Dear friends,

Thank you so much for the donation, support, prayers & encouragement! The mental frustration and anguish can sometimes be more trying than the physical discomfort, and every message of encouragement means so much more to me!

I've just had another echocardiagram (heart ultrasound scan), as well as a battery of blood tests, done last week. I should know the results later this week. The results will help guide the doctors' treatment, and will also give us a better indication on my prognosis. We (my doctors & I) are currently hoping that medication alone will help me achieve full recovery. If that fails, I may need to have implantable cardiac defibrillator installed (like a pace-maker) while I am placed on the heart transplant list. Apart from medication, a heart transplant is the only definitive treatment for Congestive Heart Failure. It was scary the first time I heard the term, "heart transplant" but I have since come to accept the reality. I will keep you updated on my heart condition.

I have recently recovered from a nasty bout of flu which I hope did not cause any further damage to my heart. As my immunity is weak, I can't go anywhere that's too crowded - not easy when you live in a very populated city like Singapore! I will be going for my annual flu shot in 2 weeks' time. This reminds me of the incident last year when I had to be hospitalised for 4 days due to injection site infection -- yes, the vaccination site on my arm got badly infected! Sigh.

I am breathing easier now which is great and I've learnt that I shouldn't take my ability to breathe easily for granted! My shortness of breath affects me a lot and I'm prone to asthma attacks. I still need a "wedge pillow" to aid my sleep. I am more breathless lying flat in my bed so I need the wedge pillow to prop my upper body higher, allowing me to breathe easier when lying in bed. I will use some of the funds collected to purchase a small portable oxygen tank for use in case of emergency.

My neck pain has been escalating but I cannot do anything else to manage the pain apart from painkillers, accupuncture and massage. I hope I can use some of the funds for the procedure (radiofrequency denervation) I very badly need.

Dear friends, do not wait for something to happen to you or any of your loved ones before executing your Will, Lasting Power of Attorney (Singapore), and a Living Will. I had mine all done prior to falling ill. I am so glad I did them all before I fell so ill - no fun scrambling to get a lawyer to visit you in hospital to do up your Will, etc! Being ill already brings along a lot of stress, you shouldn't have to worry about getting your Wills, etc., done!

God bless all of you, my friends!

-- Lynn Tok