“I’m not afraid because I really believe in Him”: Husband recounts Lee Hwee Ling’s unwavering faith in the face of death

A month before her wedding in 2020, at just 30 years old, Lee Hwee Ling was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

In a 2021 interview with Salt&Light about four months after her diagnosis, Hwee Ling shared that while she grieved the loss of her health and future, she had an inexplicable “sense of peace in me knowing that my fate is in the hands of my Maker”.

She added: “The assurance of salvation is something that has never been more true and more real. Knowing that Jesus has already won the fight for me – that has been very reassuring in moments of darkness.”

On November 11, 2025, after fighting cancer for five years, Hwee Ling was called home to the Lord. She was 35. 

After she passed away, her interview with Salt&Light became our second most-read story of the week, as many remembered how she had fought her battle with grit, grace and faith.

In his eulogy, written as a final letter to Hwee Ling, her husband, Bob Yeo shared about Hwee Ling’s last days and how her faith in God never wavered even in the face of deep suffering.

He has given Salt&Light the permission to republish his eulogy.

Hi Hwee,

It is the day of your funeral. I know you’ll be really proud of your family, sisters and friends who pulled this off in record time and created a beautiful garden.

You always wanted a big party to celebrate life, and were even thinking of doing it this month to commemorate your 5th year fighting cancer and our 5th year as a couple, and just to have a night for everyone to remember.

At Hwee Ling’s wake.

So here we are. I think we’d have to thank the Big Guy above (or next to you now) that He gave us the best party ever. One that ended your suffering and sorrow, one that I’m sure all of us will remember and cling on to for the rest of our lives.

This year has been particularly tough. It has been so tough dealing with new symptoms that really would have been impossible to live through for anyone.

You were not able to eat meaningfully, lost all independence and could not move around the house without help. The hourly vomits and retching … the never-ending cocktail of pills and medicines, and even your sleep – the one key activity you always relied on to limit your suffering – was impacted.

I’ve been looking at you over the past three days and this is pretty much the first time you’ve slept flat in the last six months instead of that dreadful 45-degree incline. But all of these were not the worst.

The worst this year was dealing with the fact that you had to battle all of these symptoms knowing that any treatment from here on had a very limited likelihood of success, and we were barrel-scraping for any solutions.

Bob and Hwee Ling last year in Korea.

Yet, you were truly resolute. Not once did you even hint of giving up despite my attempts to tell you: “It’s okay Hwee, just let me know if you’re done with all this and I’d completely understand. You don’t need to try so hard.”

Not once did you flinch to even ask if I was serious with that remark. Instead, all you did was to look towards the next treatment, plan the next meal or meet with a friend. You even planned a trip to Australia for the family next year.

In fact, your faith was never stronger. You’d go out of your way to meet a friend, go for a wedding, attend church or cell group, even when I expressed deep concerns about your health or the fuss in heading over.

This extended even to the past week when you were admitted to the ICU. I know you were critically ill on Day 1 and doctors were not sure if you were going to last. But you decided to take things into your own hands, fighting on for five days before waking to say goodbye to each of us individually, in spite of all the delirium and tiredness.

So, thanks Hwee. Thanks for teaching me what it truly means to fight and to believe in family, friends and God. I hope you’ve already shared your CV with the Big Guy next to you, and I suspect you’re already having your pick of the houses, food, wines and having the best time with the many Christian greats that have paved our way.

Don’t worry about me. Please be at peace. I know I was a big worry for you and rightly so. I’m even worried about what happens next. As you pointed out last Friday, things are going to be difficult and hard. It might take days or years but I must be strong. I must live on and live for those around me.

And most importantly, to live for you.

So yes, I promise to be strong, to live life to the fullest and to find happiness again. I can’t promise that it’ll be done immediately but I will definitely try my best. It will be incredibly tough, but I think you’ve placed enough close friends around me to never allow me alone time again!

I promise to take care of Ghostie (Hwee’s favourite soft toy), to take care of your family. I promise to remember you forever. I know you’re up there waiting for me, so please be patient as I try my very best to journey through the rest of my life that is now made unbelievably more difficult without you.

“I know you’re up there waiting for me, so please be patient as I try my very best to journey through the rest of my life that is now made unbelievably more difficult without you,” Bob told Hwee Ling in his final letter to her.

You’ve always rebutted that you love me the most when we compete on ‘I love you’s. I’ll let you win this one since you said it with your final breath last Friday. But allow me to also say this: You’re truly the best decision I ever made and I will always love and remember you for the rest of my life.

In your final moments, you said multiple times that you held on for me. Thank you for doing so for the last five years against all odds. And for teaching me so many of life’s true lessons. Now allow me to hold on to you, and to the dear Saviour that watched over you all your life.

When you were ready, you wished all of us Farewell, Goodbye, Take Care and See you soon. Goodbye my love, thanks for everything and I will see you soon.

I love you.

Not afraid

Now for the rest of us. In the words of Hwee: “Be strong and live on.”

Hwee was never afraid, even up to her last moment and final breath. Her surgeon, who was with her in her last moments, asked if she was ready and if she was afraid.

He said that, without a shadow of doubt, without hesitation, Hwee replied: “No. No, I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid because I’m a Christian and I really believe in Him.”

So let’s really remember Hwee, the bravest of us who truly found joy in suffering. A true walking miracle and someone God has used mightily.

Let us remember the battle she faced and, in our own quiet way, cling on to her inspiration as we journey the rest of our lives.

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The post “I’m not afraid because I really believe in Him”: Husband recounts Lee Hwee Ling’s unwavering faith in the face of death appeared first on Salt&Light.