UNMASK IT
October is here and women worldwide (and friends of women) are unearthing the
pink goodies and ribbons that mark breast cancer awareness month across the world.
Stand up to be counted!
If today
you walked into a hospital for a check-up only to be diagnosed with cancer (of
any kind) how would you react to such outcomes?
‘God
forbid!’ you say and I absolutely concur. It’s frightening and definitely a dark
world that we all are hesitant to venture into.
But then our
lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that Matter- Martin
Luther King Jr.
Let’s
turn up the volume…
Five years ago…
Here is a
story of a woman whose perfect imperfections have made her who she is today,
A woman
who undoubtedly comprehends that the very rug that you stand on today can be
pulled off your feet with absolutely no warning,
A woman who
strives to pursue her dreams no matter what life throws at her_ because she
still believes in them,
As we sat
together today in the comfort of her home, I couldn’t imagine how our conversation
would turn out to be. I couldn’t comprehend how stout of a person she was to still
afford a smile even after all the trauma. “I still remember that day like it
was yesterday 5 years ago_ the day that doctors confirmed that I had breast
cancer” she calmly said with a mild smile (one that felt grateful and
humbling).
Her
company feeling reassuring_ it felt pleasing in every way!
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| istockphoto.com |
Her
emotions were easily hidden on her jovial face. Yet her pain was evident in the
tuck of her pretty brow and the down-curve of her lips. Her eyes showed the
depths of her soul. They were built, firm and brave; a reflection of a deep
pool of restless gold, an ocean of hopeless anguish, a blow that kept knocking her
down only to watch her rise up and knock her back again. But above all, I saw an
emerging glow of optimism and conviction of better things to come.
‘My world
crumbled before my eyes; I watched as every single bit of it melted away and I hated
it ’_she continued with a gush of such ache flashing on her temple anyone could
literally touch it. Yet her passion to live turned her eyes into orbs of the
brightest fire, and in them I read clearly that she would wrestle to the very
last gasp for her life. She couldn’t let this malady rip off her free spirit. She
hung on it with passion and that passion made her beautiful.
‘Today I live
to tell a story of victory’, she affirmed, her skin lighting up with humour and
assurance. Even though the dawn was
still some miles away, I could sense a spark of hope; a ray of sunshine yet to come
and I loved it.
‘Be informed,
do self-examination. Don’t be afraid_ the importance of cancer being detected
in its early stage determines the treatment and the success thereof. Be
positive but above all, never give up_ we can’t give up now’, she tells me with
such confidence and tenderness of a mother. I snuggled in for a goodbye hug in
her warm embrace having learnt that courage is not the absence of fear, but
the triumph over it.
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| daysoftheyear.com |
Reflecting…
I write
to celebrate her for the courage to soldier on; and to women making it through
every step of the way_ a step at a time.
And to
many more heroines who succumbed to the disease; they still remain warriors because
every day lived was victory won!
Early detection
of breast cancer saves lives!
Self-
Examination is Key!
Be informed
and inform others!
Mwende
