Testimony shared by Veroy Chua in May 2006, City Harvest Church
I am Veroy Chua from the Children’s Church cell group. I want to testify of God’s goodness and the love that I have experienced in this big family of City Harvest Church.
Two months ago, I came down with an abnormally high fever. I started to feel breathless, and I was rushed to a government hospital where I was diagnosed with severe, complicated pneumonia. This resulted in the failure of my left lung. After staying in the general ward for a day, my condition took a sudden turn for the worse and I was admitted into the intensive care unit. The few days I spent in the ICU were really tough. I wasn’t able to eat. In addition, I had many needles and tubes inserted into my hands and I was immobile.
I thank God for my cell group leader, Eileen Toh, who came to visit me at the first opportunity, with several of my close friends. They came to keep me company every day.
After four days in the intensive care unit, my condition stabilized and the doctors were ready to transfer me back to the general ward. However, I still had a high temperature and was also in pain. The doctors then gave me antibiotics to fight the virus. As a result, fluid gathered in my lungs. In order to draw out the fluid from my lungs, the doctors had to insert a chest drainage tube through my back. I was very afraid to go through this procedure because during one of the prior sessions, one of the nurses drained so much fluid out of me that I almost lost my life.
When I went into the operating theatre for another chest drainage session, I started confessing positively and praying in the Spirit. Amazing, I didn’t feel any pain and the draining process went smoothly. Praise the Lord!
Seeing that I lost much weight due to my sickness, Eileen and my friends went the extra mile to make sure that I was well-fed. They bought all kinds of food to help whet my appetite. They brought in a radio, reading materials and even a laptop for me to watch DVDs so that I would not be bored in the hospital.
Every night, my cell group members would pray for me, take turns to look after me through the night, and even sponge me to bring my temperature down.
After being bedridden for many weeks, I could not walk like I used to and so I had to learn to walk again. I felt very discouraged at first but Pastor Eileen and my friends would tell me not to give up. That gave me motivation to keep walking.
As the days passed, the infection in my left lung slowly cleared but my temperature remained high. When Kong learnt of my condition he had me transferred to a private hospital where I received better medication and care. Praise God, within 10 days I was discharged from the hospital!
I was hospitalized for a total of 5½ weeks but God’s presence never failed to comfort me.
During this whole time, I experienced so much love and care, especially from the people here in CHC. Many people have asked me, “City Harvest is so big, how can everyone be cared for?” Well, the answer is, “Yes, they can.” Through this experience I am convinced that a church may be big, but its members can still find a hurt to heal, and find a need to meet.
I really want to thank Kong, Sun, and the church for helping my parents to lighten the financial burden of my hospitalization bills. I am thankful to God for Eileen and all my friends who went through that tough season with me. You have shown me that a big church can still care for an individual. And most of all I want to thank Jesus Christ because without Him, I wouldn’t be standing here now. All glory be to God!
