Over the years I have lived in many different parts of England and three locations in India: in all of these situations God has been a faithful friend who has led and guided in both good and difficult times. The last three years have certainly been difficult'. My husband took early retirement, then in February 1996 we (including our 17 year old daughter) returned to India after a gap of 18 years to work on a Literature Project which will provide sets of low cost study books for thousands of leaders in Christian ministry roles throughout the subcontinent.

Six weeks after our arrival in Bangalore, I began to experience pain behind my left knee. Three months later it was identified as a malignant sarcoma, surgically removed at the nearby Baptist Hospital followed by 35 radiotherapy sessions. However in January 1997, it was discovered that the tumour has re-grown to its original size. We were advised to return to England to be near family and friends as amputation was almost a certainty .....

At this point we believe God performed a miracle. We had gone on a prearranged business/holiday visit to Sri Lanka, whilst only one couple in Bangalore knew of the current medical situation, as we had asked them to get us flight bookings to England. They had an unexpected visit from Professor Leinster and family who were on their way home after visiting their daughter who was teaching at Hebron School, Ootacamund (where our daughter Ruth was studying for her A levels). When he heard of my need for surgery in England, he offered to do anything he could to help imagine our joy when we got a fax in Colombo giving this good news!

Things moved fast after that - four days after arriving at Manchester we met Professor Leinster at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. An MRI scan showed that I already had secondary growths in the lungs, so I underwent a course of chemotherapy at Clatterbridge. This reduced both the tumours on the lungs and the leg, but in the latter case it was not sufficient to avoid the need for above knee amputation, which took place in July 1997. I subsequently was fitted with an artificial leg, which along with the use of an automatic car gives me a fair degree of mobility.

Some of the nodes in the right lung have been very slowly re-growing over the last two years, but not considered sufficient to require intervention. In January of this year I started experiencing what I thought was spondylitis in my back, but it proved to be further growth of a lung tumour pressing onto nerves near the top of my spine. I have since had a course of radiotherapy which proved to be ineffective and so I have commenced a further long period of chemotherapy. Many people in similar circumstances might ask: "Why me?" In contrast, I find myself asking: "Why NOT me?" - after all what right do I have to expect to be spared what could affect anyone at any time? Being a Christian does not afford special protection from suffering in a world where it is commonplace. However, it does mean that I have peace in my daily life, now, as well as for the future: beyond this life lies the surety of heaven.

The Bible promises, for those who love Him, a heaven where "He will wipe away every tear .... and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain." I am so grateful that over many years in so many different circumstances I have experienced blessing through mfr relationship with Jesus: I can trust both God, my heavenly Father and His Word - the Bible.

Postscript: Alison died in March 2001 - heaven's gain is our loss.

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