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Swaffham soprano Marlene Gaunt, who last year made a sensational comeback after cancer surgery has again sung for her surgeon at a church service in the town.
Surgeon Leo Cheng, who is a registered lay preacher, his wife Hilary, an ordained minister and children Katriona (10) and Zoë (7), led Sunday's service at Swaffham Methodist Church.
Microsurgery: It was a joyful reunion for Mrs Gaunt who in January last year had part of her tongue removed and replaced with tissue from her left arm during delicate micro-surgery by Mr Cheng and his team at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge.
At his request, she sang a duet, Thanks Be To God, with contralto and fellow Phoenix Singer's member Mrs Marian Clements, accompanied by Mr Ian Futers on piano at the service.
Last June Mrs Gaunt, of Surlingham Drive took part in a concert with the Phoenix Singers and Lyn Male Voice Choir at Swaffham's Catholic Church which helped raise £1,300-plus for the Maxillofacial Unit at Addenbrookes.
Sensational: Hong-Kong born Mr Cheng and his family who live near Cambridge, were in the sell-out audience that night to see her sensational comeback.
"I have been really lucky. I have got my singing voice back and feel as though my life has been enriched. I have got the right perspective on life now," Mrs Gaunt said.
"I now go once every tow months for check-ups, and everything is fine.
Only on May 1 she has another operation at Addenbrookes in which Mr Cheng loosened a scar on her neck form the previous operation. This has made it more comfortable for her to move her head when singing.
Church steward Miss Muriel Bean welcomed the Cheng family at Sunday's service, where other Phoenix Singers members were in the congregation.
In his address Mr Cheng mentioned that he came from a traditional Chinese family led by a grandmother, who had lived through the "bound feet" era in Chinese history.
Aged 16, he went to Edinburgh to finish his education and was surprised at the freedom students there enjoyed. His wife was formerly a nurse in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Sign Language: Zoë played the flute accompaniment to the hymn Kumbaya and shared in readings and introductions with Katriona, and the whole family illustrated the Lord's Prayer in sign language - and had a receptive audience copying it.
Mrs Gaunt said it had been a lovely service with other denominations present, and afterwards the Cheng family joined her for lunch at her home.
She hoped that Mr Cheng would return to Swaffham for a fundraising coffee morning that she will be holding for his hospital unit in July.
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