Diagnosed with liver cancer, Lee To-shou, a retired serviceman, didn't consider himself a patient. As a volunteer, he whole-heartedly served hospital patients. Later, when the doctor tried to locate Lee's tumor, it had miraculously disappeared.

Sister Yen Hui-mei, the senior volunteer at Tzu Chi Hospital, has been nicknamed "the Old Veteran Volunteer." Actually she is neither a soldier, nor is she old. It is only that she has served patients for many years with an old soldier's loyalty. Two years ago, however, a real veteran, Lee To-shou, appeared at Tzu Chi Hospital as a volunteer.

"Sign In" on Time

At no later than 6:05 every morning, 68-year-old Lee rides his motorcycle from his home to Tzu Chi Hospital. When he arrives, he puts on a volunteer's vest and goes to his station in the emergency room to take patients for tests, deliver test reports or X-rays, etc. When it is time for registration and treatment, he helps to sort or distribute patients' files in the registration room.

His knee joints are rather stiff, so he limps a bit, but it doesn't mean he is slow when he walks. He was diagnosed with liver cancer, but those who have known him within the last two years can see that he is actually getting better every day.

Unfulfilled Promise

Lee is still single. He has been frail since his childhood. His family was poor. His elder brother died young, which broke his mother's heart. Lee was born eight years later. In order to make him grow up healthy, Lee's mother made a vow to the bodhisattvas that if he could grow up safely, she would invite monks to chant sutras for three days when he reached the age of sixteen.

His mother died when he was six, and his father died when he was fourteen. All of China was in turmoil and his family broke apart. In order to survive, he joined the army, where he was neither sick nor injured. When the army later retreated to Taiwan and he was stationed in Kinmen, he once fell from a three-story building and almost got killed. Thinking of all these adversities, Lee suspected that they all happened because his mother's promise to the bodhisattvas had not been fulfilled.

In 1963, he was transferred to Eastern Taiwan. In 1978, he was found to have cirrhosis of the liver. He almost fainted one day in 1990 while taking a walk in the morning. He thought of the unanswered question: "Have I been troubled by health problems and suffered so much because the promise wasn't fulfilled? I can't keep worrying about this question. I've got to talk to someone."

Becoming a Volunteer

The one he wanted to talk to was in fact Master Cheng Yen, but the Master wasn't in when he paid a visit to the Abode of Still Thoughts. Another nun received him. After hearing his question, she told him: "It doesn't matter whether that promise is fulfilled or not. What matters is that you should do more good deeds." The nun gave him a wooden statue of the Great Compassion Bodhisattva and a tape of sutra chants. Lee took them and went home with much relief. Since then, he has worshipped the bodhisattva, listened to the tape every morning and evening, and been a vegetarian.

In 1995, he was hit by a car. His right arm was broken and he had an operation at Tzu Chi Hospital. During his hospitalization, he saw how well the volunteers performed. With Sister Yen Hui-mei's encouragement, he decided to join the volunteers' group. "Anyway, I was bored staying alone at home. My arms and legs are pretty stiff. Working here is like doing rehabilitation exercises, which makes me feel better."

In April that year, physicians in the internal medicine department told him that he had liver cancer. However, Lee devoted himself completely to his volunteer work and didn't consider himself to be a patient. Later when the doctor tried to locate the tumor, it had miraculously disappeared!

"No matter what disease you contract, it is more important to treat it psychologically. Don't keep thinking about which part of your body hurts. If you really can't stand it, go see a doctor. You must keep yourself in a good mood if you want to be healthy. Like me, being a volunteer, my health is improving and I don't even need to take medicine now!"

Lee said that a volunteer himself has to find things to do. Don't wait till other people ask. Because volunteers aren't paid, other people won't ask them to work, so volunteers have to take the initiative in their service. To Lee, the Master's aphorism of "Work willingly and accept the results joyfully" is very sensible: because one works willingly, one doesn't feel tired. When we don't feel well or when things don't go our way, we should still accept it joyfully. In this way, we can be happier.

Free From Fear

Last year, when new honorary board members were certified, Lee also went on the stage to be blessed by Master Cheng Yen. Although he hadn't donated NT$1 million [US$37,000], those who knew the reason for the blessing admired him all the more.

According to Sister Yen Hui-mei, Lee had made donations on a long-term basis to orphanages, poor families or charity organizations. She had added the receipts and found that the total amount was more than NT$2 million [US$74,000]. Therefore, Master Cheng Yen presented a special award to this old soldier who did not want his good deeds to be revealed to the public.

Lee had never thought that he would live so long. Furthermore, he hadn't believed that his liver, stomach and heart were good enough to be donated. However, when he heard the Master make a public appeal for organ donations, he signed up.

Lee's daily activities are confined to his home and Tzu Chi Hospital. He said the nurses and doctors at the hospital are like his relatives. If someday he faints on the street, then the policeman that helps him will be his relative. A life set adrift by war has broadened his mind.

Making Himself Happy

The life of this veteran volunteer at Tzu Chi Hospital is simple but inspiring. His wealth is not in what he possesses, but in what he gives away. What concerns him most is not his health or enjoyment, but what he can do for others. Perhaps his tumor disappeared just because of this.