Cancer patient endures, inspires

Jeong Jeom-rye

Jeong Jeom-rye, 53, a late-stage uterine cancer patient, put a tree branch back in place when it interfered with people’s passage. That was early last year. Before then, she didn’t care what would happen to the branch.
Jeong’s life and world changed after she was diagnosed with cancer.
“Last autumn, when I was passing by the Jamsil crossroad, a flower was just blooming,” said Jeong. “It was the season for leaves to fall. It was a message to me to regain hope and strength. A flower blooming in autumn and the sun’s rays through the window teach me the wonders of life.”
Jeong received the grand prize from the Ministry of Health and Welfare for her essay on coping with cancer.
Jeong has endured heartache in her life.
One of her traumatic experiences came in 2004. Her husband, who had a restaurant in Jongno, central Seoul, was coming home when a car hit him.
He went into a coma and Jeong couldn’t tear herself away.
Moreover, Jeong was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 1999. Fortunately it was discovered at an early stage and seems to be in remission.
A bed for Jeong was placed next to her husband’s in the hospital because she couldn’t afford to hire someone to look after him.
She had to work while in the hospital to make money. She sold wet tissues for 50 won (5 cents) apiece. But the Asian financial crisis of 1997-1998 took even that low-paying job away.
Then, in June of last year, Jeong became so ill she couldn’t walk. An examination showed that the cancer had spread to her pancreas and lymphatic glands.
Even though her world was crumbling, all she could think of was her ill husband.
“I can’t die before my husband,” she said. “I can’t pass the burden to my kids.”
Her sick and silent husband was the motivation for her to soldier on.
Treatment began, but the chemotherapy and radiation therapies were painful. Thoughts of suicide came, but her husband’s face appeared in her mind whenever she was tempted.
After a 49-day treatment she returned to her husband. He passed away early this year.
Once again Jeong was in despair, losing her main hope to live. She gave up on her therapies, but not for long. Her children offered a helping hand, and Jeong decided to start her treatment again.
She underwent 12 therapies.
The journey from from her home in Songpa, southern Seoul to the National Cancer Center in Goyang in northern Gyeonggi, takes two hours, but she vowed to endure the agony.
By enduring her suffering with quiet courage, she hopes to inspire other patients.

By Kim Young-hoon JoongAng Ilbo
[yhwang@joongang.co.kr]