I walked for the Pink Walkathon today for creating awareness
for Breast Cancer with my friends by my side. While taking the walk, in my mind
I was re-living those few months when the dread of the disease tried to
overtake everything else in life.
As each day, I tried to keep myself strong enough to take
the battle head-on, the small gestures from friends all over (a phone call just
to check how I was doing, a BBM message just to tell me that I must not give
much importance to the disease, messages on Facebook to tell me how
courageously I had been fighting, a coffee evening with my Dubai gang of girls
just to let me know how much they care for me) added to my strength and I felt
blessed , each day and each moment!
As each day, I tried to get on with life notwithstanding the
side-effects of chemo-therapy, my two lovely children reminded me each moment
that I was the most “wonderful mom” in this world so what if I could not make
“tasty” breakfast and lunch pack for school owing to my sickness or I could not
attend their assembly or Parent-Teacher meeting. Just when I was too concerned
with my hair-less head and I was sure from within that I looked very ugly
without my crowning glory, they reminded me each day how gorgeous and cute I
looked even without hair. I felt blessed each day and each moment!
As each day I tried hard so that pain and suffering must not
show on my face or my voice must not quiver when I talked to them on phone, each
member of my family back home (who were aware) also tried very hard to put up a
brave front just to add to my strength and courage even though they were worrying
sick and breaking from within. I felt as if all of them were around me all the
time with their prayers and blessings just to protect me from all evils. I felt
blessed each day and each moment!
As on a chemo-therapy session, a sudden and unexpected but
severe allergic reaction almost dragged me to the death’s doorstep, I could
only feel the tight embrace of my “big man” in my state of semi-consciousness. As
he had been praying to Almighty for my life, he held me tight just to let me
know that even death would not be able to snatch me from his embrace without a
fierce fight. I felt blessed!
As when I was trying to find means to keep me meaningfully
engaged and active so that I could keep my mind off from the thought of the
dreadful disease and I made a casual call to my office, I was told to report
next day. I was given enough liberty to choose my schedule suiting to my health
as each of my colleague hugged me with a smile and said, “Welcome back,
Minakshi”. I felt blessed!
The battle is over now and I see myself as a winner but I
wonder, without the support of all these people around me, would this have been
possible! I doubt! Is there anything more overwhelming than knowing how much I
am loved by all of my lovely friends and family?
I feel blessed each day and each moment for this life!!
All my wonderful friends and family, stay healthy and happy –
always and more importantly, love life and live life as much as you possibly
can!!!
