Skip to main content

‘LABISI: Chronicles of a Breast Cancer Warrior




Chapter 5


Journal entry by Karen Delgado — 6/11/2011

‘Just being who they are was enough to keep me going...but they went beyond that---from being "good" for the subs to all types of gifts and acts of kindness…

I hope that they learn at least one lesson from all this--that a kind word or being nice to someone may be just the gift that person needs.  When someone isn't as nice as you think they should be...think about how you can be kind--you never know what type of situation that the person may be going through!’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We sleep and wake up, we do not know how.

Have you ever wondered, why sometimes we like to stay in the dark? As technology has advanced, so many of those things which were attributed to God’s secrecy were unraveled and with a simple click on your phone, you can find out various things which you didn’t even know in times past.

But sometimes, sheer laziness makes us ignore the fact that those things are now known, giving rise to the ‘God knows all’ syndrome.

I decided to start my own breast cancer journal 2 months ago. I mean, how else would I be able to remember all that has happened during this very defining period of my life?

Have I mentioned Mr. Okonkwo in recent times? He’s been so supportive. You know, after my diagnosis, I was told that I would have to get a mastectomy, and I was like ‘mastec-kini?’ Which one be that again? Them don start with all their big big grammar.

Well, I was filled in and that night, I cried my eyes out. Ah? They want to cut my breast ma ni? How would I face Mr. Okonkwo? How would I appreciate my body after all of that? Nah, I felt I couldn’t do it, it would be way too tragic- and think about the fact that I would have to see that scar for like, the rest of my life. At that moment, I felt like blocking out all of the knowledge I had about breast cancer, and just enjoy the solace of having both of my breasts. Please abeg, I no do!

Anyways, Mr. Okonkwo got wind of the fact that I was totally moody, and being his caring self, he kept prodding until I provided him with satisfactory answers.

You know, you never understand the value of your king until he does certain things for you.

Mr. Okonkwo went down on one knee, as if he wanted to propose to me and in my mind, I was like ‘what’s all this biko?’

And then he said ‘My wife, my queen; whatever happens, I’d still love you- breast-full or breastless’, I looked at him, shook my head and then we both burst into laughter. This man, was a clown. We ordered in some food, because I was in no right frame of mind to cook, and we ate. In fact, the next day, he took me out to a Chinese restaurant.

Well, I think that was enough stimulus to get the mastectomy. I had a good support system, and for that, I’m eternally grateful!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

LOVE-CLERKING

A few days ago, we discussed clerking. We’d use that basic knowledge in clerking an individual presenting with certain complaints. History Taking Biodata: Patient X is a 22 year old male Afghanistan student. Presenting complaints: Tachycardia, Sleeplessness, lack of focus History of presenting complaints: first symptom- insomnia (sleeplessness), followed by tachycardia (increase in heart beat), and then, loss of focus. First noticed about 3 weeks ago. Past medical history: Relatively healthy individual, treated for malaria 2 months ago. Has no history of insomnia or tachycardia. Physical Examination Examine cardiovascular system with stethoscope. Examine the lungs as well as the neurological system. Provisional diagnosis Patient is undergoing mental stress, and this is taking a toll on his heart and brain Investigations Laboratory tests are carried out on patient’s blood Due to the neurological and psychological nature of this problem, other areas are also in...

#POETRY# MOMENTS

So, it’s another Monday. Today’s poem is on moments, appreciating them and taking second looks at the seemingly mundane. Enjoy! MOMENTS You never know, you just never know There he was last night, holding your hands, Looking into your eyes with passion beyond expression, And then; here he was this morning, telling a sad tale of never! Who knew love could become so tasteless overnight? It had seemed over in less than a flash; So much for the deep love you shared. Where it all ends, you just never know! Memories of baby’s not so far away childhood, Flickered before her eyes like a dimly lit flame Was it not just last summer she had started crawling? And in what appeared to be less than 24hours, She had walked, jumped and taken sandwiches to school And now, she fit smugly into a graduation gown, cape and all, Her baby was now a grown woman And those memories were all she had left! He stroked her tapered fingers lovingly as he wept by her beds...

LIKE FAITH AND LOVE

Gal 5:6 - For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love. The heart and the lungs are like faith and love, their functions intertwined, their locations proximate, the feelings that they generate just as conclusive. They produce hope for the survival of the physical body, just like faith and love produce hope for the spiritual body’s survival. Experiences of today made me realize something: we need faith intertwined with love to breathe as spirit beings, as much as we need the functional capacity of our cardio-respiratory apparatuses to breathe the breath of life. It’s that important…faith and love I mean.