3D REFLECTIONS OF LIFE

Levona and I had just spent a wonderful evening at Bollywood Cafe in Long Street. It was all about celebrating women, although the food at Bollywood Cafe was a strong competitor. We attended a Women's Empowerment Circle that is being established by Michele, a friend whom I had met at Christiaan Barnard Hospital. Sharing our communal meal The event was colorful and vibrant from the decor right through to the dress code and the Indian cuisine. The restaurant menu is diverse and the dishes are extremely well-priced. The curry thali dishes are divine. Levona ordered the vegetarian curry while I chose the lamb curry thali. The thali is a meal that is made up of a selection of different delicacies. The food is served on a platter which has a few compartments and small  bowls line the borders of this platter tray.  The curries, chutney, vegetables and sauces are placed in these small bowls while the rice and a pappadam form the centerpiece. Bollywood Cafe  also serves ...

Back Row: Peter and Sharon. Centre Row: Ian, Brian, Avril, Cheryl, Vincent, Sybil, Richard. Front Row: Judy and Kenny I suppose you also have a friend or couple that will help to nurture friendships so that people don't lose contact. Our friends, Avril and Vincent are the Friendship Warriors. Their DNA is wired to connect old classmates or friends of yesteryear.  Be warned though; anything can spark off a social or a reunion for these Friendship Warriors. As life would have it, Avril bumped into Ian, one of our classmates of yesteryear.  Ian, our  then classmate since primary school, returned to our South African shores to attend his father's funeral. Ian has exchanged his South African roots for snowy, Canadian ones. Ian probably enquired about the rest of us. Before he knew what hit him, Avril and Vincent volunteered to get the gang together before our dear friend disappeared north again. Facebook buzzed, friends were hunted down and the reunion was goin...

Hooray. I have finally completed the 30-session course of radiation. I now no longer have trek to the GVI Oncology unit in Rondebosch  every single week day. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had a five-day booster, where the radiation targets the area where the cancer tumour was. The effects of the radiotherapy on the breast are clearly visible. The area looks burnt, like a grenadilla as I mentioned to the doctor. I also experience a kind of burning, throbbing sensation sporadically, which is rather uncomfortable and painful. I was told that the radiation is still active for about ten days after the last treatment session. It was like being placed in a microwave oven, as my Kiwi friend, Yolanda, described it.  So true, I thought. Radio waves are no child's play... Celebrating the last session of radiation treatment. Keyring that my darling sister, Levona, blessed me with. My last session of radiation treatment was celebrated in style. Early the Wednesday ...

 When I started the radiotherapy treatment, I really thought the 30 sessions were going to be one massive schlepp. Just the idea that I had to trek to the GVI Oncology unit at Rondebosch on a daily basis for more than a month and a half was a mental irritation. But time has really flown. I will just be attending for one more week and then this part of my journey will be done! I will be receiving a "booster" during the last week. During the booster session, the radiation targets only the area where the breast cancer tumour was. Besides being permanently coated with corn flour, I am sporting new ink markings to demarcate the zone. The area has become darker, but there are no other visible signs of the trauma this area was subjected to. I have also experienced being more tired, more listless and sporadic burning sensations in the breast area. But, so far, so good, as they say. Doctor Ryno Holshauser with Bilqees, Jessica and Carla. I quite enjoy these visits to the onco...

Folk are curious about how my system is coping with the radiotherapy treatment that I am currently receiving.  I prefer to talk about the impact of the radiotherapy on my entire being because your entire   person is affected. And this is the beauty of this journey for me, despite the gravity of the situation. I am in a good space spiritually, emotionally and physically. I have to give thanks to my Lord who has never forsaken me during all this time. In fact, I have never felt closer to my Maker who has surrounded me with hosts of angels in the form of my family, friends, strangers, the medical staff and my church family. Since people have heard that I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, I have been flooded with inspirational messages, prayers, love, friendship, advice and uplifting stories. The painting above has been inspired by a picture that I took when Basil and I went back to the Kob Inn along the Wild Coast last year. The ferryman transports you across the Qor...

Yes! I reached the halfway mark of my radiotherapy treatment. Today was session 15. There are 15 sessions left.  I will tell you in the next post about how my system is managing the radiation treatment, but I want to share these tidbits with you. When you visit the GVI Oncology department on a daily basis like I do, you are bound to become more aware of your surroundings. Institutional tell-tale signs you pick up over time I am getting used to the rather sharp bends of the underground parking at the hospital. All GVI patients can park for free on level 5.  Initially I was apprehensive about snaking round the bends up to the fifth floor. I would drive slowly, apply brakes at every corner, look into the mounted mirrors, double check that the nose of the car and the lights really belong to my car and then creep round the bend. You can seriously get drunk just trekking up the levels. Then it's time to take the lift to the Lower Ground floor where the treatment room is...

I am making changes to my diet. I am increasing my intake of vegetables and fruit while I am reducing the quantity of heavy starches, wheat and fatty food. Don't get me wrong: I still love my fatty foods like steak and chips drowned in sauce, burgers and a super-sized serving of slap chips. I am trying to eat less of these foods and more of the healthy options.  I am more interested in the raw food diets than I ever was, although I must confess I am not ready for such an extreme switch. I like the idea of reaching a balance of 80% healthy foods and allowing myself a 20% margin to eat junk foods. That is the long view so I want no raised eyebrows when you see me tucking into a massive steak encircled by those freshly-fried, "eat-me-now" hot chips! Starting with home-made vegetable smoothies Making vegetable smoothies is a wonderful way to include more raw or unprocessed foods into our diets. Christo and I are the chief advocates for 'going green'. Before o...