Day 4 after chemotherapy and the taste buds have gone all funny...
I'd been wanting some Boon Tong Kee chicken rice for a few days now, so we went out to get some. It smelt really good all the way home but when it came to eating it... everyone else enjoyed it except me. I guess the rice was not steaming hot by the time we got home but I could hardly even taste the rice... What a let down!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Graduation Day!
I am so sorry for not having posted anything on this blog for 2 weeks. No... I am not depressed or sick. Just feeling lazy and have been busy.
Wednesday I had my 6th chemotherapy treatment. It was my Graduation Day from - so said my oncologist's nurses. I remember well when I was first diagnosed in April and the confusion Reuben, the kids and I experienced then. I am thankful to have reached this milestone - looking back, it does not seem so long. Also the path has been strewn with unexpected joys and blessings.
I must give credit to the nurses and staff at Dr KW's clinic - they have been encouraging, full of humour and kindness each time that I was there. It makes all the difference that the atmosphere in the clinic was pleasant and positive.
Will post more another time... nap time.
Wednesday I had my 6th chemotherapy treatment. It was my Graduation Day from - so said my oncologist's nurses. I remember well when I was first diagnosed in April and the confusion Reuben, the kids and I experienced then. I am thankful to have reached this milestone - looking back, it does not seem so long. Also the path has been strewn with unexpected joys and blessings.
I must give credit to the nurses and staff at Dr KW's clinic - they have been encouraging, full of humour and kindness each time that I was there. It makes all the difference that the atmosphere in the clinic was pleasant and positive.
Will post more another time... nap time.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
10 years!
One of the good things that's come out of this cancer episode is renewal of friendships. Friends whom we have not seen in years have called, written, visited. This week 5 of my ex-colleagues from the then National Science and Technology Board (now A*Star) - Michelle, Li Choo, Betty, Pancy and Sushila came to visit. It was lovely to catch up with them and they all looked just the same!
I stopped work about 10 years ago after our son David was born. The decision to stop was not easy, I had been toying with the idea for months, maybe even years...
Having a job meant more money for the family of course, I also got a measure of identity and self-esteem from the job title. Although I always felt guilty about leaving the children in the care of my mum and maid, the pull factors for staying home were not as strong. My mum felt I should work because she always did and after having spent so much on my education, it was payback time. Anyway, she was around to "take charge" of things at home, etc etc.
My boss knew the dilemma I was in and offered me a part-time job after maternity. Unfortunately David was often sick, wheezing and coughing. Straight after I went back to work, he fell ill and had to be nebulised every 4 hours around the clock. Part time work just did not pan out and I resigned.
After resigning, we shared with Pastor Chris Chia about the sense of "insecurity" I felt over leaving the job. That was when he said "when you make a decision where you have to trust God more, it's a good decision". Like the Psalmist, we have tasted and testify that the Lord is good.
I stopped work about 10 years ago after our son David was born. The decision to stop was not easy, I had been toying with the idea for months, maybe even years...
Having a job meant more money for the family of course, I also got a measure of identity and self-esteem from the job title. Although I always felt guilty about leaving the children in the care of my mum and maid, the pull factors for staying home were not as strong. My mum felt I should work because she always did and after having spent so much on my education, it was payback time. Anyway, she was around to "take charge" of things at home, etc etc.
My boss knew the dilemma I was in and offered me a part-time job after maternity. Unfortunately David was often sick, wheezing and coughing. Straight after I went back to work, he fell ill and had to be nebulised every 4 hours around the clock. Part time work just did not pan out and I resigned.
After resigning, we shared with Pastor Chris Chia about the sense of "insecurity" I felt over leaving the job. That was when he said "when you make a decision where you have to trust God more, it's a good decision". Like the Psalmist, we have tasted and testify that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:1-10
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
This and That
Yesterday I had a follow up visit to Dr MH the surgeon. The diverticulitis has cleared - no more pain and the colon is not "hard" when palpated. Sometime down the line, he wants to do a colonoscopy to check that there are no other underlying causes for the inflammation. Thank you Lord! I am able to eat normal food again although my appetite is still not good.
I had been warned that the cumulative effects of the chemo will make each succeeding cycle more difficult. I was pretty much knocked out last weekend - feeling faint, weak and lacking in energy.
It was hard to do just about anything including reading, praying, conversing (I yawned all the time! How rude!). I slept a lot more than usual during the day although I was sleepless the first couple of nights. My substitute had to take over the BSF class this week as I was not physically up to it. Praise God for enabling her.
Alisha, David and Janice have been having sore throat, runny nose and cough. Thankfully I am ok although my throat felt sore and my nose blocked for a couple of days.
Alisha's preparing for her PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) scheduled for 1st week of October. The preliminary exams will be held 18-22 Aug. We are thankful for my friends who are tutoring her and friends who are fetching her to tuition. She recently scored 82% (quite an achievement!) on a practice exam paper under exam conditions. Please pray for her as she prepares, that she will do her best, trust in the Lord and not be discouraged.
Reuben will be travelling again soon. He leaves for Sydney & Brisbane on Sunday 10 Aug night and returns Wednesday night. He'll be in Hong Kong 23-29 August and then India 5-8 September.
My brother Paul, Ai Vee my sis-in-law and their 3 kids Natasha 5, Felicia 3+ and Lucas 2+ are here on holidays from Mongolia where Paul is posted. It's a wonderful reunion for us and especially for the children who miss their cousins. The little ones asked "Aunty Doris, what happened to your hair?" They soon got used to seeing me bald though.
I had been warned that the cumulative effects of the chemo will make each succeeding cycle more difficult. I was pretty much knocked out last weekend - feeling faint, weak and lacking in energy.
Some new side effects - all the tips of my fingers, some toes and the sole of my feet feel "dull" or numb. Yet the soles of my feet were sore when walking. It felt like the fat and muscle layers in the soles had been squashed and become thin. Like worn out shoes there was no padding or "cushioning" effect and I could feel the bones jarring with each step.
It was hard to do just about anything including reading, praying, conversing (I yawned all the time! How rude!). I slept a lot more than usual during the day although I was sleepless the first couple of nights. My substitute had to take over the BSF class this week as I was not physically up to it. Praise God for enabling her.
Alisha, David and Janice have been having sore throat, runny nose and cough. Thankfully I am ok although my throat felt sore and my nose blocked for a couple of days.
Alisha's preparing for her PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) scheduled for 1st week of October. The preliminary exams will be held 18-22 Aug. We are thankful for my friends who are tutoring her and friends who are fetching her to tuition. She recently scored 82% (quite an achievement!) on a practice exam paper under exam conditions. Please pray for her as she prepares, that she will do her best, trust in the Lord and not be discouraged.
Reuben will be travelling again soon. He leaves for Sydney & Brisbane on Sunday 10 Aug night and returns Wednesday night. He'll be in Hong Kong 23-29 August and then India 5-8 September.
My brother Paul, Ai Vee my sis-in-law and their 3 kids Natasha 5, Felicia 3+ and Lucas 2+ are here on holidays from Mongolia where Paul is posted. It's a wonderful reunion for us and especially for the children who miss their cousins. The little ones asked "Aunty Doris, what happened to your hair?" They soon got used to seeing me bald though.
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