My name is Mun Tin, I am 57 years old and married with 2 daughters. I am in remission from acute myeloid leukaemia.

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I lived a healthy and active lifestyle, had all my meals at home and served actively in church. But I felt my stamina declining. An ex-colleague said I looked pale and prompted me to investigate. I received my GP’s diagnosis with calmness and the thought, “Again.” I had had a near-death experience 10 years ago with a head-on collision with a tipper lorry. My car was totally wrecked. I got a new replacement car at no cost and kept my no-claims bonus. God was gracious and turned the event to His glory.

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I started chemotherapy immediately as my blast count was high. I went through 5 chemotherapy cycles. Each cycle was 7 days of 24-hour continuous chemo drug infusion followed by 25 days of recovery in an isolation room. I prayed on admission day, and Psalm 3 was impressed on my heart. The Psalm described my condition precisely, showed where my protection and help came from and assured me of my salvation. My Senior Pastor reminded me of Psalm 3:3, that God did not shield us from danger, but would shield us in the midst of danger. The treatment went well but was short-lived as I relapsed in 6 months. Then I had my first bone marrow transplant (BMT), donated by my 68-year-old sister (a 100% match), but I suffered a relapse again after 3 months. The blasts were increasing fast and I needed a second BMT urgently. My younger daughter proposed to use her 50%-matched bone marrow but was not ideal. We then approached 3 unrelated 90%-matched donors, but these arrangements did not materialise.

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My oncology haematologist agreed to use my younger daughter’s bone marrow as a last resort. My helper had this thought in 2018 after reading Jesus’s genealogy in Matthew and approached my daughter. I only recently found out about this. God’s plan is greater than ours. God healed me after my second BMT in September 2020, I had no more cancer cells, no abnormal gene mutations and normal chromosomes.

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I had many side effects and negative thoughts in my journey. In every struggle, God provided a way through His Word, people and revelation. One night in 2019, I cried in anguish with my wife and God reminded us together of Psalm 128:6, “May you see your children’s children.” God had assured us with this verse in 1998 after we prayed for 6 years to have a second child because of the Thalassemia gene we carry. God in His plan used my younger daughter to heal me 21 years later.

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Another night, God enlightened me about death, and the negative thoughts related to cancer supernaturally vanished. God is light. If I die, I will be thankful to the cancer to bring me home to be with God, which is a privilege. The cancer can kill my body but my soul still belongs to Jesus. If I survive, I will be grateful to God and do His will on earth.

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During my second BMT, I suffered septic shock. I was unconscious for 5 minutes and was revived by the first CPR pump. If not, I would have been intubated. I thanked God that I did not have any major organ damage from the septic shock. After being transferred to ICU, I felt a big boulder pressing on me and I prayed desperately. God removed it. The next moment I saw an empty tomb, a sign of victory over death. I praised God. After this, I had total body radiation followed by treatment with a toxic chemo drug that I had to bathe in 5 times a day for 2 weeks. All my gowns and bedsheets had to be incinerated. I asked God to point me to a book as my quiet time was very dry during the BMT-conditioning chemo. Nahum 1:8-9 was impressed in my heart the day before receiving my daughter’s stem cells: “But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. What do you plot against the Lord? He will make a complete end; trouble will not rise up a second time”. I was reassured.

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My God is real. He knows me and is ready to minister when I cry out to Him. He remembered me by sending encouraging messages from afar and I cried with joy upon receiving them. This journey is precious because I met God; healing was secondary. The Holy Spirit convicted me to seek and release forgiveness. It was a deep struggle with many awkward silences. The reconciliation was liberating. My spirit lifted up and God’s glory was magnified. I learnt that God will provide a way. I need to submit to His will and move along with the treatment and emotional yo-yos. God’s Word and character hold me solidly anchored in the faith. God is good all the time. I seek knowledge and understanding of my disease and, with God’s blessing, wisdom to decide the appropriate treatments (Proverb 2:6). God is sovereign.

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The grace and love I received encourage me to share my journey with newly-diagnosed patients. The first two months after the diagnosis were a trying time and had a great influence on the journey.

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Today, my blood readings are within the normal range, except for my haemoglobin, which is around 7.5-8.1g/dL (normal range is 13-16.9g/dL). This is God’s miraculous provision in my daily life. I can walk briskly for 5 km daily and started playing squash. I had squamous cell carcinoma 6 months after my second BMT with a growth on my scalp which was removed. It is a benign skin cancer. I was not affected emotionally because God’s Word is my anchor.

Renewing my mind in God’s Word and living intentionally according to His will are important in my life as a cancer survivor. I want to share my journey with God to give hope and practical handles, especially to newly diagnosed cancer patients. Death has no grip on me. I need the Holy Spirit to guide me, faith in Jesus Christ and God’s love and mercy in my life. All honour and glory belong to God.