MobileMom

Only If I Had 2 Lungs

I should have taken up scuba diving when I still had my 2 lungs and healthier then. It could have made a lot of difference in my life then. But I don't regret what had happened in the past because I know it happened for a reason. There are other ways to make things fun in this life even though some of us may not be as lucky or normal as other people. I still consider my self lucky and believe me, I would never become what I am now for the experience that I went through before this. Be blessed with what you have because remember that some of us may not be as lucky as some of you.

You think you need a change? Maybe you can take up scuba diving because I have seen how it creates impact to an individual. I may not be lucky enough to experience it but enough to believe in it.

You want something fun, challenging and exhilarating experience with your family and your children, then this is the perfect family activity that you and your family can enjoy and cherish together.

I'd love to see my children and my husband take up on this family activities. I'll just have to wait till my son turns 8. I may not do the scuba diving but I may consider snorkeling if my remaining lung is strong enough experience it. Insya'ALLAH. Anyway, I know my son will be thrill and excited.

You like what you see? Take that chance, make a change in you and your family life. Bring your kids for swimming and check out Kids Scuba. They'll learn a lot about the underwater world.

You can check out Kids Scuba website for more information or email directly to kidsscuba@yahoo.com or call them directly at 019-382 6705 (Syed) or (Nadia) or Fax: 603 5192 8005. For your information, they will be organizing the next Kids Scuba Adventure Camp 2007 from 14-17th March 2007. The event will be held at Kg. Salang, Tioman with the cooperation of Tioman Development Authority, B & J Dive Center and Salang Pusaka Resort. They have a line-up range of exciting events such as teach scuba diving for Kids Scuba, Scuba rangers and Jr. Open water certified students. There will also be talks on marine conservation, trip to the Marine Park, Tioman and other exciting activities for your children, future scuba divers and parents too. :)

Enjoy life and have fun but don't ever forget your faith and beliefs while you are enjoying life.

p/s

Damn, I was watching Grey's Anatomy on star world and they were doing a surgery on a Mesothelioma patient! Shootssss!!! I know! I know! It's only a TV series but damn, that really hit me for a while!! I still have a copy of my friend's surgery which I'm too scared to watch it again. I kept it as a remembrance of what I went through in 2005. Well, that's my experience in life for the past 3*+. Though I like the idea that I don't look my age!! Hahahaha :P (Ye saya angkat bakul sendiri!! :P. Bukan selalu saya nak perasan pun. ;))

And another thing, when is the streamyx line be back up again eh????????? We can't get into iTunes to download the latest season of NCIS, 24 and Heroes!! Arghhh!!.. I'll have to settle with watching Heroes all over again next Wednesday and wonder what will happen to Jack Bauer!! Hoihhh!! Lambat nye!!!! Tak larat tunggu dah ni!!! :P

Looking Back: 2005

This are my recaps of 2005......

January: I never realized what was coming a head this year. My life changed in an instant.

February: I found out I had Mesothelioma. It's a rare cancer caused by Asbestos. I flew to Singapore for my PET Scan. Came back and started off with 6 rounds of my chemotherapy.

March-April-May-June-July: I was in and out of the hospital doing my chemotherapy. Mid July flew to Singapore for PET Scan and Sydney for 2nd Opinion.

End July - August: My family and I flew to Sydney. My life changed. August 2nd: I went through a radical major surgery called "pleuropneumonectomy" where they took out my right lung, right pleura, right diaphragm and lining of the heart. I am now left with one lung. I am still breathing and will keep on breathing till my last breath.

This is my fate and I have accepted it with  an open heart. I am not afraid of my fate. There is always a reason for everything that happens in our lives. We move on and learn through our past. We learn to forgive and accept the past. We learn about how our life is precious. We learn to be more spiritual and being closer to ALLAH. We have learn to fight and I shall keep on fighting.

September: I was recuperating from the major surgery and preparing my self for the radiotherapy by the end of the month. I didn't see my husband for a month! Another challenge ALLAH gave me which involves my whole family-parents-siblings. It was very hard for me to handle especially when I just had a major operation and recuperating from it.

October: I went through 25 rounds of radiotherapy. My husband came and visit me over the weekends. (Not every week though. This is not K.L-JB). Then, 30th October I flew back home 3 days before Hari Raya. I was so desperately wanting to go back home.

November: I celebrated Hari Raya with my family and relatives. This year Hari Raya meant a lot to me and my family. We also trade in our 4WD for an MPV so that we have more comfort. I also had shingles.

December: I'm on remission since then. I go for my medical check up every month. My son had a very bad case of food poisoning. My daughter and husband was infected with the same virus which caused my son's food poisoning.

Side effects after surgery: Your body feels totally alien/different. The numbness and sudden off and on sharp pain caused by the nerves being cut stays on. You wonder about your body more. The anxiety somehow is still there from time to time. Your mind wonders but you try and think positive and pray for the best. You tend to be a bit forgetful at time due to all the medication you've been taking for the past 10 months.

I try to maintain a healthy living and try not to give up even though my mind tends to wonder which is common for every one who have had cancer and goes through major surgery and now on remission.

What we need to keep on surviving: Happy thoughts, laughter, being happy, being positive, surrounded by positive vibes, encouragement, self pampering when needed, stress-free environment, help us live a normal life (or almost normal for people like me), always being surrounded by family and friends and many more which can help us heal ourselves better.

NOTE: Try not to share or tell stories of someone you know who have had cancer and didn't make it to another cancer patient or someone who is on remission or recovering from it because it's very upsetting!!!! Let them read or see it for themselves as they can handle it better that way rather than being told.

Well, Insya'ALLAH we will have a better year next year. Here's to 2006!! HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!!

[My new year's eve will be at some official dinner function with hubby in K.L. Hubby owes the family a family retreat!! Party? What party?]

In The Past...

I was going through my old university website when I saw some familiar pictures. Oh how I missed my student life!! I had plans of going back to the States and I was thinking of bringing my family this time around for a vacation. Looks like I may have to put on hold that idea for a while.

That is a picture of the university union building where students would hang out before and after class. The other snowy picture is the student centre building. (I think). It's been a while and lots of things have changed since I left.

I've been to my husband's university in England. I teased him a lot when I was there. I can't imagine him staying in that place for 3-4 years before he moved to London to work for another few more years. I thought my university was a "kampung". His, was worst!! *wide grin* Oh..I love teasing him.

Just a thought about the past.....

I'm off to eat fish & chips..hospital food....I have no choice...I sound like a broken record now...just eat it..and stuffed myself with it...urghhh...can someone bring me a nice juicy chicken chop oriental style or chicken mushroom pie with coleslaw and mashed potatoes from Dave's Deli pleaseee....uhuk..uhukk...booohooooohooo....

It Was Nice Meeting You in Person...

"D"....

It's so nice to meet such a sweet and thoughtful person who happens to be one of my readers. It was nice to finally meet up with you!! Yup.. you've just met "mobilemom" in person today. And yes..don't we just adore "stripes" eh? heh heh heh....

I don't know what to say really. I totally didn't expect the "surprise gift" you've given to me. You don't know how much I REALLY REALLY appreciate the "gift" and your nice and kind "gesture". I never thought I would ever own "it". I have read about Lance Armstrong Foundation and never thought I could actually own the band. Actually, when I was told about the website few weeks back, (I was in the hospital at that time!) I thought about purchasing the band. But the process will take time and I've decided to put on hold till later when I'm done with my "chemo" treatment. I know you need to order it through internet and all. So, it was so much hassle then.

But today when I met you for the first time, what you did for me, I want to tell you that your "gift" is very special to me and I want you to know that personally from the horse's mouth!! :) May GOD bless you always. Thank you "D". Thank you for your wonderful kind gesture. When I was told that the "yellow band" was the only one you had and you wanted me to have it, I was almost in tears. I feel honored. I'm so happy and I now owned the "yellow band LIVESTRONG" thanks to you.

And now, I'm wearing it!! LIVESTRONG!! and Be strong!!

I hardly know you but you gave a very strong positive and wonderful aura to me. Thanks again. I hope you keep on reading my blogs when you have the time to invest. :) I know my blogs are lengthy sometimes. But I share my readers my stories, my experience, my fear, my anger, my thoughts, my happiness, my food cravings/galore ;) and most importantly how I cope with my CANCER. LIVESTRONG!! and be strong!! :)

So my dear "D". Here's to a new "friendship"!! :) Take care and enjoy life!! CHEERS!!

p.s

Special thanks to my "good hubby's ole' buddy buddy friend" who introduced us. :) Thanks..

AFS / ABM?...

What the heck is that???....

Let me tell you another story of my life...heh heh heh.... "What? You mean there's more?"

Well, just enough to tell you what this "AFS/ABM" is all about.

AFS/ABM stands of "American Field Services or in our country is known also as Antarabudaya Malaysia".They are actually a non-profit organization on a volunteer-based. You can read them more at the link given.

SUMMARIZE: "Antarabudaya Malaysia is a non-profit volunteer-based organization, which is recognized by the Ministry of Education, promoting international understanding and intercultural learning through worldwide exchange programs for students, professionals, young workers and families. Since 1958, ABM has sponsored over 1000 Malaysian students abroad and has hosted over 1200 students from participating countries." (taken from the website!) ;)

Yes folks, those who knows about this organization will definately know that I am either a volunteer or a "RETURNEE". In this case, I am a "RETURNEE".

What made me write about this today? I had a dream. Really wierd dream. It was combination of some "reality show" (believe me you'll laugh so hard if I were to tell you which reality show so I'm not going to mention it in here!!) and this organization. Talk about "crazy dream", I'm one person who has all this crappy type of dreams. DUH!!

OK back to AFS. I went to Japan in 1990 under this program. It may not be the one year exchange program but it was the 3 months short stay language and home stay program. My batch was the first batch introduced to this program. YES! We were the "guinea-pig" alright!! :P heh heh heh...

Anyway, this program thought me so many things. I learned to be more "independent", I learned to see things differently, exposed to many cultures, made so many international friends around the world (however, lost track of most of them), hosted several exhange student after that and many more sweet memories that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

I have told my husband once, I said to him.."one day when the kids are big enough, I'd like to hosts theses exchange students again!" Why I said this is because I had beautiful memories and experience therefore I want our children to experience something like this along the way. It teaches you about how you "see to learn and accept" people's culture in many ways. The exposure is "PRICELESS". I thank AFS/ABM for mine.

I'm still in contact of with my "host parents" as they call it. (However lately, we've been out of touch. Probably they are busy with their business. Infact, I have not told them about my cancer! Language is a barrier. I don't speak the language anymore. Atleast they can read english but I haven't got the time to tell them.)

Anyway, They came down to K.L for my wedding 6 years ago actually. They are the sweetest Japanese couple. They took care of me well when I was there. The language issues were tough I must admit. I walked around the house with a "dictionary" in my hands. I watch TV in Japanese, I eat, sleep following their way of style. My host parents had 2 kids of their own. Both girls. When I came in, I was their "middle" new found daughter!! I had an eldest sister who was pretty crazy I thought at that time. She had a very fierce cat name "Kuri". The cat was so cute and adorable which she brings her around EVERYWHERE!!. Then a younger sister who is in a band. She plays the bass guitar. I can't remember if she goes to "Harajuku" for her gigs!! But..that was an exposure of a life time.

Then, I went to a language school in Tokyo. I take the "overly packed sardine trains" every morning to school. Where I stayed, was about 2 hours away from Tokyo if you drive. But since I took the train, it took me an hour everyday to go to school. It's too bad I didn't experience their "school life" since I was under the language program. So, my classmates were students who came in from every part of the world. Cool ehh!! :)

At a camp somewhere in "Gotemba", we did a show. I danced infront of all the Japanese and other AFS students. Ohh I had so much fun. "I can dance?" you asked? Yes, I can. I enjoyed doing traditional dance!! When I was younger, in primary and secondary school, I represent my school for competitions. So, it somehow stayed with me for a long time. It was something I enjoyed doing. I thought the exchange students how to dance. Ohh.. I thought them "dikir barat" hah aha hah aha...beat that folks!! Yes, and I had to sing..which was hilarious!! The whole experience was hilarious. But I had so much fun.

When I came home, I signed up as volunteer. As a "returnee" and for a person who just experience something exciting in life, you would want to give back and share your whole "experience" with people. I remember helping out our local AFS conducting "interviews" for the new applicants. It was fun. I think I did interviewed one of my closefriend's wife!! Pretty amazing and it's a small small world!! I also "hang out" with the exchange students who are here for the "year program". Some of them also stayed with us.

Amazing and priceless experience!! I wouldn't mind that my kids goes through what I went through. It's just so different from the rest experience I had gone through.

You'll be surprised If I was to say that we do have celebrities who infact is a "returnee" themselves. I can tell you two of them. Mahathir Lokman and Yasmin Yusuf. They are our super senior returnees. :)

Later folks...nature calls....

Stories from the Memory Lane.....

While I was busy trying to do a make over banner for my blogsite, my dad, my cousin "W" and hubby walks through their experiences down the memory lane.

Being brought up in a Military family is not that bad actually now that my dad starts to share his stories during his cadet times in the U.K many many many many (I mean really "many") moons ago. He sat on the chair as we the "young ones" (though not THAT young!) listens to his experience during his "cadet" days. Added with my cousin's and husband's experience being in a "military train college" was as bad as being a "real cadet soldier". It was an eye opener for me, as a daughter and a wife.

Listening through people's experience tend to open up your mind set to a different level. My dad for instant, been sharing his stories with us for the past few weeks. Stories that you never know your dad would share it with his children. It makes me think that all the things which is happening to me right now has brought our family to a different level of family bondings. Alhamdulillah! I'm so blessed with the encouragement, support and endless love that my family has given me.

Anyway, I managed to get my banner done fast and decided to upload it and save it in blogdrive.com instead of using an image host that probably has gone haywire the whole day today.

Earlier today when my dad got home from the mosque, he gave me a book about "cancer". This book was given to him by my dad's friend who survived "cancer". Similar to my case I was told. According to dad, some people from the mosque somehow got to know about my situation. People were asking where my dad was for the past few weeks. So, when they heard the news....that explained his "dissapearing" (M.I.A) for the past 3 weeks while I was in the hospital. :)

One of my bestfriend "N" came and visit me today. Oh..she was such a sweet auntie "N". My son was very excited for the fact that "Auntie N" was playing with him through out the whole hour. It was nice seeing my son jumping and playing with her. But then, when it comes to feeding him his food, it's tougher. My husband always get a tough time feeding him. Thanks "Auntie N". Thanks for your wonderful card and your ever loving support and encouragement that you have given to me and "J". You are being LOVED too darling!! I'm glad your wedding plans are working well according to your needs and all. I hope your "hen party" turns up GREAT!! Oh..you'll have a BALL!! :) I'm happy for you!! Don't forget the pictures and videos of the wedding ehh!! :) ( 2nd reminder! heh heh heh)

My dinner tonight!! Home cook meal again!! I'm telling you..I'm just gonna put up what ever I had for breakfast, lunch or dinner till I ran out of ideas what to eat!! :P Then again, hey..this is so much better than 3 weeks of hospital food ya!! The only problem is when my mom starts asking me..."what do you want to eat today?" then I'll go err..."blank"!! Anything mom!! Anything you cook is just fine for me!! As long as it's not "MAMAK" food!! :P

Hubby got me "donuts" for tea. NO Tau Foo Fah (loh)! Aiyaa..here goes my cravings!!! :P My husband knows me too well when it comes to my cravings!! It's worst than being pregnant I tell ya!! :P

Ok..I give up!!.One of my pictures that I wanted to upload tonight doesn't seem to appear!! Cehh!! I'll do it tomorrow then. Pity hubby..i mean "permanent male nurse" waiting for me...

G'nite folks....

Everyone is Dreamland and I'm Blogging away...

Oh..well, everyone is asleep and I'm blogging away....

It's a normal everyday routine for me. I would either blog, reading people's blog, surfing away doing my research or chat!!

Well, today (or was it yesterday?) I couldn't sleep till 3am. My kids sleeps with us in the same room. My daughter cried few times probably because she could sense that the TV was still on and I was typing away and yet at the same time taking a glimpse of what's showing on Astro. As for my son, he was nicely tucked in with his daddy in the middle of our bed.

What was I actually thinking about yesterday? Purely thinking of how to get in shape and being fit again. We have not gone to our usual exercise routine for very a long time since the Ramadhan fasting month. We have several club membership and yet we can't seem to drag our feet to the gym. Instead we become couch potatoes!! But yesterday, we FINALLY dragged our not fit bodies to the gym near by our house. It was dreadful really. We were so NOT FIT at all. Panting away gasping for oxygen and yet not even a single sweat came out from me. Damn it!! All that effort for nothing!! What a pathetic lifestyle we have sometimes I wonder. So OK, I had enough of exercise and wanted to play badminton. That will help me sweat for sure but DUH!! The most important thing we need and we forgot to bring it with us!! The badminton rackets!! Gave up...left the club and headed to some "mamak" shop for "roti canai" and "teh-o-ais limau!!" Pathetic!!

"Going Public!"

Yes, after 2 years of blogging I have decided to come out clean. Come out in the open. Blog till you drop kind of thing. Ofcourse there is the issue of how often would I update my blogs. Well, we will see.

As I had mentioned earlier on, I have been blogging for the past 2 years and kept my blogs private. Why the sudden change of weather? Maybe I should be more active or adventurous in expressing my train of thoughts. I got to know a professor from my Masters program a year ago who thinks that I think too much or alot. Yes, I do think alot. My husband do think so too. I needed an outlet and Blogging could be the answer to my silly stress. So help me GOD!!