Abel’s Triumph Through Tragedy

Abel Fok was born on 10th April 1973. He lost his biological mother at age 2 when his parents divorced. As a hairdressing apprentice at age 16, he progressed to become a hairstylist by age 20. Drafted into National Service at that time, he continued working part-time as hairstylist, serving popular SBC stars of that era.

In June 1995 when Abel was 22, he was savagely beaten up by a drunk guest at the end of a house warming party he was invited to. The diagnosis of the doctors was "even if he recovers, he will be a vegetable." Abel was completely bandaged over his whole body except for his eyes, such was the ferocity of the physical attack he suffered. During his 3 months stay in the hospital, Abel was in a coma. The hospital discharged him due to a shortage of space and Abel stayed in coma for 1 year 9 months at home. Altogether, he was in coma for 2 years.

Aunty Me Ling brought Abel to the neighbourhood Queenstown Lutheran church when he came out of coma, even though he was still very weak physically. Abel needs to be physically assisted to attend church due to his wheel-chair bound condition. That was in the year 1997. Around May 1997, Abel asked to be baptised in church and his physical condition immediately strengthen such that he can hold his head up, while before that his neck was too weak to support his head.

Today, not only is Abel much stronger physically, he is also independently earning an income to support his livelihood and be a blessing to others as well.

In June 2019, Abel was met with another trial and diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. He was sent for chemotherapy -- it was a 5-day stay in hospital for each chemo session (Abel went for 5 sessions in total). Praise the Lord! After the 5th session, the doctor declared him to be free of lymphoma cancer. While Abel was going through chemo, David's words in Psalms 103:1-2 encouraged him to trust and hold onto God's goodness:

In Dec 2019, Abel went for a follow-up PET scan. Even though he was lymphoma cancer-free, the doctor found 3 or 4 spots on his right thyroid and suspected them to be cancer cells. He was then advised to go for surgery.

Abel decided to go through with the surgery scheduled in early 2020 amid the Covid19 pandemic. His ward was just opposite the Covid19 quarantine ward but he was not aware prior and did not take necessary precautions such as wearing a mask etc. but praise Jesus for His protection as Abel did not get infected. Indeed as Psalm 91:7 says, a thousand may fall on your side and ten thousands on your right hand but it will never come near you.

After the surgery, another scan was performed and revealed that the left side of Abel's thyroid also had cancer cells, so he underwent another surgery again. After the 2nd operation, Abel had to go for 3 days radiation from 5th to 7th August 2020, and after the radiation, the scan revealed that Abel is completely free of cancer! 

After all these trials, Abel asked God why so many bad things happened to him and that he was disheartened and felt like giving up. Despite the rough journey, Abel experienced the Lord's overpowering love which never lets go of him, and His constant guidance which assures him that he does not go through all these alone.

During this difficult period, His grace was more than enough for Abel and he knows even from the first incident (where he was in coma for 2 years) that the Lord never gives up on him, He is saviour and hero. He loves Abel and through the love and grace Abel received, he is able to share his testimony to how good and loving the Father is.