This is my first whatsapp text (in 2025, after a long period of not hearing from her) in response to her many and long texts in the last few days:
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Dear Sook San
Hi San Piew,
thank you so much for your newsy texts!!!
I have a lot to cover in my reply so I will be more organised about it.
- MRI: Most importantly, I am sending you the best of wishes, understanding, and heartfelt prayers for you to get good answers that will move you forward in resolving your migraine issues. And may you, in the process, find a fantastic, supportive, proactive medical person who will be essential in your journey towards greater good health.
- TELEPHONE CALLS: I deeply apologise off the bat but I have to tell you I almost never take phone calls (other than from doctors etc). Yup, not even from my family. I may speak to one or two siblings maybe once or twice a year, if that. Apart from Tina, I think the whole family pretty much doesn’t engage in nor initiate phone calls. 🤷🏻♀️
- TEXTER/CORRESPONDENT: I don’t want to disappoint you, but apart from this text, you will find that most of my texts are very short. I don’t spend a lot of time texting (too hard and time consuming) - and it is just something I don’t do often.
- CNY GREETINGS: both Pete and I thank you very much for your wishes. ❤️
- SOOK CHEE: I am delighted to hear that you have recommenced regular contact with Chee Piew (CP). More than that, I heard from Sook Fun (FP) that you and Weng Yue contributed to making CP’s dream come true: a new and safer car. I am sure you not only made CP (&FP) very very happy but also, you made her life much safer. God will surely reward you for your kindness 💛
- SOOK FUN: yes, I heard from so many people, so many times about FP. Even from my mom. I know she has asked to borrow money from all my brothers except Christopher (when he was alive, I mean, of course!) FP got in touch with me last Apr/May. I hear from her every day. Every night. Again, as is my wont, I have been a very succinct correspondent. But rain or shine, she texts me Good Morning & Good Night, without fail. And truth be told, I have been grateful for that as I have just gone through a dark period and even without knowing what was going on with me, she was there with her cheery greetings, morning and night.
I must admit that in the first few months of last year when she started texting, I was always a bit guarded because of all the stories I had heard about her borrowings. But almost a year in now, and she has never asked me. She asked Alex, Syl, and even Xavier. But despite our daily contact, she did not ask me. For that I am grateful; to and for her. I believe there is a big part of her that is trying real hard.
I must say that I am genuinely touched and pleased when I hear her talking about CP. It is always with warmth and compassion and even, joy. And she was seriously overjoyed when she told me of what you and WY did for CP.
I don’t know what I can say to heal the breach in your sisterly relations other than I send you both love and good wishes. I do know from what she says that you and her were once close. But other than that, she does not bad mouth anyone. Not to me. - MY HEALTH: this was the dark journey I was mentioning above. Also why I fully understand the stress you have of going for scans and waiting for results. I won’t bore you with a long story but will try to compress things as much as possible. As you may know, I went through surgery and chemo for cancer in 2015. Ten years later, there has not been a period longer than 3 months when I didn’t have to see my oncologists. (I only recently realised how much of a stress that was on the body and mind. Like living under a knife’s edge; every 3 months, never knowing when bad news may come. Again.)
Since Nov 2024, unwanted tidings seemed to be developing. Since then I have had more than my normal bloodworks, then CT scan, and then PET scan. (In truth, I have lost count of the number of these scans I have had over the years!!) And just lately, colonoscopy, biopsy, MRI. MRI was in Melb and we met with the gynaecologist surgeon there. Over 2 consecutive days.
I mention those details because going 2 days in a row to Melb is tiring just in itself and so much worse with the medical worries. It take 3+ hours each way. First day (MRI), we left home at 9am and returned at 8pm (11hours). The following day, we left home at 5am and returned between 3-4pm.
(Normally my 3 monthly oncologist appointments and scans are in Geelong which is 1.5 hours each way.)
The result so far is that the surgeon informs me that the cancer has returned and they are talking about surgery and chemo. I meet with her again on 20 Feb. And I have not decided what I will do.
But please don’t worry. I am in a good state of mind (after much internal work) and feel good. I have full trust that I will know what best to do for myself and my life. Meanwhile, I remain increasingly happy and feel trusting and strong.
{On a side note, please do NOT mention Yee Piew. I have no idea why but have discovered that there are quite a few well-intentioned people who just feel they have to tell me they knew this person or that person who suffered with the same disease … and died!!! How does that help???!!! Crazy, right? It is so much more useful and uplifting and beneficial to hear uplifting stories and survival and thriving!!!!} - SARAH & CROCHET: I am so chuffed to hear that Sarah is into crochet. While I did make jewelry, I have gotten back mainly into my first love: crochet. When she has the time and inclination, she can have a look at my site: ClearlyHelena.com Note however I have not added new stuff for quite a few years (been too busy making!!!) so I have a lot of stuff that is not on the site. But still there is quite a bit there. For the crochet especially, it will be under the PORTFOLIO tab.
Also she may notice some strange letters. That is because I am in the mid-process (which halted when all this medical stuff came up) of moving, article by article, from the current platform to another. - COOKING: Yay!!! You must have inherited Yee Ma’s culinary genius. That is a most scrumptious dinner you cooked for the 3 of you! Like wow. Makes me hungry for your food!!! (Can you also make joong like Yee Ma?)
- AMBER XUE ANG: what a cool name your little heart-throb has!! Hello back!!!
Much love to you, San Piew. And please, don’t feel you need to give me a long reply or anything. Big Big hello to Weng Liang.
I enclose the latest photos I have … from yesterday. Mine is just before going out for dinner last evening and the 2 boys (Pete and dog, Reefer) was from yesterday morning.
