I’ve considered keeping an online diary in the past, but never actually got down to starting one. I’ve my own journal to write, and I like it. Can easily be kept for future reference. Captures emotion in the handwriting (however horrible it may be). More personal. And most importantly, private - Can be true to myself. Online diaries lose it all. So what’s the point? I don’t have much about myself I want to share, and I’m not much of a writer.

Well now I do have something I want to share. I’m still not much of a writer, but that does not matter so much. I believe a large portion of my writing is intelligible and most people would be able to understand at least the gist of what I’m saying. This could also be slightly better than my journal because the language barrier (my handwriting) is crossed. If anyone can’t quite get what I’m saying I would be more than happy to explain it to them. Or at least try.

Anyway some of you may be wondering what is it that I might want to share with everyone. Life in the studying world is rather mundane and boring except for the little affairs of the private life. That’s why it’s great to note that my life is no longer in the studying world. I’m on extended vacation.

Let me clear it up a little. I’m sick.

I have cancer.

Okay. I can already hear some of you boo-ing. This is not as some might assume on reading the above paragraph a rant journal. I am not out to list all my complaints, to voice my grievances, to announce my dissatisfaction with life, to beg for donations or to receive sympathy. No I am not out to do anything of the sort.

Then what am I doing? Perhaps I should introduce myself at this point…

My name is Daniel Leung. I am 16, and I am a Christian.

What I would like to stress is the fact that I am a Christian. By God’s Grace I am a Christian. Without him I do not know how I would have handled this situation. What I intend to do with this journal is to simply share my experience. My perspective in life has definitely changed, after facing death. There are many lessons that I have learnt that I would like to share, that God has taught me through this situation. So many that I count this situation a blessing. God has really changed me and I believe he can change many others too through my situation. That is why I have started this diary.

If you disagree with things that I have said, you can voice your complaints by mailing me. Theological errors, conflicting ideas, anything you don’t quite agree with. I am just a teen and don’t have all the answers of course. But this is what I perceive to be true.

I pray that it will be a blessing to all who read it.

A note: I thought it would be rather strange to simply start updating about my condition from the middle, so i decided that i should provide entries from the day the whole thing started. For those of you who are worrying about originality you can put those worries aside. I kept a personal journal before starting this diary and hence have real entries i can put up. Unfortunately the entries are not very reader-friendly. Most of the details and interesting pieces of information are left out, and the tone is much more casual. Sometimes the meaning is hard to grasp, especially for people who don’t happen to be me. So i decided to re-write and add some entries for readability sake. I have done my best to preserve the emotions and ideas that went through my head during those circumstances.