Recently, I had this patient with Ovarian Cancer at a pretty late stage. She was in her early 40s and was English-speaking. She looked pretty bad the first time I saw her. Always in pain, restless and uncomfortable. At that moment, I could tell that she wasn't gonna live long.
We did some symptomatic treatment in the hospital and she felt so much better. She was no longer restless and could talk and walk, with assistance. Then, I thought that she'll live past the chemo and operation the doctors had planned for her.
While I was dressing her abdominal drain dressing, she was playing "You Are Good" by Bethel Church on her phone and that's how I knew she was a Christian. I asked the usual questions like which church she came from, did she grow up a Christian etc etc. She then shared with me that her parents aren't saved but she really wanted to testify God this period. Hoping to involve this sickness to share God's goodness to them. I encouraged her by telling her about my grandparents- How they accepted Christ in their last days.
She wasn't really believing God to cure her totally. But just believing that the different treatment she goes through would be smooth and painless, which really happened and we praised God for that together. She also told me she was so ready when it is time to go home with the Lord. I told her most importantly, we have the peace of God. The peace of God to go through all the physical and emotional obstacles. She couldn't agree with me more.
I remember inserting an IV cannula for her last Friday. It was not easy but I succeeded. I went, "Praise God" and she said, "All the time..."
Those were the last few moments I got to see her. She was transferred to ICU on Monday for some complications and I received news this evening that she had passed on.
I feel sad and shocked by her "sudden death", because I really thought we could have more chance to talk about God.
But what matters now is that she's with God right now, genuinely smiling and no longer suffering.
RIP Jan.