(Minghui.org) Soon after I got engaged, the first signs of my illness surfaced. At first, I experienced some minor symptoms, but they soon developed into a sharp pain in my stomach area. I first kept quiet about it, but when the pain became intolerable I confided in my mother who took me to the hospital.
The diagnosis was a mid-to-late stage cancerous tumor at the fallopian tube and even after surgery I would most likely only live for another five years. However, if I did not have the operation, I would not live to see the New Year.
Undecided
I was in a state of shock and disbelief after hearing this diagnosis. Just days ago, my mind was on my future marriage. Upon realizing that this dream was now an elusive reality, I was filled with bitterness.
My sister and brother-in-law said, “Modern science and technology is so advanced that there must be a cure out there. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, you must not give up.” They added, “Even without your fallopian tube, having children is still possible through in vitro fertilization techniques.”
At this point my mother said, “Believe in Falun Dafa and you will be fine.” My mother had practiced Falun Dafa for two years and frequently tried to get me to practice as well. However I was unwilling, certain that such a belief was adopted by the elderly as a means to fill a gap in their lives.
My mother told me that it was my choice to practice Dafa or visit the provincial hospital. I decided to go to the provincial hospital, but left my option about practicing Dafa open.
Making the Choice to Practice Dafa
The diagnosis at the provincial hospital was even worse than that delivered at the city hospital. My father started preparations for my admission into the hospital, while my relatives started making plans for my care after the operation.
The day before the operation, the doctor told my mother that the cancer had advanced and that they would have to remove the entire womb.
I was in a quandary. I would not be able to bear children after this operation. I also observed fellow cancer patients in the same ward, and noted how much they suffered from the surgery and chemotherapy. That's when I started to give serious thought to cultivation practice.
After my mother started cultivation practice, I observed major improvements in her health. She asked us to live by the Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I had long disregarded her advice as mere superstition. However, I was desperate and decided to leave the hospital and practice Falun Dafa.
Back home, I studied the Dafa books and performed the exercises. Yet, I remained skeptical, and only thought about being cured. However my belief in Dafa was cemented after reading Master Li’s explanation for why people suffer from illnesses. Master Li’s words were rational and different from the books that I had studied so far.
Interference by Relatives
My father had passed away when I was a child. My mother remarried and my stepfather moved into our family home. He is a good man who cares deeply for my family and over time managed to gain the acceptance of my uncles.
My stepfather was pressured by our neighbors into advising me to undergo the surgery. Unable to sway me, he decided to bring in my uncles to act as his witnesses.
My uncles were extremely critical of my stepfather. My youngest uncle told him, “If something happens to her because she did not undergo the operation, I will sue you.” My kind and honest stepfather attempted to reason with them, but to no avail. Finally he replied, “What else can I do if that child is unwilling to undergo the operation? If anything befalls her, I agree to leave this family.”
Seeing my stepfather’s predicament, I quickly made it clear that the decision not to undergo the surgery was mine and my stepfather was not to blame. My uncles were silent and upon my stepfather’s behest, I recorded my statement as evidence that this was my personal decision.
Following the Dafa Principles
My eldest uncle asked what to do about my betrothal. I said, “We should inform them. Marriage is an important decision which will impact a person for life. Moreover he is an only child. There will be greater consequences for us in the future if we say nothing. Now, that I am a practitioner, I will follow the Dafa principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and tell them the truth."
When my fiancé's parents found out about my condition, they requested that we break off the engagement. According to tradition, if the bride breaks off the engagement, the bride’s family must return the dowry to the groom’s family. Hence we decided to return the dowry money.
My neighbors counseled us against returning the dowry, because they asked to break off the engagement. I said, “We should not take advantage of others. It is difficult to save this sum of money, and breaking the engagement was not an easy decision for them. They would never have wished for something like this to happen either!”
New Lease on Life
After returning the dowry, I felt as though a weight had been lifted off my heart. Soon after, I no longer experienced the illness symptoms. Not only am I still alive, but living healthier and happier than before. Dafa has given me a new lease on life, something modern medicine could never hope to accomplish.
Dafa miracles can only be felt by those who believe in the practice. I sincerely hope that more people will come to learn about Falun Dafa, and receive the benefits from cultivating.
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