She wore dark blue jeans, black boots and a black turtleneck blouse. She looked classic and yet modern her black leather bag sat on the floor next to her slightly opened I can see two novels and a laptop poking out. Her fingers moved smoothly over a qwerty keyboard the tapping soothed my nerves I closed my eyes and allowed the rhythm to take over my thoughts.

My eyes opened as the tapping stopped bring me back into the sun filled room; I looked over at the lady who is now weeping without making a sound while occasionally glancing over at her husband who is hooked to an IV, his eyes peacefully closed. I wondered what the couple’s story was as I said a quite prayer for them. I guessed her husband is battling some sort of cancer, as mom, the other patient in the room and like all other patients in the Cancer clinic.

I looked away somewhat turning my back to the lady to allow her some privacy. Now in view of the reception area I see nurses walk over returning and grabbing new files each one represented a patient, a family and a story. An older lady walks up to the desk holding a vase of bright yellow roses that topped long green stems, she places it on the counter – “thank you so much for taking such good care of me all these months, thank you” she took off her hat showing off stubs of black hair poking through her scalp – “Wow your hair is growing back already” one of the nurses commented. My heart that sorrowed for the lady in our room was now full with thankfulness for yellow rose’s lady. “Thanks again I hope I never have to come back here, to this floor” she said with a big smile and walked away.

My eyes followed the roses as a nurse moved it to a higher shelf I imagine it to be a story book “Yellow Roses” a story who’s heroine lives happily ever after cancer treatment.

Our cancer story, what is its title? I thought about it and my mind wondered to the beginning.

Once upon a time there was a lady who felt a lump in her left breast

Hmm.

“Why don’t you get dressed while I talk to your daughter in my office?” Dr. W said in his fading British accent, he offered me a seat at his desk, pulled out a requisition form forcing a smile. “Just to prepare you for what is ahead, I believe Mom has breast Cancer” …………………………………

Technorati Tags: Cancer,Yellow Roses,Cancer Story

Posted: January 29th, 2009 under Journeying through life.
Comments: 4

November 14, which is also the birthday of Canadian Sir Frederick G. Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin, is a birthday celebration on a global scale. It was created to raise awareness of the diabetes epidemic, which now affects 246 million people and their families around the world. Whatever you are doing on World Diabetes Day, take just a moment to consider the facts behind the campaign: 

• Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-  related causes. 

• Every 10 seconds two people develop diabetes. 

• Over 250 million people live with diabetes worldwide. In 2025, this figure will reach 380 million. 

• Over 500,000 children under age 15 worldwide live with type 1 diabetes. 

• More than 200 children a day develop type 1 diabetes. 

• In developing countries, close to 75,000 children live with diabetes in desperate circumstances. 

• Type 1 diabetes is increasing fastest in pre-school children, at a rate of 5% each year. 

• Type 2 diabetes has been reported in children as young as eight. 

• Type 2 diabetes affects children in both developed and developing countries.

Posted: November 14th, 2008 under Life & Diabetes.
Comments: none

Growing up, adults around me thought I was discerning and wise beyond my years.

During a rather difficult period while wiping a tear from Grandma’s cheek a six year old me said

“Don’t cry Grandma we are currently in our Noah’s ark and it will not rain forever”.

My younger self had an umbrella of positivity and hope negativity, like rain is guaranteed. However, young me was rain guarded.

The pass several months negativity seem to be everywhere around me, seeping through in words and deeds that cuts painfully like frozen rain on an exposed skin.

The road back to me starts with treating, healing and mending with an enduring heart and soul I hope to find ME soon.

Posted: November 12th, 2008 under Journeying through life.
Comments: 1

It’s unbelievable how attached I have become since our meeting in 2006, how can I not be since you boost my life in ways no one or nothing else have been able to do. I search my memory and I am unable to come up with a single bad memory to blame directly on you, as a matter of fact you did aid in making some experiences priceless.

Remember the time we woke up at dawn, drove from Vancouver to Sea-Tac, to catch our flight, the screener mistook you for a phone and ended up patting us down, but we still made it to Maryland just on time for thanksgiving dinner?

The weekend we spent in San Francisco, we said we would go back someday because we had so much fun. We walked everywhere, remember the hills and the fun we had during diner at the Cheesecake Factory

Our long plane ride to London UK and how you helped me during the nasty cold I picked up on the plane. You made spending time at Lego land and the Windsor picnic fun - oh London Eye was amusing, no wonder it was lit in blue during world diabetes day.

The drive to Portland would not be the same without you.

I tear up thinking about our countless trips south of the boarder to Trader Joe’s

The half marathon we ran together — not forgetting the Grouse Grind trips

I truthfully do not know what I did to hurt you - I’M SORRY

Some people may think you are just an Insulin Pump but to me you are more than that.

My insulin pump has a crack that extends from the battery cap disappearing briefly underneath the black rubber strip then making its way towards the display screen. I am not sure how or when this happened.

Whenever I see the crack it feels as if my heart is cracking

Posted: January 9th, 2008 under Journeying through life.
Comments: 4

Posted: December 24th, 2007 under Journeying through life.
Comments: 1