Talking about cancer to an audience

I did not know that giving a presentation as a cancer survivor after a gap of almost a year was going to be difficult.

I was recently called by leading insurance company to share my experience as a cancer survivor to a group of successful lady insurance consultants.

At first, I eagerly agreed but when I started amending my power point presentation slides, it reminded me of the days the cancer dominated my life. Yet, I found that I could not remember some of the moments when I was undergoing treatment. During a few days before the presentation I heard a survivor of 20 odd years have a recurrence of breast cancer and she was the epitome of “survivorhood” for all of us. I spoke to her and she sounded cheerful as ever and taking the chemo at a good stride. I also spoke to my fellow survivor and blogger Dalilah who is currently undergoing treatment. I was happy to hear these great ladies being so confident and strong.

And now for myself… sudden compared to 2 years ago I wasn’t really eager to share all of a about cancer. I realized that it is not so easy sometime to share because it takes you back on a painful flashbacks and memory lane, …a road filled with so much pebbles and holes.

I only had a few days left to gear up myself and so I called up another long time survivor who now works for a cancer organization to get inspiration. I asked her how she can deal with patients and giving talks often…does she not get worried and be constantly reminded of cancer. She told me she had not choice but to put aside her fears and move on. She said it is not easy for her either but she some how manages to do so. Well I was glad I spoke to my friend because I now know what I am feeling is normal.

Anyway I did give my presentation in front of many aspiring consultants about 50-60 of them for about 45 minutes on late evening after work.

I suppose I did quite a good job as when I ended I was given a standing ovation and was given a wonderful token of appreciation by the organizers. I wish all these charming and pleasant ladies all the best in their career as consultants.

Well! I suppose in the end of the day, as we inspire people, we too get inspired. I really take my hats of for all those cancer survivors who keep the momentum of talking to people and dealing with cancer relates matters for years.

New Addition to the family

This week has been a rather an interesting week. My mother celebrated her 64th birthday, early this week. Celebration was just with immediate family which included husband, children and her only two grandsons.

This morning after almost going into labour for a 24 hours, my second sister-in-law delivered a baby girl. The little baby came saying hello to the world in wee hours of the morning...ha..ha.

We were all really excited, eargerly waiting for her arrival as after two nephews, it is good to have a niece.

I will now have more little fellows to deal with...hmm...it is going to be really interesting.

Since I do not have children of my own, i can experience a little bit of parenting when all the little ones come to the house...and that include sometimes driving me up the wall!

Married couples should have children. As children enhance and bring so much of joy to their lives. In fact i just found out that a friend of mine who was childless for many years, has adopted a baby boy. Having children also builds bond among the in-laws.

I wish this little baby girl, a life filled with lots of happiness, peace and good health.

Sungai Buloh Leprosy Control Centre

I recently joined the Sathya Sai Baba Centres in their quarterly visit to the Sungai Buloh Leprosy Control Centre. It has such a long time that I have joined in this activity.

We were told that the inmates at Leprosy Centre have dwindled to about 160 people as many of them have passed away. When I visit started visiting this place some years ago the number used to be more than 200 inmates.

Many of the inmates have been day since pre merdeka days and that is the only home they know. Many of them have been abandoned by family and children because of their conditions.

I was at the food section as food and towels were distributed to the intimates, while the rest went form ward to ward, singing song, bhajans, speaking to the intimates and cheering them up.

Visiting the place always reminders me lucky we are for the life we lead with our loved ones. It is also a reminder how the human instinct to survive is great as some inmates have only each other and have become a new family unit. Some new volunteers were asked about their experiences. They all said it was an interesting experience and one way to do charity and give back to society.

What was quite disappointing on this trip is that many plant nurseries and landscaping businesses have given way to widening of the roads for new developments in that area including the new Sungai Buloh Hospital. These nurseries are owned by former patients from the leprosy centre. There are only a few plant nurseries that are left. I usually buy some gardening stuffs when I have there is a wide variety of plants, pots and gardening decoration. I suppose in my next trip there would be no more plant nurseries or landscaping businesses left and Sungai Buloh would have lost it fame for being a centre for plant nurseries and landscaping businessess.