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Fighting Cancer

I can associate my mother with just two words- ‘fighting cancer’. Never have I seen such a brave…
photo of my mother as epitome of spirit of fighting cancer
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I can associate my mother with just two words- ‘fighting cancer’. Never have I seen such a brave and courageous lady as her.

Even though she knew she had cancer, she never revealed a single frown. She simply lay there bearing her pain with utmost strength, never complaining and simply giving us strength.

After we discovered she was diagnosed with lung cancer, we did all we could, just as all loving families do.

My father picked up Reiki (a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing), so he could comfort my mother’s pain.

We all managed to throw in our efforts- prayed, went to religious places, tried herbal medicines etc, but like they say- it was destiny.

However, the question that we all asked the Almighty was – why her? Why do bad things happen to good people?

After a few days we realized, that perhaps our God fell short of good people and needed them up above. That being the reason he called my mother there.

The news was broken to me much later after the detection; maybe because I am an emotional person, my mother knew what sadness I would under go.

It was hard to believe at first, and some how I did not want to believe it. I kept putting it aside, not letting the thought enter my mind.

I always felt that it could not happen, and even if the doctors said so, she would be alright sooner or later. There were times when my heart could see the pain she was under going, but my mind would simply shelve it aside.

My mother never displayed what she went through. It is a known fact that cancer patients suffer a lot, more so after chemotherapy.

As she lived with us for a few months during her treatment, I never once saw her cry in pain or utter a single negative word. I still remember the days when her hair started falling, due to the chemotherapy.

She would use a wig so that we wouldn’t see the difference. She made it look so natural, and dressed normally as before.

My mother had utmost faith in God, and He has been the one who has helped her overcome all the pain and grief. Even during her last few days, when she was talking less, she was always smiling.

She could hear us talk, and even though she lost the strength to speak, her eyes conveyed her thoughts.  It was almost as if they were saying- “I want to stay with you, but dear ones, even if I am not, I will always remain deep there within you.”

Tears roll by even as I write this little piece of work, as I remember her fondly, as my pillar of strength. And just as her eyes spoke, she is very much still present amongst us.

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  1. Harleena,

    What a lovely post about your mother. What a strong woman and a faithful one. A woman we must all take a lesson from. This post really got to me because I remember when it was my Father’s last days, he spoke with his eyes.

    He stood strong in his pain with cancer and couldn’t talk, but to this day I can see his deep set blue eyes speaking to us. He didn’t want us to know his pain, stood strong like your mom.

    With faith, we can make more sense of it all. God wanted him and there was nothing we could do but respect that. I don’t know what I would do without my faith in God.

    Thank you for sharing this post…And may God bless

    -Donna

  2. Hey Harleena

    A wonderful post. I thought I was going to make it without the tears but you last paragraph got me.

    Your mother seemed like you said a tower of strength. I do believe the big man in the sky needs to take a few of the best before their time.

    But your mother is still here now all you have to do is look a little harder. You will see traits of her in your siblings, in your own children and whoever was in regular contact with your mother.

    You dad sounds like a wonderful man as well. Learning Reiki – very impressive. You family sounds solid. Bless you all.

    Rachel.

  3. What a beautiful and emotional post, Harleena! Your mother seemed to be an amazing woman with strength and grace. I’m sure that she would be very proud of the woman you became!

    Thanks for sharing this with us. God bless!

  4. It’s hearbreaking to see the loved ones to go but its all the destiny – the GOD’s will.

    Smile for her and she’d be proud of you!

    I have never seen my grand-father because he died when my father was one year old but I do miss him a lot…

  5. Hi Harleena

    Although this post has been long posted but so sorry about your mum.

    My mum had Stroke 5 years back and was lucky to be alive by God.

    She has been in pains since trying to recover and I do know that she will be better soon. So I do relate with your experience.

    Thanks for sharing. Happy Mother’s day.

  6. Aha, worda are not enough to express my feeling right now, my tears came out because i saw my father death with my eys so its very panic sometime, no doubt parents are greatest blessing of God and nothing can be compared with them, very sad to know about your mother. Be strong and be inspirational like your mom.

  7. She would be so proud of you today, you’ve grown up to be what she would have loved…a sensible lady.

    A wonderful tribute to her! She is still watching you over, so you better smile today 🙂

  8. I know how it feels when someone who is most closer to you goes too far where you can reach and it’s beyond our imagination. Even I lost my Grandpa a couple of months ago. And it had been the worst moment I’ve had experienced after my grandma’s death. I fell like I’ve lost the most precious and valuable gem of my life. And still I miss them. They died a natural death. May they rest in peace and I pray to God that they make me their grand son in my next birth.
    And I know ma’am you’re a very strong woman & you’ve had handled yourself with you mum’s help only. Granny is always there with you around you and she is looking at you every moment. May her soul reat in peace.

  9. Harleena ma’am, I am sure wherever your mom is she is so proud of you that you are positively influencing so many people and I am one of them. I have seen my mom crying whenever she remembers her mom as she too had some kind of cancer and I never saw my granny.

    Womens are so powerful and moms are definitely the original wonder womens. 🙂

    With loads of Love,
    ~ Rohan.

  10. Hi Harleena,

    I just saw this post on Facebook and was compelled to come over.

    This was a lovely tribute to your mother. She was so brave, graceful and dignified with the way she dealt with cancer.

    Love and best wishes to you and your family.

  11. What a brave mom you had Harleena.

    My mom too died of cancer. It was a difficult time for all of us but as you, I think of her as still with us. She died with grace just as she lived.

    God bless her and all moms who dedicated their lives to their children. We are all blessed for having such wonderful moms.

    Liz

  12. Hi Harleena,
    So sad to hear this, though its an year later,
    I can understand the loss of the dear ones!
    Its really very difficult to take it,
    Yes, indeed your Mother’s courage is really rare!
    Even after knowing about that dreadful disease she
    kept on going without murmuring, that is indeed a great thing which many do not have. Thanks for sharing this note on here birthday, May her soul rest in peace.
    Take Care
    God Bless
    ~ Phil

  13. Hi Harleena,

    I didn’t know the whole story about her until I drop by here. Even I planned to stop by tomorrow, couldn’t resist it for this one.

    I’m very sorry for your loss, but I know she is always with you. I don’t believe anyone can define that love at all. Such sacrifices are what I truly believe in and they always inspire me to do beyond what I am capable of. The strength of mother’s love!

    I have no doubt that your mother loves you more than ever, as you follow her footsteps Harleena. I feel you reflects her as you always shown love for everyone. Inherited from the bravest 🙂

    I wish more of such personalities for our World dear! I really do!

    Feel like that, in this month, more of personal stories being revealed 🙂 Almost got to know about few other friends too. Thanks for sharing this post with us today.

    Wish her a Happy Birthday from the bottom of my heart!

    You have a lovely day there 🙂

    Cheers…

    1. Hi Mayura,

      Thanks for taking out the time to stop by here today. Yes, it’s a very old post, which I usually share with everyone on her birthday…I guess I miss her a lot on this day most of all, yet I know she’s always with me 🙂

      I agree with you entirely. There is nothing that can match a mother’s love, nor can anyone replace that. I know my Dad tries his level best and he is too good a person, but a mother is always a mother and what you can share with her, you cannot with anyone else. I know you can relate to this as you too are so fond of your Mom.

      I can only try and follow in her footsteps Mayura, because I’ve so-so much to match up with where she was concerned. She was a real giver in the literal sense. There have been times when she’s selflessly taken off her woolens to give to the poor who had none by the road side. Who does this nowadays. I wish there was more I could’ve learnt from her – yes, a major loss.

      Is that so? Perhaps this IS a lovely month. I know Corina and Sue Price also share their birthday’s with my Mom, and it was another blogger friend’s mother’s birthday too. Yes, my best wishes for everyone born on this lovely day.

      Thanks for stopping by and being such a good friend – I appreciate you. Have a nice weekend 🙂

  14. All mothers are like that right, they are ready to sacrifice all they have for the success and happiness of their loved ones…

    After reading this short post, i couldn’t help but shed tears, i pray may her soul rest in peace, we love her, but God love her most..

    She will always be with you…

    1. Hi Temilola,

      Yes indeed, all mothers are like that, though a few people have told me differently about their mothers, which had left me rather surprised, or perhaps a lot depends on how and what circumstances led them to be such.

      Sorry for the tears, I know how it feels. I wish your Mom well as it’s her birthday today as well as you mentioned On Facebook. Love and be with her always 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by and your kind wishes. Yes…she is always around me 🙂

  15. You are really great harleena ma’am !! You mom is proud of you. I silently cried after reading this article, In past 1999 my aunt suffered from cancer, and she is no more. When i see her son i can feel the pain. How they could manage without mom. OMG i can’t even think to live 1 second without my loving mom. hey god plz bless all, my mom.
    Thanks!!

    1. Welcome to the blog Inderjit!

      Thank you for saying that, and I hope she is 🙂

      Sorry for having moved you to tears, but that’s just how I felt when I’d written this post years back after having lost my pillar of strength. Cancer is a horrible disease and spares no one, and I can well understand your cousins pain too. Yes, managing life without a parent is never easy, which just makes me send out this message to everyone asking them to value their parents for they might not be with you for long. Yes, God bless your Mom 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by and contributing to the post 🙂

  16. Not so much aged to say about this post But i would like to say some !!

    Yes, Mom is the one who will bring us in to this world and help us to survive in this world. They will be with us in every hard time of our life. There caring start from our birth to till the end of their life. She train us to walk,talk,makes us bold and everything. I think God will be cruel to good people he takes them very early, don’t know why but he makes the bad people to live who commit crimes and lives a normal life. But Mothers love is Unique. We may find many betray us in love but moms can’t. Really my life without my mom is waste. I love her a lot.

    Your Mom was very brave and courageous woman, Hats off to her Ma’am !! God Bless her. She will be always with you !! 🙂 🙂

    1. Hi Srikanth,

      You are absolutely right…mothers are so very special for so many reasons. They are indeed the ones who bring us in this world and the very reason we are what we are today. They are with us all through, but sometimes He has his own reasons for taking the ones we love. I agree with you, why do bad things happen to good people, something I’ve also always wondered about and found no answers. I can see you love your mother a lot, so treasure her because no one stays with us forever, and make every day for her a unique one. 🙂

      Yes, my Mom was a very brave and courageous lady and have us a lot of strength. I do miss her a lot, but I know she is always as a guardian angel beside me 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your views 🙂

  17. Sometimes only a hug can convey what’s on our hearts. Big Hug.

    And wow…what a lady. Thanks Harleena for sharing and re-directing me to this precious post. Take special care and carry on in honour of your mum. Peace

    1. Thanks so much Ntathu!

      Yes indeed, she was truly a courageous woman of substance, and I sure am proud to be her daughter 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

  18. I am so sorry for the terrible loss Harleen.

    Especially when something like cancer is involved it becomes a constant battle. I just don’t know what to say. Your mother was a brave woman; who fought till the end. My sympathies to you and a huge salute to the woman of so much strength and strong will.

    1. Some things are just not in our hands Hajra!

      Yes her loss was terrible and something that created a vacuum in our lives, but we all learn to live- don’t we? But like I mentioned in an earlier comment, those who are close to our hearts, always remain with us, around us, as our guardian angels- guiding us through all the tough and trying times. You just need to close your eyes and remember them, and you do feel them around- I do 🙂

      She was indeed a very brave and courageous woman, and was always giving us strength, instead of the other way round. I learnt so many of my life’s lessons from her and hope someday can bring them all up gradually on the blog for the readers.

      Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  19. Huge hugs to you, Harleena.

    I can imagine how you feel. God bless you. Your Mom is proud of you.

    With love, Vidya

    1. Thanks for your kind and warm words Vidya!

      Yes indeed, the loss of one’s dear ones- especially parents or children is what hits us the hardest. And we realize the value of the loss only after we lose the people we love the most.

      I can understand the loss of your mom as well, as its quite recent. Guess our moms must be proud of us in some way or the other.

      Thanks for stopping-by. 🙂

  20. thanks for the spirit spread to us..we must keep the spirit to doing great things. do not fear about cancer vonis, i have read about stuart scout spirit we should take his spirit too

  21. @Stuart Scout CancerYes, you are very right. We should not underestimate the power of spirit; it can move mountains. Thanks for your kind comment.

  22. …still have her words with me…'just between you and me'…she will always be with us…

  23. @Sisir
    Thanks for commenting. Yes, she was a noble soul indeed and has taught me a lot in life.

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