[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 159 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF KATHLEEN PEILING CHANG, MD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 4, 2017

  Mr. TED LIEU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life 
of Kathleen Peiling Chang, MD, a physician, wife, mother, sister, 
daughter, Ironman triathlete, and tireless school volunteer. Kathleen 
left this world peacefully on Friday, July 28, 2017 after a six-year 
battle with breast cancer. She was the center of the universe to her 
loving husband, Teddy Chen, and their two sons, Matthew, aged 8, and 
Alex, aged 6. I have had the honor of knowing Kathleen and Teddy and 
their beautiful family for many years.
  Kathleen was born in December 1976 and grew up in Southern California 
where she and her sister enjoyed many trips to the beach and 
Disneyland. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, and 
after graduating with degrees in neurobiology and psychology, she 
earned her MD at the University of California, San Diego. Kathleen 
completed her pediatric residency and infectious diseases fellowship at 
Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland. She married Teddy during 
her residency and after completing her fellowship, she practiced at 
Kaiser Permanente in San Jose.
  During their time together Kathleen and Teddy embarked on many 
adventures, including triathlons, scuba diving in underwater caverns, 
hiking the lava fields of Kilauea, climbing Half Dome, and ice climbing 
on glaciers in Switzerland.
  While pregnant with Alex, at 34 years old, Kathleen was diagnosed 
with stage I breast cancer. Alex was induced and born a few days early 
so that Kathleen could begin treatment. After recovering from 
chemotherapy and surgery, Kathleen went back to work, ran half 
marathons with Teddy, and focused on being a mother. But the cancer was 
relentless, and exactly two months after running the Orange County Half 
Marathon in 2013, she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, with 
extensive bone metastases causing pathologic fractures in her spine, 
and unresectable liver metastases. Kathleen's oncologist didn't expect 
her to live through the end of the year, and discussed transitioning to 
hospice care. But Kathleen was strong and full of will to live for her 
children, and searched for a better alternative. She found hope with 
the help of Dr. Michelle Melisko, an oncologist at the University of 
California, San Francisco.
  During the next four years, she went back to work despite the advice 
of her doctors, because that was what she trained to do and she wanted 
to help her patients. Each time she was forced to go on disability 
leave, many of her patients waited for her to return. She worked part-
time, ostensibly to rest and take it easy on her days off. Instead, she 
filled those days off with volunteering at her children's school, and 
continued to be a supermom, somehow juggling motherhood, her medical 
career, and cancer treatment. Kathleen insisted on living life to the 
fullest. She did many things likely inadvisable for a stage IV cancer 
patient with extensive bone metastases and several pathologic fractures 
including vertebrae, ribs, and hip. She ran or walked several 5Ks, 
biked, skied, bungee trampolined, rode roller coasters, and other 
things that made her doctors cringe. She also had the chance to see her 
children finish second grade and kindergarten, and renew her wedding 
vows with Teddy as the children looked on.
  The cancer, however, was implacable, notwithstanding Kathleen's 
efforts to live life to the fullest. She faced each heartbreaking 
setback with incredible strength and courage, all the way to the end. 
Kathleen is survived by her husband, Teddy Chen, their two sons Matthew 
and Alex, her sister, Jennifer, and her parents, Kuo-Cheng and 
Christine. She is also survived by her extended family from Kaiser 
Permanente and from her residency at Children's Hospital Oakland, who 
provided love and support during her travails. She is and forever will 
be greatly missed. Her extraordinary life was cut too short at 40 years 
old, but the things she did in life will ripple through the years to 
come

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