HIS GRACIOUS HAND

By Irene Lim

July 2020. It came out of the blue. Mind-numbing headaches, not once but twice a week. As I had no history of headaches or migraines, I brushed it off.

I had been due to have my annual blood test, which I would schedule routinely. But with our country and the world in the throes of COVID-19, I recall telling my friends that I did not want to risk catching the virus by going to the polyclinic unnecessarily. Reasonable decision, right?

Shortly after I made this comment, the unusual headaches started. They would strike once on a weekday and another starting precisely at 5pm on Sunday. The latter was so intense, I would skip dinner and go directly to bed after taking a quick shower. By Monday morning, everything would be back to normal. After three weeks of repeated headaches, I started to be concerned if my ailment had any spiritual connection. Thinking over what I had often heard as a child, I wondered if I had trespassed some unclean or ungodly territory by accident. I knew I am His and am protected, and His Spirit in me is greater than the evil one in the world (1 John 4:4). So why was I experiencing these blinding headaches at the same time every Sunday?

Irene with her son Ian

As I prayed and brought the matter to the Lord, I heard a prompting to go for my blood test. It was strange because I had convinced myself I was not going to do so, that it was alright to delay it till the pandemic was over. Again, I sensed the Lord strongly nudging me to take the blood test. Subsequently, I spoke with my son Ian and a friend. Was the Lord sending these headaches to alert me to something more concerning? And why these promptings to reconsider taking the blood test? I decided to make an appointment. Mysteriously, after I went for my annual blood test, the headaches completely stopped. I have not experienced such headaches ever since.

A week later, the blood test result came back. It was unfavourable. The report revealed that my cancer markers were slightly high. The doctor suspected that the abnormalities originated from the stomach region. She told me to monitor my bowel movements and that if there was any pain, to come back to see her. However, I did not want to wait.

With the report, I went to the polyclinic to get a referral letter to Singapore General Hospital. From there, I did more tests and, finally, from a CT scan, the doctor discovered a lump measuring 2 cm by 3.6 cm in my left lung. I was diagnosed with stage 2 lung cancer.

Though shocked, I could not but thank God that He got my attention to go for the blood test. I would never have discovered the lump otherwise and the cancer would have possibly spread undetected to other areas of my body.

On 21 October 2020, I was operated on and the lump was removed from my left lung. Due to the awkward position of the lump, the surgeon warned me beforehand that there was a high chance my entire left lung would have to be removed. However, after the surgery, I found out that half of my left lung was preserved; the surgeon was able to extract the lump without removing the entire lung. This was yet another reason to praise God.

I have been recovering well since my operation and during this time, despite experiencing some highs and lows from other follow-up treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, I find that I have His peace in my soul. I praise God for His faithfulness towards me and I remind myself that if God had cared enough to prompt me to go for my blood test, then He will surely see me through it all. I am also genuinely grateful for many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have kept me and my family in their prayers.

Truly, I give glory to God for His kindness and faithfulness to me