If there were really angels on the earth, no one would dispute that Joanna was one of them, whose absence among us today shall be dearly missed by all those who knew her.

As a medical doctor, she willingly sacrificed her own life in order to save the lives of her patients. As a daughter, she excelled in her duties and was the pride of the family. As a student, she became a role model, whose hard work and diligence was rewarded with a remarkable academic record. As a spouse to her husband, Albert, she was unwavering in her support and devotion to him throughout his fight against leukemia, to which he succumbed. As a Christian, she demonstrated the reality of God's love by serving and caring for the people around her.

In the movie, 'Saving Private Ryan', a section of soldiers led by its platoon commander (played by Tom Hanks) went in search of a lost private (Ryan), finally found him after facing many difficulties. But just as the platoon commander told him "Don't let us down", he breathed his last.

We should not let Joanna down! Her sacrifice should not be in vain. She has shone as a heroine in the fight against SARS like an angel sent from heaven to convey a message to us. Her death challenges us to continue in this fight to the very end. We must not give up. She tells us that victory is not without a price. She was brave enough to pay that price!

Throughout her life Joanna went against the odds to fight for what she believed in, starting from a young age when she set her goal to work hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming a doctor in order to help save the lives of others ... right through to the day she volunteered to treat SARS patients knowing full well the risks involved.

Joanna's selfless act challenges us to look at life with a new perspective: what matters is not how much we have, but rather how much we can give in this life. She showed us an example by her love and dedication both to her family and to her patients. Despite the many pressures that she faced, Joanna never murmured nor complained. She was always friendly and accommodating to people who approached her, and willing to go out of her way to help others. Her positive view and passion for life is something that we can all leam from.

Unfortunately, it was this very passion and concern for the lives of others that caused a turnaround in her own life... from that of being a doctor to becoming a patient herself!

No one would doubt that Joanna had lived life to the full. She had often remarked that "Life on earth is far too short. Instead, we should look forward to what is eternal in the life to come." Joanna firmly believed that there is continuity in life, an assurance that, just like the rainbow's appearance after the rain, when our earthly life ends, our new life in heaven will go on forever.