John Ling-Fai Wang John Ling-Fai Wang 王靈輝

Welcome to John Ling-Fai Wang's CaringBridge site. We've created it to keep friends and family updated. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement during this time when it matters most.  On May 17,  John was transferred to hospice at the Pomerado Hospital in San Diego. The Lord called him home on June 17, 2016.   Please sign the Guestbook and put words of comfort and condolences for Dora.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” (Rev. 14:13)


Here is Dora's past emails about John's condition:

Feb 21, 2016: 

Just want to give you an update on John's condition. I went to see him after church and lunch with our goddaughter Kay and her family. For the first time I saw John being alert although still very tired. But he reminded us to put on the gloves when we stepped into the room and to take them off when we left. That's just like the normal John😀! The first thing he asked me was about my skipping class! I told him he was more important than my going to class! Since he was really tired, we left after praying with him. Before we left, I also told him that his mind was functioning very well!


The follow-up surgeon told us (after our visit) that they still need to do another procedure tomorrow so as to find out the source and exact location of the blood leakage John is still having, so they may seal it. I put the surgeon's call on speaker phone so Kay may communicate with him while driving, and she told me later that the surgeon who operated on John is considered the best brain surgeon at UCSF medical center, which also means the John's condition was really serious.


When John called me on the phone later on in the afternoon, he seemed to be taking tomorrow's procedure negatively and suspected that we are trying to prolong his life, and told me not to do so. I went to see him again in the evening to assure him that it will be a minor procedure in comparison with the one he had on Friday, and that we will go back to Claremont when the doctor/surgeon thinks that it is safe for him to leave San Francisco. He seems to like the idea. I reminded him of his latest research finding that there is no earthquake fault-lines in Claremont, and he repeated, "There is no earthquake in Claremont"😄!!! I will go again to pray with him tomorrow morning.


The whole church in San Diego, many others we know at our former churches in LA and San Francisco have been praying for John. Those in San Francisco are also providing rides for me between the hospital and home, for which I am really grateful!

Feb 22, 2016:

The procedure ispostponed to the afternoon. When the surgeon team dropped by to see him, he wasable to answer accurately all their questions and do all body movements asrequested! When they asked him "how's your vision?" He said "9o'clock!" It cracked me up! I only noticed a slight lack of control withhis right arm and hand.
He was not able to sleep well last night, but he seems to be falling asleepright now, and I am so glad! Oh no! The doctor and nurse came in andinterrupted his sleep!

I am getting all the support I need from local church brothers and sisters andour goddaughter Kay. So don't worry about me. Just continue to pray for thesurgeon team doing the procedure this afternoon and John's peace of mind and recovery.

Feb 23, 2016:

I haven't heard from any team member who did the angiogramon John yesterday, but the neurologist (not part of the team) who came by tocheck on John confirmed what the nurses told me yesterday, that no morebleeding or leakage was found. 
Due to the fact that he was agitated last night andmedication for sleep was given him this morning at 9:00 a.m., he has beensleeping most of the day. He was frustrated by physical therapists who came inat 10:00 a.m. to make him do exercises, so with a feeble voice at the end, hemurmured, "Go away!"☺(Ipurposely repeated it to the therapists!) Again, perhaps due to the medication,his speech was not as clear today as it was yesterday. He was not yet able toperform the more advanced movements such as touching another person's fingerwith his finger. The nurse began to serve him tea and water...and his yummyapple sauce around 4:00 p.m., and he was able to hold the cup and drink tea byhimself around 5:00 p.m. 

Praise the Lord for the progress made and for answered prayers!

Feb 25, 2016


We finally got the official medical report this morning that a brain tumor was found on the back side of his brain. One of the surgical team members did come yesterday and told me briefly about it while John was doing speech therapy in the room, but I wanted to hear the official report before breaking the news to John and writing to you. 


Last night, while heavy hearted, the Lord reminded me of His Word in Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord our God will be with you wherever you go." He also put a song (I had not sung in a long time) in my heart, with its light-hearted melody and comforting lyrics: 


"My Lord knows the way through the wilderness;
All I have to do is follow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness;
All I have to do is follow.


Strength for today, is mine always;
And all that I need for tomorrow.
My Lord knows the way through the wilderness;
All I have to do is follow."  


When I shared with John God's message through His Word and the hymn this afternoon, he even tapped the rhythm of the hymn with his hand on the bed. Then he asked me how the meeting with the doctor went, so I broke the news. He took it calmly, and began to ask questions about treatment plans, which will involve radiation and chemotherapy. Right now the case manager is working with our insurance company to decide whether to do it in San Francisco or in San Diego. 


John is recovering well from the stroke, and has been transferred out of ICU into a regular room tonight. I am not sure how long he will stay in the hospital before going to a rehab center. Please pray that the best arrangements will be made for his full recovery.  

March 3, 2016
I am sorry that I have not been giving you updates of John's condition! Ever since John was transferred out of ICU last Friday evening, I found it necessary to coach or feed him all his meals. So the days have been long, with little time left for writing updates. Besides, I was also waiting for the decisions regarding doctor, treatments and rehab arrangements in SanDiego, but there was no news until today.

We will be fly back to San Diego in an ambulance airplane.  It will take 4 hours from hospital to hospital (Paloma in Escondido) including land travel. We will leave here at 8:00 pm and will arrive around 12:00midnight. 

I will write again when I get more details.

March 4, 2016

Thank you so much for all your prayers! The Lord has been giving us VIP treatments all the way from SF to SD! Traveling in a private airplane with 6 persons: 2 pilots, a doctor and a nurse, plus the two of us; ambulance services between hospitals and airports; and a five-star 3-yr-old hospital with all private rooms and a sofa bed in each! John's blood pressure dropped to 130's (from 140's, 150's 160's in SF) and 70's! Amazing!

The primary doctor at the hospital already came to check him out. The physical therapist will begin working with him tomorrow. The oncologist will also come tomorrow to discuss with us about treatment plans.The three of them will decide later when to send him to a rehab center. Please continue to pray for his recovery of strength to withstand various kinds of therapies.

Our first visitors just came to bring us Chinese soup, andthe little girl made a comment that this is like a hotel rather than ahospital! We are truly grateful to the many angels the Lord has been sendingalong the way to minister to our needs at this time!



March 7, 2016



John has just been transferred to a skilled nursing facility for rehab purposes. It is the Villa Pomerado at 15615 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA92064. His room is in Station D, Room 225. 

Although the facility is not so good, we are grateful that the case manager was able to negotiate for John a small single room (mostly double occupancies) and it the place is less than 10 minutes away from home. 

In terms of physical recovery, John has the most difficulty in balancing himself when standing and walking, and gets tired after sitting up for an hour or so. Please pray that the daily physical therapy and occupational therapy will help improve his condition.

March 11, 2016

Greetings from Villa Pomerado! The facility and service turn out to be pretty good, and John's room is at a quiet end of the building. Once again we are grateful for God's faithful provisions!

John is making progress through physical therapy and occupational therapy. He has been practicing sitting up in a wheelchair and putting on his own clothing. Please pray that he will be able to go to his three medical appointments next week in a wheelchair rather than in an ambulance.

Quite a number of you have expressed your concerns for me. I just want to assure you that, sustained by the grace of God, the power of your prayers, the loving supports of our families on both sides, and surrounded by ministering angels from our church communities, both John and I are experiencing the peace that passes understanding and our oneness in the Lord!

March 16, 2016


It has been a difficult week for John due to the many diet restrictions; as a result of which he has lost weight. We are grateful for the many brothers and sisters who take turns to provide nutritious food for him as well as for me on a daily basis🍵🍳🍲👌


On the other hand, John continues to make progress in coordination and balancing himself. Yesterday he began to roll himself out to the lobby in a wheelchair. Today he sat in the wheelchair for the longest time, including waiting in line for a haircut! However, despite such progress, he is not strong enough to go to his two doctors' appointments in a wheelchair.


The next couple of days will be very crucial in terms of decision making regarding treatment plans, daily transportation and facility he will be staying while going through daily radiation as an out patient for six weeks in a row (except Saturdays and Sundays). 


Please pray for wisdom on the part of the doctors and ourselves in making various decisions, for physical strength on the part of John, and for God's will be done to His glory!

March 24, 2016


John has been running a slight fever for the last couple of days, as a result of which he becomes weaker, eating less and not being able to do what he was able to do previously.


Please lift him up in your prayers, for he needs to get stronger for radiation and chemotherapy, which will start sometime next week. 

March 27, 2016


This is Easter! the Lord is risen! Because He lives, we can face tomorrow! 


At Villa Pomerado this morning, John and I sang some of our favorite hymns we had sung on our way from Berkeley to Houston as a newlywed couple. Here is one he would like to share with you:


Who made the mountains?
Who made the trees?
Who made the rivers flow to the sea?
And who hung the moon in the starry skies?
Somebody BIGGER than you and I!


Who made the flowers bloom in the Spring?
Who wrote the songs for the robins to sing?
And who sends the rain when the earth is dry?
Somebody BIGGER than you and I!


He lights the way when the road is long, to keep you company;
With love to guide you, He walks besides you, just as He walks with me.
When I am weary, filled with despair,
He gives me courage to go on from there.
And He gives me faith that will never die!
Somebody BIGGER than you and I!


John's slight fever has persisted over the last few days, but cancer treatments have already been scheduled to begin this coming Tuesday. We consulted last night with a close friend, a leading brain tumor specialist of the Neuro-oncology department at MD Anderson, whether John can tolerate such vigorous cancer treatments. He proposed a milder treatment plan without compromising its effectiveness.


Please pray for our goddaughter Rene as she will discuss with the doctors tomorrow about this alternative treatment plan (with research backing).


We are grateful that many brothers have volunteered to watch over John so I may take a nap and take care of some documents in the afternoon! Your loving concerns and prayers are deeply appreciated!

March 30, 2016


John has started his first session of radiation yesterday. He seemed to respond to it quite well, just tired. After a good nap, he was able to eat his lunch as usual. 


Since the Villa was not able to figure out the cause of his lingering low grade fever, he was sent yesterday late afternoon to Emergency at Palomar Hospital for further testing. They have probably identified the cause to be related to his brain surgery, and I was told an infection specialist will come by to see him later on in the morning.


I was just now informed that his radiation appointment for today has been cancelled. Please pray that they can take care of his infection soon, so he can move on with radiation.