.

 

“The doctor said the moment of bone marrow transplant is a step to recovery,” Ms Fung added. “After further tests, I am confident I am cured.” She felt very grateful with the smooth treatment process and her second life.

 

Running for eternity

Ms Fung has learnt to let go not only her busy schedule but also her materialism. "When life comes to the end, nothing can be brought along."

 

In the past, she loves to dress up and keep many beautiful things, but in hospital she started to think, “What is the meaning to keep them? I don’t need to own so many things.”

 

Instead she began to do things which last forever. During her illness, she recorded and wrote down her experience, which was later published as leaflets and distributed to public. She also created online blog and made videos to encourage people and promote bone marrow donation to save life.

 

“Now I spent much time and effort with many of my cancer classmates and friends,” she said. “I am eager to share and encourage others.”

 

Ms Fung has great heart on cancer patients and is a volunteer at Hong Kong Cancer Fund. She began to join Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon every year to raise cancer fund.

 

Before cancer, Ms Fung did not like sports, but after bone marrow transplant, she loves running. She believes it is because of her sporty sister, while doctors have no hard evidence and gene testing on this.

 

Because of her persistence in education and unique life story during illness, Ms Fung won Ten Best Teacher Awards by the Szeto Wah Education Fund in 2013. She is also planning to publish a book which remuneration will be used to set up foundation for patients.