Team Helen Beats Cancer

Thank you for the enormous amount of support and prayers you have shared with me and my family over the past several months. As I am regaining strength from surgery, it brings me so much joy and peace knowing that your prayers have surely sustained me throughout my cancer treatments.


There is much to be thankful for as evidenced by my recent pathology report. According to the report, chemotherapy greatly reduced the size of the tumor and the disease had not spread to the lymph nodes. The surgeon was able to remove enough tissue from the breast that a clear margin was shown, which means no trace of cancer was left behind. Both my surgeon and oncologist safely proclaim that I am in remission...Cancer Free!

What's next for me? I will continue receiving the drug Herceptin at the chemo clinic every three weeks until October of this year and radiation treatments will begin mid-April for 5 weeks, Monday-Friday.

Though I, or rather, WE have successfully beat cancer, I want to continue cherishing Christ and thanking God for carrying me through this journey. As John Piper describes his experience with cancer as one "designed for you by God, so you will not waste it," I am sure that God's aim was for me to rely utterly on Him, to deepen my love for Christ and to lean on the sufficiency of Christ.

To all of you who have prayed and fasted for me, prepared delicious meals for my family, been a friend/brother to Eugene, cared for Maddy and Alicia, picked up my kids from school, drove me to chemo/doctor visits, offered medical services and advice (my Kaiser buddies), walked/ran in Susan G. Komen events, wore pink (thanks Faith Community Church in Fullerton), encouraged me to do my exercises, made me eat lots and lots of protein, traveled hundreds of miles to visit, reminded me that my hairless existence suits me, and supplied countless other blessings, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I love all of you and thank God for bringing you into my life. God bless you!


"Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalms 103:1-5

Post-Op

It's been four days since surgery and by God's grace, the pain has lessened and I have been trying to wean myself off of the pain medication. I am so deeply thankful to all of you for your prayers and support. Surely, it is through your mighty prayers that has allowed me to persevere through chemotherapy and now through surgery/recovery. As my doctor expected, recovery has been quite manageable with little discomfort. I have limited mobility in my right arm since lymph nodes were removed from the right armpit. But with exercise and time, I should be able to regain most of my strength and mobility in my right arm.

A sweet moment between husband and wife

Dear friends Linda and Tina keeping me company hours before surgery

God has also blessed me with family and friends who have volunteered to help me and the family. Eugene's mother spent two nights with the girls while we were away at the hospital. She picked up Maddy from school, fed the girls and kept them busy in our absence. My mother flew in on Monday and plans to stay for a week and a half. The girls are so excited to have "LA Halmuni" around for so long since they rarely get to spend time with her. In addition to having an extra set of hands around the house, friends from church have volunteered to provide the family with a meal for several weeks. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for the many hands preparing and serving us with delicious meals. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such a loving and helpful community of friends and family.

Feeling thankful and overjoyed for God's mercy upon me.