my support groups =) (edited, finally)
[10 Oct 2006, 09:06:16 PM] There is an African saying which says, it takes a whole village to discipline a child. In my case, it takes a whole "kampong" to nurse me. As I have said in my earlier entries, my blog would not be complete without entries about my support groups, the group of people who have journeyed and are still walking with me through this dark valley.
If my blog is only about my illness, I think, after a while, people will get bored reading it. Haha... Let's see... there are several "support" groups who are in this battle with me. In no particular order of importance or preference or whatever, they are *drums roll*:
(1) churchies,
(2) breakfast "kakees" and sweet neighbours,
(3) online friends who are now real life friends (*muacks*) (I call them young youth group),
(4) long time, life long secondary school friends (also prayer buddies, co-group),
(5) ex colleagues and their significant other halves and family members,
(6) good friend, Estella and her cell group members who are praying for me too,
(7) "Shuai Ge"'s support group which includes colleagues, ex colleagues and friends,
(8) SSN Tan and counsellor Eng,
(9) besties, Joyce, Lyn and Fiona,
(10) moblog community,
(11) other friends not in any of the above groups and
(12) families.
Wow! I didn't realise so many groups till I actually counted. How blessed I am indeed to be surrounded with so much love, care, concern and encouragement. ^________^
I think I shall begin with my co-group, my secondary school classmates. If you have been reading my blog, they need no introduction, not much anyway. Our friendship dated wayyyyyyy back... even longer than the ages of some of the young youths. (now, now, stop counting how old I am... =X)
The seven of us (me, Anne, SC, SK, TA, Nanz and CM) were in the same faculty in NUS. Included in this group is A who lives in KL, Malaysia. SK has literally dropped out of the communications loop. Nanz is now an American citizen and she keeps in contact with her occasional emails.
Despite their busy schedules and commitments, they still make an effort to keep updates on my progress and well-being. They are also my prayer buddies, something we all learn to do since secondary school days. Our recent gathering was last Saturday, organised by sweet Anne.
I was baptised last year on Labour Day. All of them (except Nanz who was in the States) turned up, including our ex BS leader, KOH and his wife. A flew down from KL and booked herself into a hotel for the sole purpose of witnessing my baptism ceremony (at her own expense). I was so touched. It was certainly nice to see everyone that day, especially KOH who hadn't seen us in years!
What's so special about this group is that we have been such long time friends that it is easy to pick up from where we left off. And we understand each other in an amazing way that I can't really put it into words. We have long done the acceptance part. We are unique, special, asserting individuals and yet we harmonise as a group. I reckon I am indeed blessed and fortunate to have this group of friends whose support I can always count on, come what may. If I have a glass of champagne, I would like to toast to our bonding and friendship which have withstood the test of time.
Edited:
After I did this entry, I was reminiscing how long our friendship is. SC and I were classmates since primary school, so I knew her much longer than the rest. SK was from another sec 3 class, but we knew each other when we met in KOH's BS class. Both of us went into the honours year programme. (She being the smartest of us all, got a first class honours.) A was our sec 3 classmate but she left for England the following year. Somehow we kept in touch all these years, even now when she is living in KL. I remembered looking her up whenever I was on business trips to KL many years ago. TA went to a different jc from us but we were all reunited in NUS when we pursued the same course. We literally grew up and age together. HAHAHA
Our friendship is special. We don't always meet up with each other. Or should I say we hardly meet. It was only after Nanz migrated to the States that I organised our annual gathering upon her return. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was hesistant in telling them. SH convinced me otherwise as I would need all the support I could get. I only called TA and Anne and the two helped inform the rest. Since then they have been praying for me. Our friendship cultivated during our younger days (speak as though I am very old =X) needs no words or frequent meetings. We have long accepted each other's peculiarities, individualities and uniqueness. We can always pick up from where we left off.
There was a stage where I could not comprehend and accept the distances and infrequent gatherings. A enlightened me with her thoughts; we have all moved on and our circle of friends have widened too. Perhaps my chio-est zmr, MonkeyCrab said it best in her "He asked me and I replied" entry (yes, yes, I know, it's THAT FAVOURITE ENTRY OF MINE AGAIN.. heehee). So now, when I send prayer requests via sms-es, I trust and believe these sisters-in-Christ will pray for my well-being. Trust, sincerity, honesty and acceptance are some attributes of a true friendship. True friendship is what I am proud I have found in these sisters.
(edited on 17 Oct, 2.16 pm)
(6) good friend, Estella and her cell group members who are praying for me too,
(7) "Shuai Ge"'s support group which includes colleagues, ex colleagues and friends,
(8) SSN Tan and counsellor Eng,
(9) besties, Joyce, Lyn and Fiona,
(10) moblog community,
(11) other friends not in any of the above groups and
(12) families.
Wow! I didn't realise so many groups till I actually counted. How blessed I am indeed to be surrounded with so much love, care, concern and encouragement. ^________^
I think I shall begin with my co-group, my secondary school classmates. If you have been reading my blog, they need no introduction, not much anyway. Our friendship dated wayyyyyyy back... even longer than the ages of some of the young youths. (now, now, stop counting how old I am... =X)
The seven of us (me, Anne, SC, SK, TA, Nanz and CM) were in the same faculty in NUS. Included in this group is A who lives in KL, Malaysia. SK has literally dropped out of the communications loop. Nanz is now an American citizen and she keeps in contact with her occasional emails.
Despite their busy schedules and commitments, they still make an effort to keep updates on my progress and well-being. They are also my prayer buddies, something we all learn to do since secondary school days. Our recent gathering was last Saturday, organised by sweet Anne.
I was baptised last year on Labour Day. All of them (except Nanz who was in the States) turned up, including our ex BS leader, KOH and his wife. A flew down from KL and booked herself into a hotel for the sole purpose of witnessing my baptism ceremony (at her own expense). I was so touched. It was certainly nice to see everyone that day, especially KOH who hadn't seen us in years!
What's so special about this group is that we have been such long time friends that it is easy to pick up from where we left off. And we understand each other in an amazing way that I can't really put it into words. We have long done the acceptance part. We are unique, special, asserting individuals and yet we harmonise as a group. I reckon I am indeed blessed and fortunate to have this group of friends whose support I can always count on, come what may. If I have a glass of champagne, I would like to toast to our bonding and friendship which have withstood the test of time.
Edited:
After I did this entry, I was reminiscing how long our friendship is. SC and I were classmates since primary school, so I knew her much longer than the rest. SK was from another sec 3 class, but we knew each other when we met in KOH's BS class. Both of us went into the honours year programme. (She being the smartest of us all, got a first class honours.) A was our sec 3 classmate but she left for England the following year. Somehow we kept in touch all these years, even now when she is living in KL. I remembered looking her up whenever I was on business trips to KL many years ago. TA went to a different jc from us but we were all reunited in NUS when we pursued the same course. We literally grew up and age together. HAHAHA
Our friendship is special. We don't always meet up with each other. Or should I say we hardly meet. It was only after Nanz migrated to the States that I organised our annual gathering upon her return. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I was hesistant in telling them. SH convinced me otherwise as I would need all the support I could get. I only called TA and Anne and the two helped inform the rest. Since then they have been praying for me. Our friendship cultivated during our younger days (speak as though I am very old =X) needs no words or frequent meetings. We have long accepted each other's peculiarities, individualities and uniqueness. We can always pick up from where we left off.
There was a stage where I could not comprehend and accept the distances and infrequent gatherings. A enlightened me with her thoughts; we have all moved on and our circle of friends have widened too. Perhaps my chio-est zmr, MonkeyCrab said it best in her "He asked me and I replied" entry (yes, yes, I know, it's THAT FAVOURITE ENTRY OF MINE AGAIN.. heehee). So now, when I send prayer requests via sms-es, I trust and believe these sisters-in-Christ will pray for my well-being. Trust, sincerity, honesty and acceptance are some attributes of a true friendship. True friendship is what I am proud I have found in these sisters.
(edited on 17 Oct, 2.16 pm)
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