On International Women’s Day, we come together to celebrate the achievements and strength of women around the globe. It’s a time to reflect on the journey of women everywhere. In this context, I think it’s appropriate to honor the resilience of women who live, or have lived, with cancer. This day is for the women (and men) who’ve shown courage, not just in overcoming a...
I made an astounding observation today. And it calls for another happy dance! From the beginning of my eye saga, now over a year ago, every ophthalmologist who reviewed any of the four sonograms of my left eye told me there was liquid flowing close to my optic nerve, and that this liquid was causing the dark grey cloud obstructing most (85+%) of my vision. And each of them advised me to brace...
On the day I was discharged from the hospital (ten days ago), I got news I had not expected. And it was not pleasant. The morning after the insertion of the radioactive plaque was uneventful. I woke up without pain. The nurse on duty dropped the various eye drops into my left eye and then served me a boring, tasteless breakfast. I felt hungry enough to eat most of it. My ocular oncologist’s...
TL;DR for family and friends:Last Thursday I underwent the procedure to insert a radioactive plaque in my left eye. The day was filled with a mix of emotions, a bit of confusion navigating the hospital, and lots of interaction with caring medical staff. Despite a few hiccups like getting lost and dealing with the hospital’s admissions process, the overall experience was positive, thanks to...
“You’re practical,” she said, when I told her I didn’t see any point in doing a biopsy of my left eyeball. My ocular oncologist readily agreed with me, and I think you may, too, after I give you more details. From there, she laid out my treatment course. First, why would I need a biopsy at all? Because after all the cancer diagnostic tests I’ve undergone in the past two and a half months—an MRI...
It’s the last day of 2023 and as I sit here to reflect on this year, it’s pitch black outside, with most of the day already gone, and I’m nursing a nasty cold, my first in many decades. My speaking voice may be gone, but not my writing voice. So here goes my stream of consciousness of last-day thoughts. By the time I complete this post, we’re likely to be ready to watch the city’s fireworks from...
The last thing I’d expect is a call from my ocular oncologist at 8:30 at night. But, to my surprise, call she did tonight. “Hello, may I speak to Francisca?” “Yes, that’s me.” “Good evening, this is K…P… How are you feeling?” “Well, curious, mostly… curious about the results of all those diagnostic tests I’ve undergone.” Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness...
Today, December 10, is Human Rights Day. The United Nations is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You’d think over three-quarters of a century humanity would have become more enlightened and fair in how we treat our fellow and sister humans. Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a human being. Khalil Gibran We can...