Picture Time with Family and Cousins

Caca once told the social worker that she wanted to have a family photo as we had never done one for many years. She also indicated that she would love a photo with all her little cousins. Thank you Stephanie, from “Smiling Eyes”, for coming over yesterday to take pictures for Cass and our family. All of our cousins brought their little ones over. Caca finally took some pictures with all her little cousins except those in Hong Kong. Such lovely moments! They are just the little angels to Caca.

Uncle Leander and auntie Connie came to farewell with Cass before they flew back to Australia. They've been walking the journey with Caca when she was first diagnosed for the osteosarcoma when she was 7.... they were with us in the Sickkids emergency last week as well. They asked Caca if she could remember the incident when they were all watching the Play "Passion of Christ" when she was 6 years old, and if she could still remember she raised her hand when the Pastor asked if anyone would trust in Jesus and accept Him as the saviour and Lord. She said she remembered. Uncle Leander just assured Caca of her faith and trust in God and Jesus, who love us and her so much. We will meet and gather in Heaven one day with joy.

In the meanwhile, Caca is spending her time to write cards to her friends, and is happy to giveaway her unopened presents to all her friends and her little cousins.

Caca will be up early to Sickkids tomorrow, i.e. Thursday, for the PORT insertion, which will prepared her for the next cycle of chemo that's scheduled for Monday, August 18. 

Please continue to pray earnestly for Cass!

Picture from Camp Ooch in July

Just posting a picture from Camp Oochigeas back in July. Cass' favorite water skiing.

Water Skiing in July at Camp Ooch

Encouragement and fun moments

I prayed at Ca's bedside before I headed to church with Aaron this Sunday morning. Daddy was staying behind with Cass. My heart ached every time when I watched her fragile body lying in her bed. I prayed for God's healing power and mercy on her, and pray that Cass will have some little fun moments to go on her days. She's been so strong and so active even after her major surgery on May 12. Despite her pain on her shoulder and back, and the shortness of breath because of the removal of the lower lobe of her right lung in May, she has been recovering so well. She just got back to swimming about 6 weeks after the surgery. It's so hard to imagine that she was still swimming to the island, doing her favourite water skiing and having so much fun at Camp Ooch. But just one week after that, she turned to be so sick that she needed to take chemo and radiation. After all, the doctors appeared to indicate that such the suggested medication was not for curing, but just for prolonging life and controlling her pain!

I simply prayed for an easy day and fun moments for Cass. We saw God's love on Cass when she was so surprised by the handmade smiley flower from Auntie Ingrid. Every stitch expresses the love and care from Ingrid and God. Cass’ besties from the camp and from the swimming team came to see her and stayed a bit to chat with her. Also, Karen E E from Hong Kong sent her the calligraphy of "Strength". Those were what Cass needed for her day to day encouragement. We thank God for lots of love, care, support, and prayers from our church, friends and families.

Handmade Smiley Flower

Calligraphy of "Strength"

Our schedule tomorrow is to go to Sickkids at around 10:00 a.m. for blood work. Then return to the hospital on Thursday for the PORT replacement surgery for the next cycle of chemo. Please continue to pray for Cass and our family.

Nice New Look

We had a very peaceful day though Caca still felt numbness in her foot occasionally. Nevertheless, we just spent most of the afternoon fixing Caca's hair after the shower as her hair seemed to be falling off a lot and tangled with her good hair. Bee EE came to help and we took hours to untangle her hair and give her a hair cut. It turned out nicely. 

We are hoping that Caca won't be too upset that all her hair will be gone soon. Thank you Bee EE for the nice haircut you gave to Cass.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Caca & Bee EE

Nice New Look!!

Sunshine at Emergency

We were at the emergency ward this morning The feeling of numbness in her leg seemed to have gone and hence it may be difficult to determine what had caused the symptoms earlier. But just by physical examination, Cass appears to be good. However, The blood count was very low, so we have to keep watching over her and contact the oncology fellow should fever, numbness, tingling, incontinence and weakness occur. We back to home in late afternoon.

God knows what our hearts need for a tough day....
Your prayers, support, and Stephanie Dixon's visit brought sunshine to Cass's heart on this tough day.

Stephanie Dixon, the Gold medal Paralympian came to the Sickkids emergency room to see Cass and brought her gifts from CIBC. This visit made Cass light up like the day- Cass was so touched and was crying with joy when she saw Stephanie as she's been her role model and has inspired Cass a lot. They are both amputee swimmers. Cass had written a French speech to talk about Stephanie Dixon and how she had inspired her to swim and put on a positive attitude.

Stephanie Dixon brought sunshine to Cass

Heading to Sickkids Emergency

We are taking Ca to Sickkids emergency now. She felt the numbness last night. I emailed her doctor. Her doctor called us early in the morning to take her to the emergency. Please continue to pray fervently.

Also, Papa Andy has been quite busy with work and problems at work. Please pray that things are sorted out well and smoothly.

Home. Concerns. Sharing.

August 6, 2014.

We were‎ home around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon. The doctors were very concerned about Cass's condition as her right leg seemed to have reduced power and difficulty in eliciting ankle/knee reflexes. Babinski is going down and no clones can be elicited. We were told not only to just monitor her fever but also to pay attention to the lower limb/buttock/pelvic. Tight lying, numbness, pain, and increased muscle weakness may all suggest an evolving spinal cord compression.

One of her school friends made a quick visit and that cheered her a bit. She's in a very sad mood today but able to eat quite a lot of pasta at night. She was organizing her Polaroid pictures which she took at Sickkids and put down the date for each of the pictures. She asked me to get her the graduation photos. I felt her sadness while she was looking at her grad pictures.

Cass started to write her journal last night while she was at Sickkids and said that she would still like the "FEARLESS" from Karen EE's calligraphy. She started to doodle and wrote her daily journal. But, it was so heartbreaking when Ca said "Mom, can you promise not to read my journal?" I said pinky promise. Then she said: "you can see it when I die...but you may find it to be boring." I swallowed my tears and said, "Let Mommy start a journal with you, and you would be able to read mine." Ca said, "Don't do it just for a week, and you wouldn't continue." "Of course", I said, "And you could read it when I die." Mommy will continue to write, and Cass can read years later.

Papa Andy was sharing the Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 NIV with Cass.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 

a time to be born and a time to die, 

a time to plant and a time to uproot, 

a time to kill and a time to heal, 

a time to tear down and a time to build, 

a time to weep and a time to laugh, 

a time to mourn and a time to dance, 

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 

a time to search and a time to give up, 

a time to keep and a time to throw away, 

a time to tear and a time to mend, 

a time to be silent and a time to speak, 

a time to love and a time to hate, 

a time for war and a time for peace. 

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live."

Smiley Face from Cassidy Fearless

Cass is writing journal

PLEASE SMS or Call Carmen Before Any Visit

Dear All,

Listener wants to emphasize the followings:

1. Please SMS or call Carmen BEFORE you visit.

2. CaCa's blood count will be low. If you are sick and/or not feeling well, or recovering from illness, please DO NOT visit her. Your love and prayer support are appreciated. 

Thanks for your attention! 

Blessings,
Listener.

Rough morning. Home tomorrow.

August 5, 2014.

Cass's was having a rough morning, she didn't get much sleep last night due to the pain on her back. Her doctors are looking for other ways to control her pain. They will do a P53 Genetic test on her soon. Hopefully they will find out more about Cass's cancer as her situation is very rare at Sickkids. Dr. Hopyan, who was her surgeon when she was 7, came and talked to Cass about the possibility of doing the surgery to remove the tumours on her spine and use surgery to ease the pain. But he said all of them were not good options for her. There's no way he could do the surgery on her as there are more than many lesions which they were 360 degrees all around the spine. They are hoping that chemo and radiation will be able to control the growth of the tumours so that she will have some quality time to do things she likes to do.

Cass is going home tomorrow to rest before her next cycle of chemo. Hopefully she will have some good rest and recovery from chemo and radiation before her next cycle of chemo in about 2 weeks.

Please make sure you call or SMS Carmen before you go visit Cass as her blood count will drop and may not be good for her to see many people. 

Again, thank you so much for your prayers and support. Please continue to pray for her. God bless!

Pray for the church, pray for Cassidy

August 4, 2014.

Dear all,

During the long weekend of the Civic holiday, Cassidy and I enjoyed some quiet time in Sickkids. She said to me this morning:"If you don't bother me, I will allow you to stay one more night." I know that she wanted me to stay with her. Sadly I said:"Sorry hon, daddy needs to work tomorrow. I can't stay here overnight." Then I gave her a homemade cake in exchange for her happy face.

Life is short and fades away quickly. Is it only when we are faced with death that we learn to care? Thank God our family accepted Christ as our Saviour, and we know that we have hope whether we see an exit or not. When we cry:"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" You say:"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Yes, you're willing to take the yoke with us; who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Thanks to the brothers and sisters who prayed hard for Cassidy. May the fire of the Holy Spirit in your hearts never cease, but pray not only for us; pray for those with unmet needs, pray for the leaders, and pray for the pastoral staff. Although we can't join you in pray at this moment, our hearts are close by in Christ. May the fire of the Holy Spirit revive us and make the Church of Christ a praying church. Amen!

公 民日的長週末，當其他人享受著悠長假期時，我在Sickkids享受著與Cassidy單獨共處的好時光。她今早對我說：「如果你不煩我的話，我准許你今 天晚上陪我。」我知她很想我在醫院陪伴著她；我無奈地說：「對不起，daddy明天需要工作，今晚不能留在醫院了。」望著她一臉落寞，唯有送上已準備好的 homemade蛋糕(thanks to Catherine)，換回她的笑臉。

人 生苦短，當我們以為來日方長的時候，生命其實不斷的損耗掉，難道要在死亡逼近時才懂得珍惜嗎？感謝神讓我們一家認識了耶穌基督，讓我們知道人生充滿盼望， 縱然前面是漆黑一片，看不見出路、更加看不見光；當我們呼喊：「我的神，我的神！為甚麼離棄我？」祢說：「凡勞苦擔重擔的人可以到我這裏來，我就使你們得 安息。」是的，主耶穌願意和我們同負一軛，有甚麼能令我與基督的愛隔絕呢？

弟兄姊 妹，感謝你們懇切為Cassidy祈禱，願聖靈之火在你們心中永不熄滅，不單為我們祈求，也為有需要的弟兄姊妹祈求、為教會的領袖祈求、為傳道人祈求⋯⋯ 雖然我們暫時不能與你們一同禱告，但我們的心在基督裡仍能如此地貼近。願復興之火燒遍眾教會，願基督的教會成為禱告的教會，阿門！

In Christ,
Andy

Lots of Love! SMS Carmen before visit

August 3, 2014.

Love pouring down.....friends and families sending her lots of love...

She was so happy to see her school friend, Fiona from Northlea as most of them were on vacation or summer camp. She was taking pictures with all her little cousins with her Polaroid camera and treasure every pictures so much she was so afraid that mama would not keep them in a safe place.

 

Cass & Fiona

Cass & Cousin

Friends from church sending her lots of little messages and beautiful painting to decorate her room. She was asking mama to read every single message for her to make sure she didn't miss any of the message. Many many friends came to see her so she was so tired and not feeling well for staying up for too long.

August 4, 2014.

She had done her 4th radiation this morning. She vomited after the radiation as usual. She's been sleeping since then. Lots of friends coming down to see her by late afternoon. However, the nurse was telling us that her blood count will be dropping dramatically in the next two days. And she needs about a week to recover from the blood count. It'd NOT be good for her to see so many people.

PLEASE MAKE SURE you SMS Carmen BEFORE you visit her.

Her radiation schedule for tomorrow will be at 5 pm.

Cheer up by Singers' Visit

Pastor Rob and Rebecca came, last night, to sing a Taylor Swift song to cheer Cass. Then we asked for more songs. He sang us two hymns. Then, Cass gave him a smile and said he should stick with the Christian songs. Thanks for cheering us with the hymns...for not only did you lift her up a bit but also Gor Gor, Papa and Mama. She was very upset that she was not able to eat much and not able to really chew the food. 

Christian Song Singers

Papa Andy said that she had too much cupcakes and sweet treats....maybe not to bring her anymore treats as she will be more upset for not being able to eat them. She was having the bitter taste of her mouth so she's been asking for water to wash out the taste all night long.

Can't eat the treats :(

Papa Andy was with her last night. Both of them didn't sleep much last night. She had done her 3rd radiation treatment this morning. She is feeling nausea and now is resting. 

Since her radiation treatment is in the morning, the best time to visit her will be in late afternoon or early evening.

Follow by email...

I had experienced the "Follow by email" function. If you had signed up, you should see an email, when you woke up in the morning, consolidated all the postings from the previous day.
 

Chemo Cycle Done, Radiation to Continue

Caca had finished her first cycle of chemo yesterday. Today is her 2nd radiation treatment and will finish the cycle in 3 more days, i.e. 5 times in this cycle. 

She is vomiting a lot and not feeling well after radiation. However, she's still happy to see her friends and just stayed up a bit to chat with them. 

Please continue to pray for Cass and she needs your prayers support!

Caca was sad and upset! Thanks for all your love!

Caca was very sad and upset after the radiation. She hit herself so hard a few times to express her frustration. I told her that not only I felt the pain as well, but I also knew that she's really in pain physically and mentally. We both cried hard this time. There were so much going on today and she was in pain and was vomiting so badly while she was sent back and forth between Sickkids and Princess Margaret. It appeared that all the medications were not done on the right timing. Thankfully, thank you so much for the cupcakes...the cupcakes had really calmed her down and made her feel better when we gave her the cupcakes. Thank you Matthew Gor Gor for getting her those pretty cupcakes, Edith E E's for the homemade super soft cupcakes, Auntie Connie for the colourful treats and Concy EE's happy face chocolate and "God loves Cassidy" cookie even she was not able to eat much...I believe she felt your love and care.

She will continue on the chemo at midnight and will do the 2nd radiation tomorrow at about 9:30 a.m. It's so hard and very unrealistic for her to feel well with all the medications and treatments that she is receiving now. Further, it'd become harder and harder for her to eat after chemo and radiation. I pray that God's peace be with her. She will seek for God's help by herself whenever she feels pain and sad. May God's comfort be with her always. Amen.

Cass was happy to have a radiation buddy!

It's a very tough day for Cass and Mama Carmen!

Cass was happy to have a radiation buddy! :)

Papa Andy's sharing

An email from papa Andy few days ago. Many had read, i missed the posting.

Dear all,

七年來，Cassidy每天都要面對生活上的難題，就好像穿衣服、上洗手間這些日常生活必需的事情，對她來說，都不是容易的事，總要花點心思、加點努力，但她都一一的克服了。她要付出比常人雙倍的努力去應付日常生活，怨言雖是有的，但她總能樂觀地面對。因她知道主耶穌拯救了她。

我想，壞的日子總算過去了。正在她要享受她的青春年華的時候，壞消息接腫而來，癌細胞擴散程度連醫生亦束手無策。她正走在生命的盡頭上！

慈愛的神啊！求祢垂聽一個極度悲痛的父親的祈求，我深信天堂是最美好的地方，為信祢的人存留。若祢要讓Cassidy安息在祢懷裡，不用再經歷地上的痛苦，懇求祢，將我也帶去！存留在地上，只不過雖生猶死，我不願意再留在這個被罪惡扭曲、充滿苦難的世界上，可以嗎？

「耶和華啊，求你可憐我，因為我軟弱。耶和華啊，求你醫治我，因為我的骨頭發戰。我心也大大地驚惶。耶和華啊，你要到幾時才救我呢？耶和華啊，求你轉回搭救我！因你的慈愛拯救我。因為，在死地無人記念你，在陰間有誰稱謝你？我因唉哼而困乏；我每夜流淚，把床榻漂起，把褥子濕透。」神啊，求祢聴我的哭求，求祢醫治Cassidy，願我和我家，作祢的見證！

弟兄姊妹，星期三晚上八點，是教會的祈禱會，懇求你出席，為教會守望，為Cassidy祈禱。我們一家也會在Sickkids一同禱告。願神得著當得的榮耀，阿門！

In Christ,
Andy

further update

We back from PMH. They did a CT scan and a mask for her. Will go back again at 6pm to do the radiation on her for both her month and spine. She's really in pain and just gave her more morphine. I am so tired!

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Thank you! 

Radiation to start

The surgeon is performing the biopsy on her mouth tumor right now. It seems Cass has the emergency to do the radiation. The doctor is not sending her to do the MRI & wait again. She will be sending to Princess Margaret to do the radiation right after. Please pray for her,please!

As what I know for now. They are starting her radiation on her for 5 treatment for 5 day starting today. We don't know much about radiation as the doctors are too rush to explain anything.

Please continue to pray.