CHAPTER 117

2025-12-26

In the midst of serious illness, the golden rule I learned is this: first, face reality and buy time. When confronting many illnesses at once, be like a swordsman—focus on one-on-one combat, and deal first with the one closest at hand.

Article 157, “Lessons Learned After Illness,” spoke of childhood experiences with ordinary illnesses, when we believed that seeing a doctor would bring a cure. In the face of pain and hardship, our parents concentrated on making a living and refused to bow to sorrow, allowing us brothers to grow up in a stable environment until adulthood.

Among the six brothers, five were infected with hepatitis B from our mother, myself included. Eventually, three of us developed the disease, with my condition being the most severe: fatty liver, hepatitis, cirrhosis, cancerous changes, and ultimately a liver transplant. My mother developed hypertension in middle age, and before I reached forty, I too suffered from hypertension—possibly related to hereditary factors on my mother’s side.

Work and life pressures led me to chronic illnesses and triggered severe ones, bringing about early hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation. Overeating caused me to develop diabetes. With multiple illnesses attacking at once, I was overwhelmed—like having ten pots of boiling water but only six lids, with smoke filling the house from every corner.

Clarify the Facts, Accept Reality

Our attitude was to acknowledge the fact of illness, not indulge in fantasy, to resolve to face reality, actively readjust our life priorities, and reorganize daily activities and routines to cope with the condition. Looking back, this was exactly the same attitude we adopted years ago when Lun, my eldest son, was diagnosed with autism.

The signs of refusing to accept reality include:

1. Becoming obsessed with “what if” scenarios—for example, believing the doctor made a wrong diagnosis.

2. Underestimating the seriousness of the illness while overestimating the chances of recovery.

3. Fantasizing prematurely that the patient can live the same life as a healthy person.

4. Shifting blame to trivial details, human error, or conspiracy theories.

The drawbacks are many, including:

1. Wasting time and resources.

2. Delaying or obstructing treatment, recovery, and follow-up arrangements.

3. Poor communication between caregivers and patients, talking past each other.

4. Emotional misalignment between both sides.

5. Living in an illusory world.

Not Rushing to Seek a Cure—The Aim Is to Buy Time

Severe and chronic illnesses cannot be necessarily cured. Most measures aim to alleviate the condition and prolong life. During this period, the medical team, the patient, and caregivers work to improve the patient’s quality of life, while hoping that ongoing advances in medical research, technology, and medication will continue to raise cure rates.

A patient is like a worker who has lost an “iron rice bowl,” shifting from permanent employment to contract work. Such is the reality of the world, with no better alternative for now. After each phase of treatment, its effectiveness determines whether the contract can be renewed. The length of each contract depends on the patient and the type of illness.

Contract Renewed Year After Year

It has been nearly twenty-five years since I had gallbladder cancer removed, over twenty years since liver cancer resection, thirteen years since my liver transplant, nine years since my brain injury, and six and a half years since acute depression. For several years at a time, I focused on dealing with one illness and thought of nothing else. Chronic illness became a constant companion; by treating it with a relaxed mindset, as long as it remains under control, that is enough.

I still earnestly hope for many more renewals, for I am deeply attached to this colorful world and wish to continue sharing time and joy with family and friends.