The Sun. 2 years on;
06.10.2018. A normal day for everyone, just like any Saturday in October, right? Not for me because it is my 2-year anniversary. 2 years on from the day I was taken to theatre for a procedure called Craniotomy, where they open the skull to expose the brain, in my case to remove a tumour named Meningioma.
I had brain surgery, I said that loud this day as I took the famous Nairobi Safari Walk at the Kenya Wildlife Service Park this afternoon. A lot went into my mind on how tough the journey was, has been and continues to be through my healing process. 2018 has been and still is one of the challenging years for me, to say the least; however, the constant success and awareness in my recovery process continue to make my life more meaningful and easier to handle all the other life hurdles that have been thrown my way.
I love nature, animals I can spot a pregnant Zebra and smile at how glowing they look, I love them because the beautiful stripes become more enhanced which catches one’s eyes fast. I love elephants very kind hearted, emotional, intelligent, sensitive creatures, who believe in the power of sisterhood, brotherhood, family, who have the capabilities to mourn there own when they die and respect each other. They are the only creatures that grasp the concept of loss, grief and happiness. Oh I can go on and on about Elephants but I also love Rhinos too, they mark their own territory at times with poop. I love female Rhinos as they walk in-group called Crashes, which comprises of mother and her children. The fact that my two most loved creatures have human like senses make me feel so happy and visiting them makes my mind so peaceful and more aware of myself, struggles, joys, love and life.
Today I celebrated life, the Lord, my Mother, Azadi my princess, those who walked with me and still are, those who cared to call, write beautiful thoughts of best wishes, those who cared to check up on my mental health, those who laughed with me, cried with me, those who have been there for me in one way or another, thank you. Most of all I celebrate ME, for accepting
everyday as is, acknowledging where I am and how I feel, understanding myself and smile about my memory loss, laugh at my collapsed veins which makes it difficult for the lab technicians to draw blood on me, they have to get a medical doctor. I laugh so loud because I get to meet different good-looking, serious and not so pleasant looking doctors trying so hard to find my veins. Others try so hard to make me know they are skilled, come on it is just my vein it has nothing to do with you please. In my mind it is like cat and mouse chase, eventually the mouse get caught at the expense of pain and being pricked many times up to eight times. I celebrate the many moments with my doctor discussing things that seem mundane but are things I need to look out for. I celebrate him. I celebrate my New Normal and Finally I celebrate reduction of medicine.
I did not want to talk about the excitement when you know you can stop one drug. Allow me to indulge you and your time on this one, so the tumor was benign (not cancerous) thank God however they spotted Tuberculosis (TB) so I was on TB drugs for a year together with the three types of anticonvulsants to prevent seizures and allow my brain to heal. After I finished with the TB drugs I continued with other drugs, I tell you drug fatigue is real, I was exhausted and unconsciously I started skipping this one drug which is sweet (I do not like it) and expensive (I hate it). I told the doctor about it and since I have not gotten any seizure episode for a full one year (Say Amen) he decided to withdraw it after doing some various tests. I was flying high when he told me, Oh dear my love for chocolate cannot be compared to those sweet drugs. In my mind I was like, Bye I will never miss you and thank Jesus my pockets are lifted Amen.
So to everyone who has battled (or still is) an illness, disease, cancer, brain cancer or tumor find little things that make you appreciate life. It is Okay Not to Be Okay. Even to this date I get days or weeks, where I am not myself, depressed, tired, fatigued, have migraines but I still find something to be happy about, it is not as easy as it sound but it is doable. We can do this together. Just try to keep your head in the sun and you might never see any glimpse of shadows, the sun brings forth new life, hope, freshness and love.
And as Joseph Addison says, “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”
#Wecandoit #Meningiomachronicles #Braintumorsurvivor #Mothersarethebest #Azadichronicles #Breastcancerawarenessmonth
Unfiltered 