Praise God! Jasem’s battle is over!
Tuesday, November 16th, 2006

Peace to you all, my brothers and sisters in Christ!!!!
Sorry, if I kept you waiting for so long. Jasem and I returned to Taiwan last Nov. 7th. We came back with a good news. A news that I’m sure you’ve been wanting to hear from me. JASEM’S BATTLE WITH CANCER IS OVER!!! Jasem’s healed completely… without any surgery! Our prayers have been heard. Thanks to all who’ve been keeping us in their thoughts. PRAISE AND THANK OUR MERCIFUL GOD for He has heard our cries.
I’ve got something to share to all of you who’ve been thinking of Jasem and us his family. I will be asking a favor… please share the site or tell the stories to all people you know especially to those who need miracle in their lives. Thank you and God Bless!!!!

Click here to Meet Jasem’s Divine Healer

“Do not believe Me unless I do what My Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe Me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father” -John 10:37-38

Leaving you for a While
Friday, October 6th, 2006

Jasem and I will be on vacation for weeks, starting tomorrow… I’m sorry ‘cos that will also mean “no updates while we’re away”. I still have no idea when we are coming back, so I apologize if this post will have to stay on top for a long time. If you always come to read our news and updates but you’re not a subscriber yet, you can register anytime so that you’ll get notified through email the next time I post new update.
Praise God, things have been going really well now. Please keep those prayers going… Thank you very much and God Bless!!!
~quely

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; surely I will heal you. —2 Kings 20:5
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” - Matthew 7:7-11

Smiles to make your day
Wednesday, October 4th,  2006

A child’s smile brightens your day, brings joy throughout the day.

To see them laughing with glee, warms the heart in you and me

A child’s smile lights up a dark room, and sends away the gloom


When they want to play with us, and give us a hug it shows love from God above

They are our blessing and gift in life, when they are sad or injured, we pick up the pieces, and wipe each tear away to bring another smile to their face even on a rainy day.


When they grow up and leave the nest, we still bless God for our happiness

Our children is a blessing in life, and without them we would not have a life

Our God above has shown us great love from our children’s laughter and smile to all

I thank God everyday for our children’s love, and blessed gift, when we pat their little heads and plant them a kiss

These smiles have been captured today, October 4th. I guess I don’t need to describe each piece, I’ll just let them speak for themselves.
It’s the power of your prayers that bring these smiles. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless!!!
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”(Psalm 91:1-2)

Tanner Nielsen
Monday, September 25th, 2006

Tanner is Megan and Jason’s third child. He’s been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma on Feb. 16th, 2006, had a total of 5 chemo sessions and received a new liver last Aug. 2nd. These troupers never cease to amaze me with their positive attitude in the midst of affliction. Together with other families of hpb fighters, they’re always in my thoughts and prayers.
Want to meet Tanner? Here’s a link to his photo-video created by Jason:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=77968007634651028

Update on Jasem
Monday, September 25th, 2006

It’s been a while since I talk about Jasem here. He’ll be 2 months off-chemo this coming Sept 30th. That’s a wow!!! His last chemo ended July 30th, remember? No? Well, i don’t remember it myself either so I checked my journal just to write something about it here on our update. He’s also not taking any medication now. Eyebrows have fully grown back and his hair is now about 2cm long. All the energy and naughtiness have been restored. He often makes his sister cry everytime they play together. He’ll suddenly slap, punch or pinch my li’l Daisy. Sometimes, he will get one of his toy cars then bang it on Daisy’s head… ouch!!! You might wonder if we discipline him for his misbehaviors… yes, of course we do. This boy has gone wild but we still never fail to see the brighter side of it.
About the transplant, we haven’t receive any call from the team since my mri retake. They said that a week after that, they will be deciding which one of us is the best liver donor for Jasem. That’s supposed to be last week. Perhaps, they’ll make our phone ring anytime this week to give us some news at least.
While our transplant team is planning for the next procedure, I’m starting to pack our luggages for a 2-3 weeks vacation in the Philippines. Yes, Jasem and I will be giving his “Lala, Lolo, Titas and Tito” a visit before the team schedule us for anything else. Rod’s working and Daisy’s studying, so, it will be just me and my boy who’ll be going on a trip. Please continue begging our Holy Dad, that He will fully restore Jasem’s health.

“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” - Psalm 103:3-4

Thank you for checking on us and for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. God Bless!!!
~quel

Heads Up on This
Friday, September 22nd, 2006

Hi guys,
I thought I would share a story that I copied and pasted off a website that may encourage you and help increase your faith and I hope that it does. Be watchfull because there will be more coming in the future. God bless you all so much.
So here it is:
Here’s a message that will bring you chills
Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, “I’ll pray for them later.”? Or has anyone ever called you and said, “I need you to pray for me?”
Read the following story that was sent to me and may it change the way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this.
A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan….. “While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point.
On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord.
I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, “Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But, just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you were surrounded by 26 armed guards.” At this I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, “No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.” At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story:
“On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong, I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?” The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn’t concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26!

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it. Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.

I encourage you to share this to as many people as you know. If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God once again. As the above true story clearly illustrates, with God all things are possible and more importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.
After you read this, please pass it on and give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles, He works in your own daily life.

Pray this and watch God move
Monday, September 18th, 2006
Hi,
I thought that I might share this because it will benefit you, so here goes.
PRAY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!! IT WILL ONLY TAKE A
MINUTE. You never know when God is going to bless you!! Good
things happen when you least expect them to !!!!!!!!
Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able
to see and to hear this morning. I’m blessed because You are a
forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for
me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I
ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger
and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty
of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear
my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that
I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things
I have no control over. And It’s the best response when I’m pushed
beyond my limits. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to
my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless
me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may
help the weak… Keep me uplifted that I may have words of
encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can’t
find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and
misunderstood. I pray for those who don’t know You intimately. I
pray for those that will read this without sharing it with
others. I pray for those that don’t believe. But I thank you
that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes
things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every
family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy
in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are
met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no
problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle
is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be
received into the hearts of every eye that sees it.
God Bless!!!!!!!!!!! Just repeat this phrase and see how
God moves:  God I love you and I need you, come into my
heart, please.

Please share this with everyone that you know so
that they too will be blessed.
 ~quel

MRI (take two)
Thursday, September 14th, 2006

We got a call from Ms. Chen yesterday. My MRI result is not clear. Ouch! I have to go back to Chang Gung Taipei for a “retake”. A prick of needle = 2 boiled eggs and 1 fried chicken leg… that will be the math equation for tomorrow.
~quely

Sailing smooth these days
Wednesday, September 13th, 2006

Just to let everybody know that we’re all ok since my last update. No call from the transplant team so we still do not know what’s our next step. Dear Jasem’s so full of energy and been eating normally now. His hair and eyebrows are coming back. I’m so happy of what I am seeing every day. I’m praying really hard that Jasem will be healed completely with just ”one miraculous touch”…. it ain’t impossible, nothing’s impossible with God, we just have to put our trust in Him. Anyways… that’s it for now. Not much to tell besides… we’re all ok… and will be “better” really soon. Thanks for your concern and please… KEEP BELIEVING!

Love you all,
Quel, Rod, Daisy and Jasem

Quick Update
Friday, September 8th, 2006

I just put the kids to sleep a minute ago and I feel like hibernating now so I’m going to make this quick. I know this can be done tomorrow but knowing that there are concerned people who’ve been checking on us regularly and waiting for some news… I’ll write a quick one. Yesterday, we’ve met three people: (1) Dr. Hung. She said that we don’t need to go back to meet her every two weeks anymore… her mission is accomplished. I’m a little disappointed cos she told us that she doesn’t want to handle Jasem’s chemo after transplant. THIS IS CRAZY!!!! Jasem will need that, why she doesn’t want to consider it? I hope she knows what she’s doing. (2) Social Worker. He explained to us how the National Health insurance can help us financially. Without it, we will need to pay around NT$2M. (3) Dr. Jhuang, the psychiatrist. He made sure that Rod and I are mentally healthy. He Before hubby entered Dr. Jhuang’s office… I whispered to him… “If you want to be eliminated from this whole thing… this is your chance. Act naturally… that way, doctor will think you’re a psycho… and you’re done”. Then I got pinched for saying that. Ok, that was yesterday. Today, we had a bloody blood tests again. I asked why there were 7 tubes to be filled in again? They said this time they need to get blood from the nerve that is directly connected to the heart (the nerve that has pulse in it… hahaha.., that’s how i describe it). X-ray, EKG and CT scan… we had it for half day. By afternoon, we headed to Taipei for hubby’s MRI. We waited for about 4 hours, they just really do extensive scanning in there. We still have no idea what we’ll do next. All we know is we’re done with step 1 and 2.

My MRI scan
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006

We got an emergency call from Chang Gung-Linkou today telling us that we can proceed to Chang Gung-Taipei for an MRI scan of either of us (me and rod). I chose to go first cos I don’t want being nervous for 2 days and 2 nights just for an MRI scan (overacting, eh! ). Rod’s on friday afternoon. So today, I’m done with the “Breathe in… breathe out… and holding my breathe” inside the noisy MRI scanner (image on the left). it’s so noisy that I had to use the orange ear plugs. By the way… our blood tests taken Wednesday last week were all A-ok. Tomorrow morning, Jasem will give Dr. Hung a visit and in the afternoon, rod and I will meet the psychiatrist to explain our motives, evaluate our state of mind, discuss the possible stresses that may result from the procedure, and more. By friday, we will be very busy running from room to room for our x-rays, ECGs, ct-scans and mri for rod. I’m not sure if there’s more next week. I’ve read that liver biopsy is on the list but I do not know if that will be necessary… it’s freaking me out… I don’t want to think about it right now. Please pray for: all these procedures that they will go well; good results; and for the complete healing of our dear boy Jasem. Thanks for your continued prayers… you are God’s blessings to us! We love you.
xoxoxo,
~quel'

Jasem’s Latest Pics
Friday, September 1st, 2006

“Watching The Wiggles”. Date Captured: August 26th, 2006

“I am Speed”. Date Captured: August 28th, 2006

“Sleeping on the floor.” Date captured: August 28th, 2006

To sum it up… Jasem’s doing good off chemo. He’s been wiggling with ”The Wiggles” all day… drinking glasses of water and… loving my homemade lemon juice.

Living Liver Donor Candidates
Wednesday, August 30th, 2006

Rod and I had several blood tests today as first step of Jasem’s liver transplant protocol. The nurse drawn about 70 cc’s of blood to fill up 6 tubes that are needed for evaluating our sugar levels (diabetecs are eliminated), HIV+-, blood cells, platelets, cholesterol, minerals, enzymes,etc. You might wonder why I also took the test since my blood type is B not O like Jasem and Rod. Well, in case my liver is healthier than Rod’s and my liver tissue closely match with Jasem’s… mine will be preferred than Rod’s. Yeah, I also don’t know since when they were able to do the donor-recipient with different blood types. I’m currently doing my research on that to make sure it’s “really ok” for my son. I know it’ll be comforting for him seeing me all the time after his major operation, but I’m still praying that it’ll be me who can give this one-of-a-kind gift to him.  It’s my first time to meet Dr. Wei-Chen Lee today… yeah.. Chen-Wei’s (Jasem’s chinese first name) surgeon is Wei-Chen. Dr. Lee’s nurse asked our heights and weights… that’ll determine if it’s “appropriate” compared to the recipient’s. I guess that’s no big deal b’cos it’s an adult-to-a-child liver giving. Whoever passed this assessment today will meet the team’s social worker or a psychiatrist on Sept. 7th, Thursday, aftenoon (note: Jasem’s blood check with Dr. Hung, morning same day) and will be scheduled for an MRI in Chang Gung Taipei where the machine is more advanced (they want an accurate look of our organs, that’s the reason they told us when we asked why in Taipei). What’s the psychiatrist for? It’s for the evaluation of our state of mind (what our motives are, are we committed to donation or just being pressured, etc)  and discussion of possible stresses pre-op and post-op. So, that’s our latest stand.
Please pray that:
(1) one of us, if not both, will be Jasem’s potential liver donor,
(2) this medical evaluation will all go well,
(2) Jasem’s afp will remain normal while we’re all doing these procedures necessary for his transplant, 
(3) God will bless the hands of our surgeon Dr. Lee, and his transplant team.  
Thank you for your continued prayers. Trust in God’s healing power… this is a sure win!

God Bless!!!!
~quely

Writing as my Therapy
Sunday, August 27th, 2006

 “I’m ok.” That’s my response every time someone asks me how I’m feeling these days. Well, the truth is… I may appear strong; however, as a mother… I can’t deny that I’m still suffocated with shock and disbelief inside of me. I’m still looking for the meaning that can reassure me that this experience of roller coaster of emotions I had felt over the past 8 months is worth to ride. Perhaps in months to come it will be clear. I’m starting to be impatient and twitchy. Not good, I know. Forgive me, if my latest writings are making you unhappy in any way, I’m just really sentimental these days. We had been told that Jasem’s transplant has a 80%-90% chance of successfulness. I turned it around and figured that meant there is a 20% chance that we would lose him and I’m devastated. Thanks to friends and my family who can feel my anxieties and never forget to remind me that we’re in their thoughts and prayers. How can I possibly thank you enough for your kind words and prayers at this difficult time? Keep your knees sore for my boy. DON’T STOP BELIEVING!
Please continue to pray for all the other children battling any type of disease. Being a parent is hard enough but being a parent of a child with cancer or any other disease……well it just isn’t easy!!!!
“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face… You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”–Eleanor Roosevelt
I was feeling quite low, but by the time I finished writing, I felt better.

Just another day of thinking
Friday, August 25th, 2006

Early morning today, we went to Chang Gung Pedia to meet “Hung NayNay” (that’s what Jasem call Dr. Hung. The chinese “NayNay” means Grandma). Although she’s done with Jasem’s case, we have to report to her every two weeks while our boy is waiting for his liver to be changed. This way, she can keep track of Jasem’s afp and blood counts. Red blood cells and platelets are now normal. WBC and hemoglobins are still low but they seem to be returning to their normal states as well. Jasem has been having fever today due to his cough and colds. I’ve been on guard all day hoping that he won’t have that freaking seizure again. His temp reached 39.9C today. We brought him to our family dr this late afternoon, asked if we can give him suppository for fever and I’m glad she said “ok”.  While I’m typing here, our dear boy’s fast asleep. Fever’s gone. Later midnight, I’ll wake him up for his meds. He needs to take them every 4-6 hours and I’ll be strictly sticking to that course. I’ve got to train myself now cos after the transplant, he’ll be required to take medications for the rest of his life. FYI, transplant patients will be on life-long immunosuppression. That means it’s a must for him to take different kinds of drugs like immunosuppressants to prevent his body from rejecting the liver, some to fight infection and others to treat the side effects of the immunosuppressants. Poor boy. I just hope that the transplant will all go well. For a parent like me, there’s a lot about this surgery that cause concern. It rips my heart every time I come to think of all these pains that my li’l boy is going through… he’s not yet even aware of what’s happening to him… why the trips to the hospital… why the needles… why the icky medicines. We’ve had enough… I don’t know if we can handle more punches life has to give us. This must be a real test of faith…  a difficile and strenuous test of faith. 

Meeting Dr. Lee and Dr. Lai
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006

Dr. Lee is a surgeon who leads the liver transplant team of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Chang Gung in Linkou. Dr. Lee has been referred to my husband Rod by Dr. Lai (liver surgeon at CGMH Pedia). Yesterday, as mentioned on my previous post, we had an appointment with Dr. Lai. He confirmed that our only option now is having a transplant so he helped us register for an appointment with Dr. Lee this morning. After reading scan reports of Jasem, Dr. Lee told Rod that he can do the surgery with a 80-90% chance. He suggests that we think about it before finalizing our decision. We sure need the transplant… what we need to decide now is “where”. As mentioned by Dr. Lai yesterday, the top 3 liver transplant team in Taiwan are: (1st) Liver Transplant Team of CGMH Kaohsiung (south of Taiwan, we’re in the north)… (2nd) Liver Transplant Team in Taipei and … (3rd) Liver Transplant team of CGMH Linkou. We can check out the other team if we want to but we have to make it as quick as possible because Dr. Lai mentioned that it’s best to do the surgery while Jasem`s afp is in it’s normal state (current is 3.something).
It`s a brainstormy day for rod and me. We`ve got to think, think, think! Aaarrgh! My brain`s cramped and aching.

A Chosen Child
You`re a chosen child
You’re ours, but not by birth
But we feel the same, we feel
You’re the greatest child on earth
You`re a chosen child
Sent down from God above
Chosen to fill our home
With laughter and with love
You`re a chosen child
You`ve given us so much pleasure
Chosen above the rest
A precious, priceless treasure