Doing charity and gaining publicity

A colleague of mine point to this article by Terence Fernandez on the Sun daily today titled “When it’s not from the heart”. It is about a people’s degrading attitude about doing charity and gaining publicity.

I am not really surprise on how scrupulous people can get if when they are doing charity. As my brother remarked a week ago if you do good deed while expecting something in return then it not called charity.
I just read an article sent to me via email that because of global financial crisis, many cancer patients had to change their treatment plans and in some cases, had to stop cancer treatment all together.
Those who have not suffered any disease, would know no how expensive each medical treatment is. So if big corporate giants do not come out to do more charity, a lot more patients have to forgo getting treatments at all. This is the time for health organizations and non governmental bodies to be supported in a big way by people and corporation with money.

Conversation with a taxi driver

I took a taxi to work this morning and had an interesting conversation with the taxi driver.

I always have a tendency to have conversations when I am on a taxi as it helps me to kill time and take my mind off things. This morning I started my asking my usual questions to the driver

He shared with me that he is an Indian but converted to Islam after marrying his wife. He is now divorced, children do not care for him and he has just recovered from the chickungunya. He suffered terribly from the disease alone and in silence for almost more than a month. Only his brother came down from Melaka several times to take him to the hospital for treatments and follow-ups. A neighbour, an elder woman helped him by buying food for him. He drives the taxi long hours as he does not want to go to an empty house. He said he has few friends. He really sounded pathetic and haggard.

He told me his brother has been advising him to come to back to Melaka and start afresh there. I advised him that it really a good idea to do so. He should just forget his past and move on. He should take up new hobbies and do new things which will interests him and deviate his thoughts. It is better for him to be surrounded by loved ones though not his wife or children but with of his brothers as he would need their strength and encouragement.

He told me that his brother advised him to marry again. He said he in not in favour of that idea at his age of 55. I told him that happiness could come in so many forms beside marriage. He should take care of health first and venture into other things.

He said whatever I said is true and wished there were people around him to motivate him like this.

He asked me whether I was married and I told him I am not. To his further question I told him I lived in Klang with my parents but work in KL.

To add more creditable to my advise, I told him I am a cancer survivor and now live my life the way I want it. I do not give too hoods for what the society thinks. God had given me a second change and I must make full use of it. I said I go for short holidays and engage in activities that gives me simple pleasures.

When I revealed this, he actually turned back and had a good look at me. I said God has given him a second change and he too must be grateful and live to the fullest. I said that he must love himself first and be positive as only then good things will come his way.

As we had reached the office, I wished him all the best and he thanked me once again for my advice.

Well I hope what ever I said will do some good for that poor chap.

There are times when we are so low in self esteem and feel so lost, God sends us messages even through total strangers. It is up us really whether we want to take the advice and move on with our lives.

Only when we look at others are we thankful and grateful for the things we have. And not to forget this God in HIS own way sends people to us to constantly remind us we should be content with what we have..

Cooking, Reading & Crochet

My colleague Aishah handed me the food magazine BestFoodJunction.com special issue. Her blog posting on Honey & Mustard Roasted Chicken has been published on page 33 of the magazine. I told Aishah that she should be proud of herself for the magazine to publish her recipe. Though I have not had the opportunity to try her recipe, I am sure it will be delicious as she is a creative and passionate cook.

Aishah starting blogging first then only I followed her foot steps. Wishing her all the best in her exploration and inventing her own signature dishes.

What have I been since the last time I blogged…well on Valentine’s day I turned 4 as a cancer survivor. Hip.. hip.. hurray?

I had my mammography and ultrasound done last week and the reports were fine. While waiting for my turn at the Radiology Dept, I met a few ladies, some cancer survivors. As usual some of them whan to share their experience of their friends having passed away of reoccurrence and I tried to divert the topic on other issues. That is why at times I try to take something to read but alas end up not being able to concentrate. This time around I did not take anything to read.

I am now into crocheting and reading books fiction and non fiction.

The list of novel I completed over the few months include; The Last Lecture, The Alchemist and The Interpreter of Maladies. I am going to complete reading The Unaccustomed Earth. I would recommend these books as they are good.

As for crochet, I have become suddenly passionate about it. I have done a couple of items. They are pocket tissue holders, fridge holder, coin purse and book marks. I am now working on a book cover. This time around I just use my creative juices to come up with the patterns (of course after browsing through the internet). I must say the items came out quite well. I was told to consider crochet and sell the items like tissue holder. But ney…i may even loose interest if I am pressure to produce things. I do not have a camera right now and need purchase to purchase one. Then I will be able to post pictures of what I have done. My personal achievement in the world of crochet..ha..ha!

Thaipusam

Thaipusam is on 8 February this year, which is coming Sunday.

I fulfilled my vow of carrying the paal kodum (milk pot) climbing the 272 steps this morning. I know I am going to come down with a flu soon as the symptoms are there but prayed that I will able to complete my vow before Thaipusam. So I applied for leave from work and completed my mission. thanking Lord Murugan for another year.

During the 2005 Thaipusam, I had severe pain on my left breast as I was walking behind the chariot of Lord Murugan to Batu Caves. The next day I went to see my doctor and then on got all my tests done which I then discovered, I had breast cancer. So I am ever grateful to Lord Murugan.

Unlike last year, I did not feel pain on my right shoulder while carrying the paal kodum. Though as usual my legs were aching when I came down the hill. To get myself prepared I am a vegetarian since January 14th. As I have not been going for Tai chi or frequently going for my walks, I was quite anxious that I do not get any muscle pulls on my legs while climbing the hill.

I am so happy, everything went well. Thank you Lord Murugan for the year past and many more happy years ahead. Vel..Vel..Vel

Staying on track

I was reading the STAR newspaper yesterday and came across this article “Getting back on track”.

Before I could read the article further, I recongised all the three faces. Yap! They are three cancer survivors, Liza, Yasogee and Ann. Liza is one of the youngest survivors I have known.

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I know Liza and Yasagee for sometime as we have meet at survivors' gatherings but met Ann only recently.

My hats off for these ladies who gave an interview and appeared on the papers for creating awareness about breast cancer. I do not know whether I am up to giving a newspaper interview with wide circulation though I have been interviewed in a health magazine before.

Anyway I admire these ladies for their preservation, courage and determination. They so full of energy ready to take on new challenges.

DeeDee Jonrowe

I came across this article on one of the local dailies last week on the "Toughest Race On Earth: Iditarod" to be aired on the Discovery Channel on Astro. What amazed me most is that among the participants is a breast cancer survivor DeeDee Jonrowe, 55 who has competed in 27 Iditarod races so far.

Wow to participate in rugged terrains across frozen rivers in Alaska just months after finishing her breast cancer treatment and having 22 lymph notes removed is really something not most of us can do! My hats off to DeeDee and wishing her all the best in the coming 2009 race.

Happy New Year

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. May more exciting events take place this year.

I did not take a break during the last two weeks and managed to carry forward some annual leave for 2009. This is with the hope i get to travel to new places.As usual several resolutions have been listed down by me but whether i am going to be successful is another question altogether.
I hope to learn swimming and i am looking for a swimming centre near my house. That will be interesting especially the swimming suit...ha..ha..

I have renewed my interest in crochet lately and did some experiement with a pocket tissue holder. Previously i only used to do table mats and doilies. I also noticed that when i crochet for longer time my left arm is slightly numb...so i have avoided doing it for hours.

What more new interest am i going to pick up this year...left to be seen..ha..ha!