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This, I Believe
---- A call for prayers for Karen Kao ----
by Pat Wong

A month or so ago, as most of our Bay Area Lighters were planning for a scenic Jiuzhaigou Valley tour in China, Karen Kao (C33) pulled out due to a possible ulcer in her stomach. After one of our renowned Thursday coffee hours, Chiu Chung-Woo led us to pay Karen a visit to wish her well with her stomach biopsy scheduled for the following week. An earlier endoscopy revealed a slightly swollen stomach lining.

A not so good result came back from the biopsy. Karen, being as thoughtful as she always is, kept it to herself so as not to cast a shadow over the Lighters while they were enjoying their scenic tour in China. She was also keeping herself busy researching on the Internet and literature on her incipient non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a very curable form of tumor of the lymphoid tissue.

There are essentially three levels of treatment: biologic therapy to boost one’s own immune system, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Karen will start her radiation therapy in the stomach starting Wednesday and for the next five weeks with a gradually increasing dosage of radiation. She plans to stay in seclusion to protect her weakened immune system during this period of time and suggests that the telephone would be a good way to keep in touch.

Karen believes, and I do as well, that collective thought and prayers work in mysterious ways. Even though non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a most curable form of cancer, let us not be complacent, and pray for a favorable outcome each in our own way and faith. Positive energy will channel to Karen for her battle against the lymphoma. This, I believe.