Updated : 21/08/2001

Doctors Treat But Jesus Heals!
By Marcus Teoh

I was raised in a typical Chinese family that practised ancestral worship. Every night at 9 p.m. a member of the family would see to it that 3 joss-sticks were placed at the family altar. We celebrated all the traditional Chinese festivals.

I had my formal education in Anderson School, Ipoh and from there I proceeded to read medicine in the University of Malaya. As a medical student I studied and dissected many dead human bodies and on no occasion did anything unusual or spooky happen. There were no ghosts. I was in the graduating class of 1969 - the first batch of made-in-Malaysia doctors (buatan Malaysia).

I recall asking my dying patients and relatives to come back from the spirit world to make me rich by giving me 4-digit numbers to bet on. To my dismay, no departed souls came back, not even in my dreams. So I did not believe in spiritual things or God or the supernatural. I believed only in science and in myself.

I got married and started my general medical practice. It was work, work, work 7 days a week. My only holidays were special public holidays. My favourite past times were smoking and gambling.

We started a family and later acquired a house, 3 cars and most of the material things this world had to offer, thinking that this would make us happy. " Heaven can wait " or so I thought. Now I realise success in one's life is not determined by the abundance of the things one possesses.

One day in 1984, I began to suffer from abnormal bleeding in my nose. I consulted 2 ENT specialists and they told me I had contracted nose cancer. Both doctors advised me to seek confirmation and further treatment at the University Hospital (UH) in PJ. I thought I was going to die a horrible and painful death within the next 6 months or so. I was worried sick.

I went to UH and a blood test for nose cancer was done. The test result was positive and I was scheduled for surgery and a biopsy the very next week.

Just before the surgery, my uncle who is a Christian advised me to ask Jesus Christ for divine healing. Realising that I had nothing to lose, I agreed and was taken by my uncle to a Christian meeting. At this meeting a man of God (a Canadian) prayed for me. He placed a finger on my forehead and said, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command this spirit of nose cancer to come out of this body right now!" I felt a very compelling but pleasant presence of God enfolding me even as I allowed myself to lay on the ground resting in Him. In the midst of this, I noticed an evil smell being discharged from my nose - like the smell of a dead chicken. Later, they told me, "That was the spirit of nose cancer leaving your body."

I was admitted to UH the following week and the biopsy procedure and test were carried out. The results showed that I was not suffering from nose cancer! I was furious with the doctors for making a wrong diagnosis - one that nearly frightened me to death. 

To be absolutely sure, I had my blood tested for nose cancer again and this time the result which was positive was even more bizarre - it carried a reading of 20 units. The first blood test which proved positive for nose cancer carried a reading of 10. How could this be possible? The doctor said, "In our observations of over 6,000 cases of nose cancer, everyone with a positive blood test of 20 units had nose cancer. Inspite of the positive blood test reading of 20 units in your case, the biopsy test showed you do not have nose cancer - it's a miracle!"

I was reminded immediately what Jesus said, "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders you will never believe." (John 4:48)

In my heart I responded to our Lord Jesus by saying, "Thank you Jesus for healing me. I believe." I was totally healed of nose cancer and that was more than 15 years ago.

I followed my uncle to his church to worship God. I was baptised in water there the following month together with my family. 

Many people can testify that smoking is bad for your health. On my own strength I could not however give up cigarette smoking. Bad habits are easy to acquire but hard to give up. So I prayed to Jesus, "God please help me give up smoking." The desire to smoke vanished instantly. So I tested myself by taking a puff from a friend's cigarette. It was horrible. It tasted like breathing in the smoke from a burning rubbish dump. God had miraculously answered my prayer. Praise the Almighty God!

To God be all the glory and may God continue to give me the opportunity to testify concerning His love and goodness for I just love to tell everyone about Jesus Christ, my God and my Saviour!

Truly, God engineers situations and makes a way out for us when we are in the darkest moments of our life. The question is not, ‘Where is God?’ but, ‘Where isn’t God?’

In early June 1994, my wife Lee Chen (also known as Lily) developed a persistent high fever. The doctor prescribed antibiotics and despite after two courses of medication the raging fever continued unabated. Her gums started to bleed. The doctor sent a sample of Lily’s blood for analysis. It was in the evening on the 15th July 1994, that we received the “death sentence” in the test results. I was particularly shocked with disbelief. Lily had developed septicemia (blood poisoning due to bacterial infection) and needed urgent hospitalization. Her condition was serious and could prove to be fatal.

In our home, I witnessed a sordid scene between mother and daughters. I saw Lily took out whatever little jewelry she had and started to divide them among our three daughters whose ages then were 6,10 & 12. My whole world came tumbling down within me and there were no small tears that kept flowing out of my eyes. I saw before my very eyes a gloomy picture of a lingering pain and death. She was only 36 years old and had yet to enjoy the best days of her life. 

It was the start of our desperate communion with God. We sought Him diligently and listened to His soft gentle voice for directions. Every course of action from then onwards had a bearing on life or death. My mind was pounding with questions like “God, why me? How come?” while the questions that naturally surfaced in Lily’s mind were “How can this happen to me? Is this for real? Who will take care of my children when I am gone?” We cried a lot.

From August to September 1994, we went through a “wilderness experience” in seeking other alternative treatments, which availed to nothing. The disease got worse and we sought and cried greatly before the Lord for direction. The following week, by God’s grace, we finally sought the help of a hematologist at a private hospital in PJ. The doctor diagnosed her to have what is known as cancer of the white blood cells (leukemia) with a 50% to 50% chance of achieving remission if Lily were to undertake her first induction chemotherapy.

In order to attempt for a definite cure of her condition, the hematologist advised us to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) in Sydney. We could say "yes" if we could find a suitable bone marrow donor as well as raising the required large sum of money. Once again, God provided a way out. Firstly, through a Human Leukocyte Locus A (HLA) matching done on Lily’s siblings (one brother and two sisters) in the National University Hospital Singapore. Lily’s youngest sister was the perfect match. Secondly, God was marvelous because sufficient funds came just in time. 

On 10th July1995, after a routine follow up, the disease relapsed (white blood count [WBC] was only 16.5). It came as a sudden shock to us even after five sessions of consolidated chemotherapy. 

Thereafter we left for Sydney and by this time Lily had gum thickening and fever, and her white blood count had shot up to 56.5. 

From 21st to 31st July 1995, Lily was admitted into the private hospital to undergo another course of chemotherapy and other medications to arrest the rampaging leukemic cells and septicemia respectively. In order to do a BMT, she needed to achieve her second remission. During this period, Lily developed rigors, pain all over her body and nausea. She even developed an allergic reaction to one of the chemo-drugs, a rare condition called the “sweet syndrome” whereby her earlobes swelled and were extended. Her eyes were swollen too and her face was reddish. This led her into a delirious state with hallucination experience. At this moment I couldn’t contain my tears and had to run out of her room. 

I was extremely discouraged but continued to seek the Lord for His divine intervention. 

Lily checked out of the hospital and the BMT Specialist was surprised to see the sudden turn of event for the better and said, “This is a miracle.” 

After about a week on a high-dosed chemotherapy, the BMT took place on 25th August 1995. Immediately, Lily developed multiple ulcers in her mouth and behind her throat. Morphine drops were administered orally to relieve the intense pain even while swallowing. The intravenous liquid diet helped to sustain her. Many packs of blood and platelets were transfused into her body. Lily was in her lowest ebb and wanted to give up but the BMT Specialist encouraged her to fight on. He was kind and gentle and even showed his sympathy and care by wiping her tears off.

On 10th October 1995 (Day 40 post BMT), Lily developed the third episode of septicemia and was rushed to the emergency ward for treatment. 

On 16th November 1995, the last dose of an anti-viral drug was given and the doctor gave permission for Lily to go home to Malaysia. Her last bone marrow aspiration result was very good. I could recall vividly.

All in all, we have stayed 124 days in Sydney over a span of five months from July to November 1995. We have never been separated from our children that long. This was a “forced trip”, but God never once left us alone. A Christian doctor encouraged me with this words, “It is not important on what the doctors say or on what the statistics show. More importantly what does the Word of God say?” 

Since 1995, Lily’s health condition has continued to improve and we know it is the Lord who healed her. Lily resumed her work as a good housewife and a wonderful homemaker. Looking back, I know that “by the stripes of our Lord Jesus Christ, Lily is healed!” (1 Peter 2: 24). Doctor treats but Jesus heals!

Praise God that in September 1999, we had the opportunity to have a short holiday in Sydney. We met up with our friends and made a quick visit to the same hospital. While standing on the hospital ground, we knew that God is a faithful God and cares for us. As we looked at the clouds and the azure sky we gave thanks to Him in our hearts. What more could we have asked for in life? 

God indeed has changed our perspective in life and we are thankful to God.