The Story of Yohanah: A Living Miracle Beyond Stage 4 Cancer
God is Gracious!
The name Yohanah means “God is gracious,” and for Joanna, that meaning has become deeply personal. Raised in a traditional Chinese family shaped by both Buddhist and Catholic influences, her decision to become a born-again Christian was initially met with quiet disapproval. But over time, the grace behind her name would prove stronger than resistance—and essential to the journey ahead.
Joanna lived a well-balanced life. She watched what she ate, exercised regularly, and was blessed with a close-knit family and a thriving business career. Her life was stable, joyful, and grounded—until September 2020, when she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.
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Her Doctor Had Never Seen Anything Like It
It was aggressive, and her liver was already 80% filled with tumors, and the cancer had spread to her ovary, lymph nodes, and possibly her bones. “My liver doctor said she had never seen a liver so badly affected with cancer as mine,” she recalled.
Instead of fear, she found strength in the Lord, for those who wait on Him will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31).
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Strength, Peace, and Comfort
Joanna went through 18 straight weeks of chemotherapy. The treatment came with all the expected physical tolls—hair loss, sleepless nights, burning nerves, aching joints, and mouth sores. In the midst of it all, she showed extraordinary resilience.
“Even during chemo,” she said, “the Lord made them all manageable. He provided what I needed each day—strength, peace, and comfort,” she said. Then, COVID-19 and lockdowns hit the nation. Still, all went well.
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Her First Miracle
Emotional support from family and friends surrounded her, but what struck Joanna most was a grace she was unfamiliar with. “What I didn’t realize at the time was that the faith rising in me wasn’t mine—it was grace holding me.” It was her first miracle.
No metabolic evidence of cancer
In March 2021, her PET scan came back clear: no metabolic evidence of cancer. From stage 4 to cancer-free in four months. “All my doctors were amazed.” Only God could have made this happen.
For the next five months, she resumed her everyday life. Her family enjoyed a two-week vacation in Boracay. “God knew how much I missed the beach and sunsets,” she said. Her eldest was even able to return home from studying abroad with ease. Life felt restful and normal again.
The Journey Never Ends
Multiple Lesions this time on her brain
Just weeks before her 50th birthday, a routine scan revealed multiple lesions in her brain. From the neck down, she remained cancer-free, but it had returned in a new form, and so did her dependence on the promises of Jesus, renewed each day.
Her late mentor, Aggie Sarthou, once said, “The cancer journey never ends.” A miracle survivor for 18 years, it was COVID—not cancer—that ended her journey.
It’s been almost five years, and just as God gave King Hezekiah 15 more years, Joanna sees each day as a miracle. By every medical expectation, she should have passed years ago. But her faith journey proves that God is faithful to His children, especially on the most difficult roads.
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Her Ultimate Miracle: God Never Left Her Side
Cancer came and went in cycles, and after a while, nothing surprised Joanna anymore. Still, she endured every phase with quiet resolve. Yohanah is still standing. Two key verses have guided Joanna through her journey, and she hopes they will also encourage others facing similar battles:
Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the Lord, the God of all flesh—is anything too difficult for Me?”
2 Chronicles 20:15,17
The battle is not yours, but God’s… Stand and see the salvation of the Lord.”
During her live testimony in church, Joanna shared, “I’m not here to talk about cancer, but to express gratitude—gratitude to my family, friends, and especially to God, who has never left my side.” Today, Yohanah remains physically strong, able to enjoy precious time with her family—including travel vacations—all of which are a miracle in themselves.
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