Yeung Kong's problem started shortly after migrating to New Zealand at the end of 2004. After consulting Chinese herbalists for some time, he had some ups and downs. In April, he was diagnosed with a 10 cm tumor in his sigmoid colon. Further medical investigation in early May revealed that cancer had spread to his liver and peritoneal cavity. His weight dropped from about 70 kg to 60 within 2 months.
In early June, Yeung Kong and his wife Vivian came back to Hong Kong. Doctors at QueenMaryHospital were not optimistic. With the help of Dr Ko Wing Man and Lau Chin Shek, He was admitted into the Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Guangzhou in mid June, combining treatment of Chinese and Western medicine. The hospital also invited one of the most famous Chinese herbalists to see him.
His condition worsened after 2 rounds of chemo, weighing only 56 kg in late July. Early August, doctors said at best he could live for 6 more months, but tried using Chinese chemotherapy this time. After 2 rounds of treatment, he seemed much better. During that time, his sister-in-law came back from the US with her two little daughters. He could even go yum cha with them, and had a Japanese feast together on his 48th birthday.
In mid October, he had a feeling of recovering! He told Vivian that he thought he couldn't make it through in early August, but now he had the confident of getting well. He even contemplated what kind of job he would like to do later!
For some reason, doctors changed his prescription. After taking a new oral Chinese chemo drug, his health went downhill. He was then given morphine that made him constipate and tummy pain. He was given stronger and stronger herbal tea that caused diarrhea for several days, which worsened the situation. He became very weak, weighing only 52kg early November, fluid started to accumulate in his chest cavities.
Vivian discovered a drug called Maitake, a wild Japanese fungus,which is supposedly non-toxic and helpful in boosting immunity and shrinking tumor. After trying a few days, his pain had gone and he regained some appetite and could get out of bed.
By the end of November, chest fluid made him difficult to breath and he had to rely on oxygen. On Dec 7, doctor predicted he couldn't get through that month, He was very calm learning the news.
In December, Vivian's mom and sisterCam came and took turn looking after him 24 hours a day.
Mid December, his health was failing increasingly faster. The enormous mass of the tumor in his tummy blocked his circulation, he was always having a sore back and needed lots of strong massaging. Despite his condition, he showed great interest at Cam's sailing trip.
Many friends and relatives have been praying forus. Touched by his mother-in-law's sincerity, the couple became Christians on Dec 11. Since then, he always mumbled "thank you God", and behaved more calmly despite feeling more ill. In the early hours of 2nd January, he passed away peacefully. Vivian and her brother and sister were at his bedside the whole night chatting with him. Yeung Kong was not alone.
病中手記 His Journal