[ 17 FEB 2015 ]
Many friends who have met Mom would used the word ‘Happening’ to describe her. The programme executive at the care centre I met recently remarked that she had very nice colored hair and loved wearing flowery clothes. She also remembered Mom always walking around with an umbrella because she just hated getting tanned.
[ 17 FEB 2015 ]
There is a Chinese belief that if the children stay up late on New Year’s Eve, their parents will live longer. This is exactly what I intend to do tonight. A few weeks ago, Mom was diagnosed with a very serious illness and has been in and out of hospital since. In the wee hours today, she was re-admitted again after spending the weekend home with us. What I saw for myself the past days is really a woman of strength, a person who doesn’t give up easily. And on most days, she retains a whacky sense of humor that continues to puzzle me. (I really wonder if I got that from her) She told me this morning, “So far, I only cried once when the doctor told me about the results. Apart from that, your Mom is really a strong woman. I won’t give up easily. I still want to 闯天下(conquer the world).” In between her radiation therapy and bone scan yesterday, she asked me to secure her wheelchair properly so she could exercise. She is also the one going around the ward chatting with new friends and sharing with them the extra food we brought for her. She introduces us to all the nurses and doctors as if she is a matchmaker and by now, most of them know what I do what a living. This evening, Mom asks if I am planning to send all the images I made of her to news organizations. I told her no, but that I would like to publish a book to share her courage with the world. She just smiled and I hope I have a lot more time to photograph and chat with her. Happy New Year Mom!!!
[ 17 FEB 2015 ]
It was one of those days where Mom had back-to-back appointments, and this case, RT followed by a whole body bone scan. The latter was necessary as the doctors were worried that the cancer might have spread further. The full body bone scan lasted almost one hour and she had to stay very still and hold her bladder. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A bone scan can also be an important tool for detecting cancer that has spread (metastasized) to the bone from the tumor’s original location, such as the breast or prostate.”
[ 17 FEB 2015 ]
Just like me, or should I say I am just like her, Mom loved talking to cabbies. This afternoon, the conversation stretched from food, to children. I usually tried very hard not to join in.