sexta-feira, 12 de agosto de 2011

Soul Surfer


Yesterday was a difficult day for me.  


At night we watched a film that appeared to be interesting, Soul Surfer. Have you seen it?  Well... I just couldn't hold it in. I cried like a baby, but it really is worth seeing.




 Especially when Bethany goes to Thailand after the 2003 tsunami. Watch it, if you can, it will really put things back into foccus. And check out what it's all about, it's a real life story: Bethany


 It was the cherry on top of the cake.


In the morning I had met Arlete, a friend of mine from work. I first met Arlete 10 years ago. 

She had just married and was a cheerful and considerate person who was eager to have a nice, big family like her own had been. She almost tiptoed around me as I was recovering from my first breast cancer treatment. When we met my hair was probably just about half an inch longer than now.


Arlete went on to a different location of our service and we kind of fell apart. 

She had 2 wonderful children, Matilde and Tomas. And one day (I don't know how, haven't gotten to that part of catching up yet) they found out Tomas had a brain tumor. 
He was 2 years old. After struggling against illness through half his life, moving to France for a while and then to the USA for different approaches to treating the illness (it was one of the rarest types of brain tumor), after 3 relapses Tomas left his family for good.
Arlete is back to work, with a smile on her face and the tears hiding in her voice but a sense that she did every single thing she could to make his life easier and to try to cure him. She's a very strong and positive woman and she says Tomas chose her because he knew she would do everything for him and now he's her little angel looking over them.


So yesterday we me at the IPO--Instituto Português de Oncologia. When Tomas was being treated there she started a project--to remodel a physical therapy room for children at the institute. She wants to finish it, in honor of her son. We had an appointment with the guy who is going to paint the treatment room walls (check out his blog here).

It will probably come out to be along these lines...
After that she went to talk to the doctors and nurses who cared for Tomas. 
It was really hard seeing those children who are going through the same we are... it's not fair!

There was this 2 year old little girl who liked me imediately and pointed at me smiling and saying "menina!" which means little girl. She jumped from her dad's lap to mine  and started playing with my necklace and sending kisses. She was replacing her catheter because the one she had was no longer working, and she had been there almost since the day she was born. She has a benign tumor in her optical nerve that keeps growing in spite of the chemo. 

There was a lady who had lost her 14 or 15 year old son last night. It was so hard to see... and not to cry the entire time!

I left that place with my heart broken and a feeling that there's something I have to do--something I haven't done yet to help, that is my mission. Does that sound silly? But I have to find out what it is...

These two women are examples of strength, and willpower and courage. I just wish I could be like them!

Thank you for being here "listening" :)

xxx

8 comentários:

  1. My dear friend,

    You are a strong woman too.....just like the other ladies...

    Love and a big hug
    Marjo

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  2. I understand that will to help. I think you were put where you were for a reason last night. My friend always says that God guides us where we need to be so that we can do his work because he works through our doing. I hope you find out what your heart is calling for you to do! And by the way-- you ARE strong! you make these amazing projects, you share these feelings & thoughts that speak for millions who are too hurt/scared/ashamed to voice their experiences, and all the while you are happy, positive and beautiful while doing it! THAT is strength! Have a great day!

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  3. Teresa, finding your mission is a positive thing even amongst the sadness you saw. I believe you are an angel that is being sent to help in some way. You can have a fundraiser, volunteer, make little hats for the kids getting chemo, be a mentor, pray for those little ones, help your friend with her vision for the PT room. I know you will find the answer, probably lots of answers and you will help yourself just as much as you help others.
    Meredith

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  4. Thank you for your kind words, my friends!
    You know, even though I felt like crying when I saw the children going through so much I did feel my heart full when that little girl just jumped onto my lap smiling. It was a surprise because she didn't know me and as an ailing child I'd imagine her withdrawing from strangers. And yet, there she was, wanting to play with me!
    My friend also thinks I should be with these children. Who knows... maybe that's it! :)
    Love to all of you!

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  5. Well, there is one thing for sure. You understand the place they are in at this time in their lives. Your compassionate heart will find the answer to your quest. Yes, you ARE stong Teresa. If you weren't you would have collapsed on the floor by now, or taken to your bed and pulled the covers over your head.

    I love BumbleBri's response. It is so true.
    xx, Carol

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  6. Wow...you have me crying! Our journey in life is a constant search to make a difference to someone, somewhere. And along the path, we make a difference to ourselves. What a touching post! And what a devastating loss for your friend. I love her outlook...indeed the little soul of Tomas probably did choose her because she was the right one to care for him. God has big plans for Tomas, hence he was called home early. On a different note...so glad to hear that I am in good company when it comes to yarn stashing! It's not worth doing if you can't put your all into it, right? Well, ALL of my closets are into it! LOL Sending hugs to you my dear...you don't sound silly...you sound WONDERFUL! Annette

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  7. I understand you so well, but unfortunately, I am not that strong, everytime I went to IPO, it was one of the hardest things I had to do.

    You are such a strong lady, well done Darling xxx

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  8. oh my.....such difficult things to deal with...Bless your dear friend and her dear child...I worked in the operating room for many years and for a short time worked in children's neurosurgery...not an easy thing to deal with....frankly it is heart wrenching to see anyone suffer...I think the waiting room design is wonderful..so often these places are so unpleasant and sterile....what a wonderful job has been done with all the wall paintings...we all just do the best we can in life...

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It's always great to read your comments! :) Thank you!

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