highest award given by the Lions Club International Foundation.

The Melvin Jones Fellowship, which is bestowed on a Lion or Lioness for his or her humanitarian service, was presented to the anti-drug crusader at the Somers Lioness Club's fourth anniversary brunch at The Princess Hotel.

And receiving the award was as much a surprise to Mr. Ming as his visit was to those attending the brunch.

Looking healthy and on his feet, Mr. Ming is home for the first time after undergoing a seven-hour heart transplant operation in Pittsburgh three months ago.

And while he is only in Bermuda for a week, the eternal optimist told The Royal Gazette he hopes to be home for good by the end of the year.

"I feel very grateful,'' said Mr. Ming who arrived on the Island last Saturday. "I always knew I'd be back. But I did not know how -- if I would be in a wheelchair, stretcher, or walking.'' The 45-year-old executive director of the National Drug and Alcohol Agency, who is living with the heart of a young American athlete, said his recovery was amazing to doctors at Pittsburgh Presbyterian University Hospital where he received the transplant.

But Mr. Ming simply attributes his progress to God.

"His (God's) goodness is something that I can't explain,'' he said.

"I died twice on the operating table. The doctors really cannot pinpoint what made me pull through. But it was God who has been with me from day one.'' Choking back tears after receiving the award, Mr. Ming told fellow Lions, Lioness, and guests: "The word thanks just does not seem enough. But I don't know of any other. I'm really grateful. I'm humbled by this award. I thank God for my family and for many of the things (guest speaker) Dennis (Rahim Watson) talked about.

"God has not blessed us with material wealth. But how wealthy I feel every time I get a card or phone call from Bermuda. I thank God for my life and for bringing me back to life.'' After his short visit, Mr. Ming will return to Pittsburgh where doctors will determine whether his medication needs to be adjusted to suit Bermuda's climate.

He will also have to undergo several biopsies, continue physical therapy daily and go through a special cardio rehabilitation programme for the next three months.

But Mr. Ming said the programme that he participates in three to four days a week for two-and-a-half hours is going very well.

And he has even found time to visit other patients as a part of a ministry at the university hospital.