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Home > Fellowship Plaza Apt. A202 |
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2013-06-03 9:30AM
The ancient Greeks had two ideas for time. It is Chronos and Kairos. Chronos is just passing time, such as what year, month, day, hour, and the minutes.
But Kairos was used for moments that are historical or fortunate / unfortunate opportunities. Such as August 15th of 1945 (Independence Day) or June 25, 1950 (Korean War) which are historically important times for us Koreans.
There is a personal Kairos also, not just for nations. Date of birth, date of son’s birth, or their date of death. But there also days in our life that has our happiness and sadness. June 3rd 2013 was our family’s “Kairos”.
After our family had lived in East Coast of United States, we moved back to our beloved town of San Jose. But a few months before, my wife’s diagnosis of her breast cancer had apparently had a problem. That was during winter of 2006. My impression of it was expressionless, so I let it pass by. After moving back to San Jose, in the April of 2008, my wife was re-diagnosed and from the doctor’s opinion, it was cancer. Just to be sure, we had a thorough examination. It was definitely a cancer. My wife took the news with calm expression, but my children and I were shocked.
In May, she had her surgery to remove the cancer, and started to have radiation therapy. After that, start the healing process. Thankfully, after the radiation therapy, there was no need for chemo therapy and was controlled by medication. From her cholesterol meds, blood pressure med, and now this very strong cancer med, it was too much for her frail body. She was constantly dizzy and was suffering. Even visiting my son, who lived an hour and twenty minutes in flight time, was difficult. She would get very dizzy, and thought she would need emergency hospital stop after landing. So every year when I visit my son’s place for twice, we would have to drive 11 hours.
Thankfully, my wife constantly exercised. In 2004 she had a stroke and her speech was slightly slower, and her memory had gaps in it. But she persistently meditated and memorized the Bible, and morning and evening, exercised to get better. So her walking, speaking, and writing had returned to almost normal. Usually when someone gets cancer diagnose, their strength becomes weary, and from the harsh medications, and their own self they fall into depression, so encouragement and love from family is very important in healing.
June 3rd, 9:30AM, there was an air of nervousness in our family as it was her 5th diagnose surgery. One was because her right breast was surgically removed, but about 3 months ago, she complained about her arm and shoulder. I was suspecting the cancer may have spread to her arm and shoulders. But my thoughts about this was because from last November, she started to knit scarves and hats for people I know and had spent much of her time on them. Because she crafted them for long hours her hand and shoulders were over-worked. I had her do medical patches, and even sauna, but to no avail. So I called our doctor to schedule an appointment to see what this problem was all about.
The doctor who diagnosed my wife is an Indian, and had studied very diligently and faithfully in United States. After examining my wife, she said it had nothing to do with cancer, and was just a muscle problem, and had appointed for a therapist. Prior to the cancer diagnose of June 3rd, she took a scan of my wife’s breast. My wife got trained by a therapist to relax her muscles and to strengthen the areas that had become weakened. She was told to practice this 3 times daily.
June 3rd, 9:30AM, 2013, my wife guided by a nurse, measured her weight, body temperature and blood pressure. After waiting for a few minutes, the cancer doctor who had diagnosed her for the 5 years came in. The doctor said with a bright face saying, “I have just looked at the mammography images and other diagnoses files, and from current disposition, there is nothing wrong. You no longer need to take cancer medication!” I was so happy…
The doctor promised to take a mammography once a year from now on as an add-on.
The feelings I had entering during diagnose, and exiting with an empty, released feeling is imaginable only to those who had a similar experience.
I give thanks to God that the cancer was detected and was able to be cured. I give thanks that there were so many great doctors that cared and was able to help us. I also give thanks to countless others who had helped my wife during this time with encouraging phone calls and cards. Furthermore, I give thanks to my wife who had constantly exercised, and was able to find peace in herself during this time.
(June 9th, 2013)
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Youngjin’s mother 
2013-06-03 9:30AM