The agony of separation
Choosing to live away from parents versus being forced to live away from them
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 44
Away from home and searching for one Sunset at Victoria Harbour. Hong Kong. Personal collection.“Do you feel at home?,” my new flatmate asked me last night. As I was cleaning the kitchen counter, she sprang the question out of nowhere.
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 43
Being a woman. Being single. Being Indian. Personal image. Shot in Hong Kong.“So how was your trip to Singapore?”, asked the attending nurse to me as she prepared to administer the weekly round of chemo to my Dad. “It went well
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 40
Not sweating the small stuff Image credit — Google images“I just saw my first grey hair. I’m getting old :(“, was my cousin’s text last evening. “We all are. Relax,” I replied. “Hmm.” “I noticed permanent lines on my forehead today. There’s nothing that
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 37
Being in the survival mode Image credit — Google ImagesThe sun was unusually warm for this time of the season, and Dad was resting on a small bed in the verandah waving off the flies. The flowers were finally blooming, and he was
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 36
Lending a helping hand Image credit — Google Images/NPRPatting Dad’s back, the doctor smiled and said, “I thought you’d be coming in a wheelchair, but if you’ve driven all the way on your own, then visit me again next month with your
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 35
Accepting the difficult winter nights Image credit — Google ImagesThe deadpan winter nights shiver at the sight of our life. The heaters around cannot warm the relationships they surround. As a minute stretches into an hour, so does the willingness to talk, once
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 34
The mortality talk — (ii) Image credit — Google ImagesAs Mum goes back to her stitching and Dad gets busy on his phone, the news of sudden death of Mum’s distant cousin sinks in slowly. Mum keeps guessing the cause of death, remembering how sick
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 32
Undergoing physical pain Image credit — Google Images“It will only be a small prick”, said the nurse as she inserted a peripheral venous catheter (pvc) into Dad’s arm to begin the chemotherapy medication for the day. She had strapped a band near his
Living with a cancer afflicted parent — A Series — Part 31
The value of self-reliance Image credit — Google ImagesDad’s an all-rounder. He is a fixer of things. Like a genie, he almost always find solutions to the problems of our house. From fixing a flat tyre to recalibrating an old grandfather clock, from
