Today is Aunt Tho's funeral. Visited her at the hospital on Monday night.
I reached home at 9pm. Dad called and said that she's in a critical condition. Hence, I had a quick shower and we rushed to SGH.

Upon arrival, she was already breathing through the oxygen mask, and breathing hard and slow. Just to give you a glimpse of her background. Being super-detailed me, you can expect a big paragraph of what I'm going to say.

Since Aunt Tho is Dad's cousin. (Tang Mei) and that makes her my Tang-Gu.
She's 48 this year. 24 years my senior. At the age of 25, she already had diabetes and it could all be attributed to the soft drinks and lack of exercise. She's never seen drinking plain water. Always with carbonated drinks. Always. No matter how people nag at her, she'll still be stubborn and insists on drinking soft drinks.
Through the years, her health deteriorated. I just got to know that around year 2000, she had a heart-bypass. It was a more than 10 hours long operation.
It must have been difficult for her.

Not too sure when her kidneys failed too. When I get to visit her at the hospital lately, she already required kidney dialysis. Around 2002, I heard her eyes were failing her too. One of her eyes got burnt at some lasic surgery and she had only one eye left which had only 10% clarity. She basically only know that someone is standing there, but can't see the face. She joined the Blind Association where she got help. And where members from Touch Community were there to spread the Gospel.
I remember that around 2 years ago at a relative's wake, my mum was sharing the Gospel with her and she even said, "See how things goes la.. all religion are the same.." Thank God, few months later, she called my mum one day excitedly, and told her that she has accepted Christ and that she's going to be baptized soon.
It was a happy occasion. Through these 2 years, her son got saved and baptized, and her husband got saved few months back too, he was supposed to get baptized today, but due to her funeral, his baptism would be postponed to next month.

On the even of Chinese New Year, Aunt Tho had one of her legs amputated because of infection. A week later, the other leg was amputated too. The first time I visited her at the hospital, she still had both legs. I remember her saying that they might be amputated soon. The second time I went to the hospital, both her legs were gone...
The amazing thing was that she didnt look like she was in pain. I even asked my mum if its painful. My mum stared at me and asked me, "what do you think?" I guess the reason that I asked that question is because, she really had no complains of negative words to say. We were trying to encourage her, but on the contrary, she was really strong and said that.."Leave everything to God lo...Let Him handle everything.."
And many times, she really thank God for the people that He has placed around her, and she thank God that she got to know Him.
I've really never seen anyone in her condition who can still remain so calm and peaceful. She isn't like other people who'll probably be in agony and screaming away. She didn't.
She fought a brave fight. And she's with the Lord now in paradise. I thank God for seeing her through it all. Her 15 year old son and her husband would be well protected too. I know God's grace is upon them. She held on very tightly to God all these while and I know she had a real intimate relationship with Him.

Her pain and agony are over. There's no more sorrow and pain in Heaven. Thank God.
Oh, according to her Pastor, she ever told her that if God-willing, and she should get well, she'll want to serve Him and do His work. She'll want to share the goodness of God with people around her and spread the Gospel to many people.
How can anyone in her condition still think of serving God and spreading His Gospel for Him? I salute Aunt Tho.. for her faith and trust in God. I know that many times, she was lonely and afraid, but she knew that she had a God whom she can trust and can rely on. She knew where she is going and I'm glad she has chosen a path of no regrets. Praise the Lord!

This post will be dedicated to Aunt Tho. In remembrance of her...
I'll see you in Heaven Aunt. I love you....

-RacheL- blogged @ 6/25/2005 10:10:00 PM