Well now, I wasn’t expecting this but it is pretty cool!

John Palmer of @citriusjohn tweeted this yesterday:

So on, http://paper.li/citriusjohn/1308294231 scroll down to Stories, and Ta-Dah~

November 16, 2010:

365 days ago, I had sat in an office that had the smell and look of an 1980’s TV show.

I heard the last words I wanted to hear and had to absorb all that I could on my own as pure utter pain and manic rushed through my body and mind.

I went home and curled in a fetus position on my bed and cried and cried and when I thought I had ran out of tears, I’d cried some more. I broke the news to my family and closest friends, went to the chapel to get anointed and prayed with all my might and placed my fate with God.

November 16, 2011:

I woke up, had time to eat breakfast I had cooked, and went to College (late, coz I took too long eating and getting ready). I had fun and laughs in all my classes with my classmates and lecturers.

Went home to rest and got ready for Church. I played the organ and then back home to my mother’s loving arms.

The only tears I cried today were that of joy, triumph and humbleness.

Let’s see where I’ll be 1 year from now =]

It’s Pink Ribbon Day! I wear mine to support those affected by breast cancer.

(Source: blossomlilly)

October 18, 2011:

It had occurred to me last year, the possible reality that I might not be able to reach this day. And yet I’m still here. My God, I’m still here. To say that I’m simply just thankful, blessed and happy is an understatement. I couldn’t wait for this period in my life to pass and now I’m more than ready to face the next phase of my life. My 23rd chapter in fact.
I must say, that turning 23 has never looked so good.

I had originally planned to travel somewhere new but since my brother is here for holiday and to celebrate my birthday with me and my mum, well, that’s definitely way better than anything else. I didn’t organise anything, I didn’t want much. All I wanted was to be able spend some moments with my dad and feel somewhat whole again.

I don’t want to be sad or cry anymore, although sometimes I can’t help but still ache to my very core with Papa’s absence, but I do believe God has a plan for me, for my whole family. Like I said, it’s an understatement to say that I’m thankful, blessed and happy. If there’s such a thing as the deepest level of that, then I’m there. Always. Every single time I have a new chance to start over and have the opportunity to face a new day. What a beautiful feeling. Thank you for those that have supported me, and cared for my family in one way or another. You’re truly wonderful people.

Hoping everyone has a beautiful day, and sending my love your way.

Love,

Gem

xoxo

I miss a lot of things. The length and strength of my former eyelashes is one of them.

Help me Light The Night

I’m taking part in Light the Night 2011 for the Leukaemia Foundation.

It is a memorable and uplifting night to shine lanterns of love, life and hope for people with blood cancers.

Please support me by making a donation.

The more we raise the more help we can give to people with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or a related blood disorder.

Please join me and show your support.

Lymphoma B symptoms

In lymphoma, so-called ‘B’ symptoms refer to a special set of symptoms experienced by the patient. Sometimes, lymphomas cause no symptoms at all, except perhaps swollen, rubbery and painless lymph nodes in the neck or groin. Because the patient doesn’t experience actual symptoms in this case, he or she is considered ‘Asymptomatic’, or without symptoms. When he or she IS experiencing certain symptoms, they are called ‘B’ symptoms to differentiate them from someone who is ‘Asymptomatic’.

What are the ‘B’ symptoms?

There are five ‘B’ symptoms in lymphoma. In no particular order, they are:

Unexplained fever/chills
Unexplained fever and/or chills refers to ‘that feeling’ we’re all familiar with when we’re developing a case of the flu. Generally, in order to qualify as a B symptom, this should go on for at least six months without explanation. It is a symptom that, like the next one, can easily be overlooked.

Fatigue
This is a very easy symptom to overlook. Many of us feel fatigued much of the time as it is; we might not notice a general malaise settling over us. The key is to take note if your fatigue is an unbeatable menace or not. Can you get in a long night of sleep and wake up feeling as fatigued as you did before you went to bed? In other words, does rest not ‘relieve’ the fatigue?

Drenching night sweats
Drenching night sweats do NOT mean getting slightly overheated and having a sweat break over your brow. Drenching night sweats mean your bed sheets are so soaked when you wake up that you have to change them. And this may happen more than once in a single night. It typically means sweating across the entire body. Drenching night sweats don’t necessarily begin as ‘drenching’, sometimes the progression is slow but eventually either you have drenching night sweats or you don’t.

Unexplained weight loss
Weight loss can be experienced in different ways, but in the case of lymphoma B symptoms, this is weight loss that you can’t seem to make up for, even by increasing your diet. Generally to qualify as a B symptom there should be an approximately 10 percent drop in weight over at least a six month period.

Pruritus
Pruritus refers to nothing more drastic than itching. As a B symptom, there may or may not be anything visible on the skin causing the itching.

Lymphoma B symptoms: Prognosis

As a general rule, the presence of B symptoms in most subtypes of lymphoma signifies a poorer prognosis than patients without B symptoms. Often, B symptoms can be indicative of so-called bulky disease, which means the development of a tumor or mass.

Each of these symptoms, whether occurring individual or simultaneously, should be reported to one’s health care professional as soon as possible so that the doctor can run the required tests to help rule in or rule out the likes of lymphoma.

Sources

National Cancer Institute, Fever, Sweats, and Hot Flashes (PDQ)

Lymphomation, B symptoms

So I received news just before the weekend that I got into the college I applied for!
I was worried as I hadn’t received notice and was waiting for a letter and it turns out there was a delay from the Australia Post and found out through e-mail.

I felt ecstatic and overwhelmed. I started bawling my eyes and prayed to God.
He’s too good to me. Yes, I was diagnosed but you know what? this life, it isn’t ours in the first place anyway. So whatever he gives, whether it be blessings or the not-so-good stuff, I accept it and learn how to deal with it, no matter what it is.

This course was one of the things I’ve been looking so forward to ever since all of this happened to me. I was also working in Childcare as a Room Leader before diagnosis. I loved it, though it was challenging (but what job isn’t?) I do miss the kids, I really do. But I also felt I needed to do this in order for me to have another sort of creative outlet and to just feel complete. So that’s why I decided to take up Graphic Design. So let’s just say I went ahead and did my fallback first? People aren’t going to stop having children, so at least I know my skills will always be needed one way or another. Or I could work in one industry and the other one as a sideline? Well, let’s just see how this turns out.

For now, I’m excited! ;D

Rituximab Continues to Show Promise in Battle Against Lymphoma

There is something quite phenomenal about the human spirit.
Sure, we screw up and bring ourselves and the world around us to destruction.
But we also ache ourselves to the bone, hurt others with or without intention. 
We yearn for the untouchable and may take for granted what was in our reach the entire time.
We hope that things are worth our while and feel like we’ve never felt before.
Yes, we may believe we’re alone or like to think that way but we’re not really.
Because someone, somewhere has gone through or is going through it too.
You make eye contact. Perhaps smile. Or maybe even have the opportunity to speak to each other. And without knowing their absolute whole life story, that experience is what binds you. If not for a lifetime, then at least for a fleeting moment.
They just get it. They get you.
Just another aspect with being a human. Connection.

June 1, 2011: Thoughts Through Tweets.