The Unexpected Diagnosis
In 2004, 44-year-old Pastor David Ong was inspired by Michael Phelps’ Olympic performance to take up vigorous swimming. What began as a fitness routine ended with a devastating discovery: persistent chest pain led to an X-ray revealing three fractured ribs. Further testing uncovered stage 3 multiple myeloma, a rare bone marrow cancer that typically affects people in their mid-60s.
Despite his background as a former hospital staff nurse in the 1980s, the diagnosis left Ong “very devastated and confused.” The prognosis was grim—at the time, the average life expectancy for multiple myeloma patients was just four years, even with treatment.
A Father’s Determination
Faced with his own mortality, Ong experienced what he described as “a deep sense of grief and anxiety about the future.” He worried about his health and his family’s finances. “Even though I’m a pastor, I’m a man, and men do cry,” he acknowledged.
But one overwhelming desire kept him fighting: to see his four-year-old son Joshua grow up and have children of his own. This specific goal would shape the course of his treatment and ultimately his survival.
The High-Risk Treatment Path
Professor William Hwang, senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital’s department of haematology, was moved by Ong’s dedication to survive for his son. “David had a very specific request, and that was to be able to see his son grow up and get married,” Prof Hwang recalled.
Given the limited therapies available in 2004, achieving this goal seemed nearly impossible with standard treatment. Together, they made a bold decision: Ong would undergo an allogenic stem cell transplant, where he would receive blood stem cells from a donor rather than using his own cells.
This procedure carried significantly higher risks:
- Greater chance of life-threatening infections
- Risk of graft-versus-host disease (where donor cells attack the patient’s body)
- Higher upfront mortality risk
However, it also offered the possibility of long-term survival—potentially a decade or more—which the safer autologous transplant (using the patient’s own cells) was less likely to achieve.
Two of Ong’s sisters turned out to be matches for the transplant, and he decided to proceed.
The Grueling Journey to Recovery
The treatment process was extraordinarily difficult. Ong left his pastoral position to focus entirely on recovery. The regimen included:
- Two rounds of intensive chemotherapy
- Full-body radiation treatment
- Hair loss and regular vomiting
- The transplant procedure itself in June 2005
Even after a successful transplant, Ong developed acute graft-versus-host disease. His transplanted cells began attacking his body, causing painful ulcers in his mouth and throat, along with excruciating pain throughout his body.
“The pain was really unbearably excruciating, to the point where I really didn’t want to go through the treatment anymore,” he said.
He was prescribed morphine to manage the pain, but when it was stopped, he suffered withdrawal symptoms. For years after the transplant, his weakened immune system left him vulnerable to pneumonia and other infections.
Sources of Strength
What sustained Ong through this darkest period was his family and community:
- His wife Whee Ling stood by his side
- Friends visited regularly to pray with the family
- Even his young son would hold his hand, saying, “Daddy, I will pray for you”
These connections provided emotional and spiritual sustenance when physical strength was at its lowest.
The Turning Point
Despite the grueling treatment and complications, the aggressive approach worked. The cancer went into remission in 2008, though Ong remained in recovery for several more years.
Rebuilding Life with New Purpose
Following his diagnosis, Ong took nearly a decade off from full-time work to focus on recovery and spending precious time with his son and wife. During this period, he processed his experience and began to see suffering through a different lens.
He documented his journey in two books:
- Talking The Walk (2008)
- Battling Myeloma (2022)
In 2014, Ong felt ready to return to pastoral work, serving at Petra Church in Armenian Street. He missed “giving to other people—caring for people as a shepherd, in the true sense of the word.”
By this time, he had indeed achieved his primary goal: watching his son Joshua grow up. The young man went on to earn a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and now stands at 1.82 meters tall, towering over his father.
In 2020, Ong took another significant step by establishing his own ministry, focusing specifically on:
- Ministering to the sick
- Providing mentoring for young adults
His personal experience with life-threatening illness gave him unique credibility and empathy in these roles.
A Second Cancer Diagnosis
In February 2025, during a routine check-up, Ong received another shock: stage 1 prostate cancer. The diagnosis came just days after his 93-year-old father’s death.
However, his response this time was markedly different. His two-decade journey with multiple myeloma had equipped him with crucial coping skills. Rather than descending into despair, he found perspective:
“There are people who are also suffering worse than I am. [Remembering] this helped me not just to cope, but also learn to go beyond my own pain.”
Ministry Through Suffering
Professor Hwang observed something remarkable about Ong’s approach to his illness: while hospitalized for treatments, Ong would often talk to other patients and staff to encourage them when they were down.
“I find that patients like him, who are not so much wallowing in grief and sorrow, but who focus on having a positive goal and a positive outlook… they tend to do well,” Prof Hwang noted.
This observation points to a profound truth about Ong’s transformation: his suffering became a source of ministry rather than merely an obstacle to overcome.
Lessons from 22 Years with Myeloma
Reflecting on his journey, Ong articulated what he had learned about finding purpose through pain:
On joy despite suffering: “In these almost 22 years of my journey with myeloma, I realised that I don’t need to lose the joy of living.”
On purpose through limitations: One key insight was that he could still find purpose in life, even as health challenges meant adjusting his goals and expectations. His limitations didn’t diminish his value or capacity to serve others—they simply redirected it.
On perspective: By recognizing that others suffer worse than he does, Ong moved beyond his own pain to serve those around him. His suffering gave him empathy and credibility that might not have been possible otherwise.
The Broader Medical Context
Ong’s story also illustrates dramatic medical progress. When he was diagnosed in 2004, the average life expectancy for multiple myeloma patients was four years. Today, remission rates have risen to over 90 percent, and it’s not uncommon for patients to live long enough to develop other age-related conditions like prostate cancer.
Professor Hwang noted that in the past, many multiple myeloma patients didn’t survive long enough to develop prostate cancer. The fact that Ong is now dealing with both conditions is, paradoxically, a sign of medical success.
A Living Testament
Pastor David Ong’s journey from a devastating cancer diagnosis at age 44 to a thriving ministry at age 65 demonstrates several profound truths:
- Hope matters: His specific goal of seeing his son grow up gave him something concrete to fight for during the darkest moments.
- Risk can be worth it: The high-risk treatment path he chose, while dangerous, enabled the long-term survival that has allowed him to fulfill his dreams and serve others.
- Suffering can transform: Rather than being destroyed by his pain, Ong allowed it to deepen his empathy and sharpen his purpose.
- Community sustains: Family, friends, and faith community provided essential support that made survival possible.
- Purpose transcends circumstances: Even with ongoing health challenges, Ong found meaningful ways to serve others and experience joy.
Twenty years after his diagnosis, Ong continues to minister to the sick and mentor young adults. His story offers hope not just for medical recovery, but for the possibility of finding renewed purpose through even the most devastating circumstances. His life demonstrates that healing isn’t just about the absence of disease—it’s about discovering meaning and joy regardless of what life brings.