Friday, April 17, 2015

Life stood still for a while

The photo above was taken in May 2014, the day we were going to Pantai Hospital to find out  about her surgery,

It's 39 days since Maz, my second daughter, passing due to stomach cancer (9 March 2015). It was a long and painful 9 months struggle for her to deal with her cancer. Least to say, my family and I was devastated. For a while I was numbed. Tears swelled my eyes with the slightest memory. I could not sleep, eat and be at peace. Intrusive memory, flashbacks, regrets etc etc haunted me every second. I lost a daughter whom I depended on so much, whom I knew would take care of me but she was gone. How can that be.,....,Visiting her grave almost everyday, praying, reading the Quran, Rania and Gabe kept me sane. The pain of grieving is not over yet and I grieve alone but today I decided to put whatever in my mind into writing again. It may not describe accurately how I feel but it will help to relieve me of my sadness though tears keep flowing while typing.
Rania's 5th birthday yesterday made me decide to open the computer again and to tell my story. Believe  me, there are so much to tell and to share, hoping whoever reads my blog will understand a mother's pain of losing a child, I would like to share my experience of caring for a cancer patient who is close to her/his heart - the mistakes. the frustrations, the hopes and the endless prayers. As I told Tony, Maz's former KFC boss, I wish no parents should go through the pain of seeing their child seriously sick but that's not to be. It's God's will that some parents would go through this pain.
I owe so much to so many people especially her friends who truly cared for her. I admire my daughter for being able to sustain sincere friendship and being able to maintain it. Help came in many ways to her. My love and gratitude to Fardan who was always there to cater for Maz's requests, regardless of what and when. Aznul, her other close friend and Rok who made waiting more bearable when we took her to Al-Hidayah, Roshni who cooked for her favourite dish, and Fazlina who helped deal with her insurance issues and visited her to give her courage as she has experienced caring for her late husband who had cancer. I have not met Atikah but I want to say thank you for giving cash RM10,000.00 in her hand for her treatment, She shed tears with her head on my shoulder. There were a few other friends who contributed cash to help her get the best treatment.  To Amin, her friend and former boss, the RM100,000.00 for the projects she completed disappeared within a month to pay for her hospital bills and treatment,
We were so worried as to how to get her to Johor Baharu for her Hyperthermia treatment. Dr, Radzi's clinic there is the only clinic that offers this treatment for cancer patients in this region. She needed a place to stay where I could cook for her limited diet. Living in Hotel was not viable. Allah is so great. In our dire need, her oncologist, Dr, Radzi, offered his apartment in JB for us to stay for free. May Allah bless you Dr, Radzi. He saw that Maz's case is complicated and more critical to get the treatment. We owe you much for your dedication to help my lovely daughter and she was grateful and happy. Our transport problem to ferry her with the wheelchair to and from the clinic was taken care of by Tony who directed his driver to take us to and from the clinic every time she had treatment. Yetty, Dr. Radzi's staff and weekend maid helped me to take care of her. It was tough for me to take care of her alone especially on treatment days. The staff at Dr. Radzi's Oncology Clinic in JB was wonderful. They gave her full attention. Thank you Fiza, Cik Non, Mimi, Vinni and others for your dedication.
My most heartfelt gratitude is to Najidah who helped me since the day Maz was diagnosed with cancer. She's more a daughter to me who took care of my worries over my apartment in PD, the move back to PJ, and the heaps of households things that I hoard for years. Without her devotion to help I would be drowned. She is a savior for my sanity. My love and endless thanks to you, Najidah. May Allah bless you with good health and happiness. I remember Maz told me when Najidah came to stay at her house at weekends, she said Najidah's presence somehow calmed her down although they didn't converse much. She liked it when Najidah was around. Bless you my love. To all my former students and colleagues who contributed cash, prayers and words of courage, I thank you for your kindness. I am sorry for not being able to write down every name for fear I might leave some. Bless your kind hearts,
There are many people especially Maz's friends whom I didn't mention here such as Azlina, Melati and Maizura who were her childhood friends and others who have been so kind and helpful. Please forgive her for refusing to see all of you during her illness. She didn't want you all to pity her when you see her condition.
My daughter, Maz, must be a very nice person for being able to have so many faithful friends around her during her difficulty. I am really proud of her,
True what the old saying says " Kawan bersuka ramai, Kawan menangis kita seorang", It happened to me.
I am still struggling inside. InsyaAllah I will get over it.
Al-Fatihah.....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Salam kak zu....berat bahu memikul....saba doakan Allah Ya Aziz....Ya Qowwiy.....Ya Matin...Allah Yang Maha Kuat....Maha Teguh dsn Perkasa mengalirkan sedikit drp kekuatanNya.....keteguhanNya dan keperkasaanNya kepada Kak Zu sefamily.....sayang kak zu forever.....saba.

Jerangkong Malam said...

Take care Mama... Yang pergi kita doakan mereka dan kita yang hidup harus gagah untuk meneruskan perjuangan di dunia... takziah untuk Mama dan keluarga... tiada yang lebih sakit dari kehilangan orang tersayang namun Tuhan lebih menyayangi mereka... Amen

-Don (Batch 2005)-

Yong Fui Yin said...

Deepest condolences on your loss. In many ways, Life is marvellous and every second counts and Life stood still for a while : Life goes on for there are many others who stand beside us to make us strong in difficult times and we continue to say thanks for life that is still beautiful.
I am so glad you did so well in your career and life. All the sacrifices were worth it! I expected you to be awarded one of the awards like Hasmy, Johari and Said Awang (Tan Sris and Datuk). Congrats ( belated though) in acquiring all the academic titles!
I met you twice : in Kl with Bien Mei Nien and in Genting Highlands with Constance Vendargon. You may not remember me : I was your class mate in MGS Melaka and MHS.: Yong Fui Yin. I tried contacting you via your blog when Chua Bok Chye organized A Class Reunion last year 2014 but being not computer savvy ... This year there is to be another 1964 MHS
Reunion on Saturday October 24 in Malacca. Venue ? . You were mentioned in last year's reunion and I know that the guys especially the "boys" are just waiting to see the Malay beauty. Alice Chee Lan Neo is in KL 603-56361558. As for Padmimi Balan - I don't have her contact number though I have an idea where she stays provided she has not moved to be with her children. Alice Chia remembers you as the friend who was her buddy to see movies in town: it was cheap to watch films in those days! Her contact 016-7077298 /06-23211764. I have info where most of the classmates are ; though contact is infrequent. Don't keep much in contact. BTW, I wasn't recognized by the guys except by Bok Chye and Keng Chuan the 2 arts boys and not by the Malay guy: Said! That's life !
Should you be interested in attending the reunionp with your MHS classmates do contact Chua Bok Chye via his email
chuabokchye@gmail.com. The two guys organizing the Reunion are Dr Chong Kwong Tart tartchong@yahoo.com and Stephen Leong Weng Tuck swtleong@yahoo.com. , both in Malacca.
You can email me at fui4411@gmail.com or sms me 016-6085032 or call me at 06-2832437. BTW, I'm no smartphone user, just own an old ordinary mobile!
I give thanks that I'm mobile and am able to still take care of myself. Each day is a bonus as I greet the morning. Whatever setbacks there are, are there to give strength and thanks.
I hope to hear from you.. thanks for the memories : enjoyed reading your blog and walking down memory lane with you.
Bless you. Take care. Fuiyin

Yong Fui Yin said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Zuraidah said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zuraidah said...

Dear Saba and Don

TQ so much for your words of courage and your doa. Though grieving has no time limit I hope I can overcome the pain with much redha. God loves her and saves her from her suffering. Thats what I keep telling myself.
May God bless you both.
Kak Zu/Mama

Zuraidah said...

Dear Fui Yin
Haiya TQ for for visiting my blog. Of course I remember u but tak tahulah whether u can recognise me or I recognise u when we meet. So very please to read your message. Ya, it would be nice to meet everybody back during our young days. Hei I am white-haired already - very learned lah!!!! hahaha.
I dont know whether I can come in Oct but please remind me by calling 019 857 5188. What title? I am a small fry. Anyway I thank God for giving me a good life. I am still grieving for my daughter which her passing is like a nightmare to me. I am trying to put my life back together though its so hard.
Will meet again, insyallah.