"Silver Lining On The Dark Clouds!"

Hello Everyone,

Hope you all are in the pink of your health!

I know you must have seen ups and downs in your life, isn’t it?  I myself have too, but not more than my mom of course.

She has seen various ups and downs of life but has always stayed stronger.  I have never seen a woman as strong as her.  She got married at the very young age of "15 and a half" where it was just normal at that time.  And she delivered her first baby at the age of 17.  By the age of 24, she had 3 girl children and 3 abortions seeking a boy child because her father-in-law wanted a grandson.  The third abortion that she has had risked her life and doctor said: “if she will conceive again, she won't be able to survive.”  And since then she started experiencing a number of health problems by every passing year.

Morning of the hope

She is now 45 and for the last few years, she started having pelvic pain and back pain, which exacerbated during the menstrual period.  She visited and consulted a number of doctors and all of them said it was a swelling in her uterus and they all used to give medications for the same.  But things didn’t go well even after the regular treatment.  It was just the last month when she again began having pain in her pelvic and she went to a nursing home and there it was the only doctor who said: “it’s not just a swelling, it’s more than that; it’s something big.”  She felt something similar to a 4 months old pregnancy and asked to do an ultrasound the next morning urgently.  We (and by we, I mean, myself, my mom, dad, and sisters) all were shocked after coming across this news.

        Something like 4 months old pregnancy…like really?

        What could it be?

        How the other doctors could not diagnose this ever?

        How could they miss this?

        What could be the reason?

We began having such thoughts and discussed the situation at home for long.

The next morning my mom went for the ultrasound, the lab result came back and the doctor was right.  Test result revealed a mass that is grown in her uterus with a long diameter of 8 cm.  It was painful during palpation with no other abdominal masses.  It was also noted that she had an ulcer in the cervix.  She has had very bad condition internally.  We never thought the swelling would turn into something like this.  Preoperatively a uterine fibroid was suspected and a hysterectomy (a procedure for removal of the uterus) with histopathological exam was decided to be practiced as soon as possible.

There is a wedding in the family in coming December, so my mom was denying doing the surgery before the wedding and was asking to do it afterward.  At one point, we all agreed, consulted a doctor and decided to do it after the marriage celebration.  But, unfortunately, her condition was deteriorating day by day.  The symptoms had not been in control even after two weeks.  Hence, we decided to go for an operation immediately.  After all, "nothing is more important than health," isn’t it?

My mom was admitted to a hospital (nursing home) on Tuesday, 14th November 2017, due to uterine fibroids.  After the entire test performed, she was taken to the operation theater the next morning.  To combat this discomfort and prevent further tissue growth, an abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed.   Dr. Kavita Meshram and her team of professionals performed the surgery which came out to be a success as the doctor through her profound expertise could remove the uterus along with the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix.

Following the procedure, the team of doctors appreciated my mom for co-operating them so well.  She came from the operation theater happy and smiling.  We were so relieved and thankful.  But as soon as the effect of anesthesia wears off, she started having unbearable pain, her blood pressure went down to 88/48.  We got crumpled.  Doctor and her team somehow managed to normalize her blood pressure, but she still had extreme pain for at least 24 hours.  Meanwhile, the specimen was sent for the histopathological exam.  She was still writhing in pain.  Hence, was under observation for 4 days there.  She was discharged to home on day 5th in stable condition.

Three days back the histopathological exam report came and it revealed benign intramural leiomyoma of the uterus, unremarkable endometrium, chronic cervicitis with benign follicular cyst right ovary and corpus luteal cyst left ovary.

I can say - it was the right decision at the right time to go for an operation.  And we are glad the surgery has been done successfully.

Freedom from pain

Medications and care helped my mom during her stay in the hospital and gave us peace of mind.  The staff, from the receptionist to the nurses and the doctors (God bless you Dr. Meshram) was friendly and professional.  We are fortunate with the experiences we had with the team of physicians, nurses and other hospital staff.  Many patients came to the hospital sick and left walking and talking.  I just want to say the staff “Thank YOU!!” My mom is healing well and I owe it to God and the staff’s care.

Stay blessed, Be happy..!! :-)

Preeti

Warfare of Emotions

Guest post by Lauren Najar.

I lost my mom in 2008 - complications from Colon Cancer and my dad passed away in 2010 from a massive heart attack.

Neither deaths we saw coming.  Both were very sudden.  Both of my parents were very young.  My mom had colon cancer on and off from the time I was 14 until she passed away.  She had a strong prognosis to survive cancer but died of a blood clot entering her heart and her heart immediately stopped.  She collapsed at home where my family was (I was at work and didn't witness anything).

My mom was our glue.  She was mostly a stay at home mom and was always driving us everywhere and made dinner every night.  She was everywhere with the three of us kids.  After she passed, my dad quickly tried to replace her by learning how to make meals.  My dad was always the authority figure in the house but he quickly changed into a softer side of himself and I felt this made my dad and me a lot closer.

My dad passed away from a heart attack.  He was a type 2 diabetic and was on a lot of medications for high blood pressure but he had recently lost weight and was living a little healthier. 

    Related Post:  Silver Lining On The Dark Clouds     

For me, being the oldest - I felt that his death was the hardest in the sense that I felt everything was on me.  I felt everyone was looking to me.  Even though my sister and I are only 14 months apart, I got a lot of comments about how I am the woman of the house now, and I am the oldest and I am the caretaker.  With both of their deaths, I reacted in two very different ways.

As life has gone on, not a day passes by where I don't think of them.  My husband and I live in the house I grew up in where five people used to live so I am constantly reminded of them.  Through them, they have taught me life is way too short.  My mom, who had cancer and was linked to an oxygen tank before she passed away, was still going outside and going for walks with my dad and still TRYING to force herself to get better.  She would wheel around the house in a rolling computer chair to do chores in the house.

My dad lost the love of his life where he had been with my mom for 30 years before she passed.  But he lived on for us and didn't give up on us.  He tried to be "dad and mom".  He taught us that we still need to live our lives where we are so young and we need to keep going on with our goals.

The last almost ten years now without them, I feel I have this zest for life burning now that I can't shake and I need to keep "living" life.  You can't waste life.  I am 30 now, my mom died when she was 46 and my dad 52.  These are YOUNG people.  I have so much I want to do that life now has taught me to go out and live it.  We can't sit and wait around for tomorrow.  We have to live now.

About the Author

Lauren Najar is the founder of Laugh Always.  She is a two-time cancer survivor and she created Laugh Always as a way to help lift people up in times of difficult journeys.  This is a group of people who come together to help one another get through and share stories of motivation.  Laugh Always was a term she created during her first round of cancer and to her, it describes the attitude of how one should approach life in general.
Blog:  Laugh Always

Winter - An Indescribable Warmth!

Hey Everyone,

I know what you did last Monsoon.  Well, you know what?  I still know what you did the last Monsoon!

Fair enough!  Let me talk about… Winters, then!

The English word "winter" comes from the Proto-Indo-European word "wend."

If you have read my article about monsoon, you must be aware that monsoon is my favorite season out of the four.  I have talked about all the things that I love the most about my favorite season in that post.  And as the winter has almost arrived now so I just thought to talk about this season because this is the season that I like after my favorite season monsoon.  I believe that after the rainy, it’s the winter season that is wonderful and colorful.

As soon as that gentle chill in the air turns into biting cold, you know winter has officially arrived!  Here in India winter usually starts in mid-November and lasts until February.  It’s one of the major and greatest seasons out of the four and of course, it’s the coldest season of India.  The chief characteristics of the winter season are pleasant weather, clear skies, low temperature, low humidity, and cool and slow winds.  The cold winter mornings are often fog-shrouded.  Once winter has arrived you know that one of the biggest celebrations “Christmas” is on its way.  This is perhaps a pretty obvious one, but it's the time when people set themselves for welcoming the New Year, people begin making New Year resolutions.

During this season, some of the enjoyable things to do are going for sunny picnics, having copious mugs of hot coffee/tea on a chilly evening, staying inside and reading a great book.  In the evenings, people have bon­fires at their home and even in the streets.  This is the best time to stay indoors where it's warm and cozy.  It’s really an enjoyable thing to eat Ice-creams and Kulfi (is a popular frozen dairy dessert from the Indian subcontinent) in cold winter.  I just love it.

Winter is the season to enjoy the food.  During this time, people feel hungrier.  Incredibly, the body engine works better in this season.  On the other hand, the season is not that good for health.  It affects the immune system.  A cough and cold are common in winter.  Skin becomes dry and flaky, winter steals away all the moisture from the skin thus we need to take special care of our skin during winter.

Winter is also known as the season of fashion.  It provides so many options in the wardrobe department.  The city looks more fashionable during winters.  One of the best things about winter is that fashion can be legitimately cozy.

While there are a lot of things that I like about this season, but getting out of bed is not one of them.  And yeah another thing that I really don’t like about this season is the struggle of animals and poor people with the season.   The poor people suffer a lot during the winter for want of warm clothes.

What are the things that you like about winters? What is your favorite season? Let me know in the comment section below.

Stay Blessed, Be Happy..!! :-)

Preeti

The Liebster Award 2017 - Another Nomination!

Hey People,

I have been fortunate enough to receive not one, but two nominations for the Liebster Award again.  If you have gone through my previous Liebster award nomination post, you must have a better understanding on what the Liebster award is about.  And if you haven't read that yet, don’t worry, I will tell you what it is.

The Liebster award (Global Aussie Liebster Award) is an online award given by bloggers to other bloggers that helps to spread the love and this is how bloggers acknowledge other bloggers they think are fabulous.  Once you have been nominated, you are given a set of questions to answer and then you get to "pass it on" to other bloggers.

Liebster is a German word which means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

Shout out to “Willjohn Zoleta” and “Sravanya” and big thanks for taking the time to check out my site and nominate me.  I am so excited and honored to receive these nominations again.  Willjohn Zoleta loves to travel.  He has visited about 35 countries so far.  His travel blog “Adventurous Will” provides insights into the countries he visits.  On the other hand, Sravanya is crazy about makeup and shopping.  Her blog “Hyderabad Beauty Blog” is related to beauty, health, and Fashion where she reviews products and gives health tips.

Without further ado, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Ten Random facts about me:

1.  Diet.? I am a vegetarian since childhood.

2.  I have 2 major cravings — chocolate and ice cream.

3.  I like to talk to the moon.  Yeah, you heard it right, I said “MOON.”

4.  My favorite wear is Saree.  It covers the right amount and exposes the right amount. ;-)

5.  I am a shopaholic.

6.  My wardrobe always consists of a red and black colored dress.

7.  I have studied dietetics and beauty culture, but that is not my profession though.

8.  I like Winter and Monsoon seasons, but Monsoon is probably my favorite.

9.  I say more “Nos” than “Yes.”

10. I love being me, “Mai apni favorite hu.

Here comes the question answer round!

My answers to Willjohn Zoleta’s (my first nominator) posed questions:

1.  What are the three small things that make you happy?

Listening music, seeing sunrise and sunset, seeing my phone 100% charged ;-)

2.  If you could do any job, what would you like to do?

I would like to do something where I can create opportunities for unemployed people.

3.  What’s the last compliment that you received?

You are beautiful!

4.  What’s your comfort food and where to get it?

Comfort food for me is “Homemade food, especially by my mom”.

5.  What’s the most extreme adventure that you wish you could do?

I don’t know actually.  It might be mountaineering, I guess.

6.  Facebook or Instagram?

Facebook!

7.  When traveling, do you prefer to stay in hostels, Airbnbs or hotels?

I would prefer to stay in Hotels.

8.  If you could take any animal, which one you would choose to be your pet?

A rabbit.

9.  If you were given a choice to live as long as you like, how long would you like to live?

I would like to live as long as I am healthy and intellectually able to work.

10.  What are your dream travel destinations? Name three cities.

I don’t have any such dream travel destinations, though I would like to visit a number of cities.

11.  What are the upcoming articles that we shall look forward to reading your blog?

There will be a variety of articles in the forthcoming days that you’ll be getting to read, so just stay tuned.

My answers to Sravanya’s (my second nominator) posed questions:

1.  Give a tip for other bloggers or potential blog starters.

Don’t compare yourself to any other blogger out there, everyone has their own writing style, so just stick to your personality and write in that way only.  Just remember - it’s your personality that is going to convince people out there to subscribe.

2.  Name the top 3 most beautiful beaches you have visited

Candidly speaking I haven’t visited any beaches yet but would love to soon.

3.  Given the choice of anyone in the world whom would you want as a dinner guest and why?

Ranbir Kapoor  (Indian actor) because I am his diehard fan and I really, really want to meet him in person

4.  For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

I am grateful for my family.  They always have my back no matter what.

5.  How & when did you start your blogging career?

Well, by now I would not name it a career; I would rather say it’s a journey!  I just started my blogging journey for 2 months now and I would be happy to call it a career someday.  And if you want to know how I started it, please click here to read it.

6.  Which one is the best and more traffic post you made?

There are two posts actually in which I gained a maximum number of traffic so far.  One is "And This Is How I Got Inspired To Write" and other is Activated Charcoal - A Boon!.

7.  Who is your favorite beauty and fashion blogger?

It’s really a tricky one.  There are a number of such bloggers whom I like, but yeah to answer your question I would say “Ankita Srivastav.”

8.  Did you start your blogging for money or as a passion?

It was neither for money nor for passion.  I had started it as an interest and I am really enjoying it.

9.  Working with other bloggers whom it will be?

I genuinely can’t pick just one.  But you all will get to know once this happens.

10.  As a blogger where you want to be in next 5 years?

5 years……..it’s a long-term journey.  You never know what's going to be next.   But yeah I would like to be able to make “good money” with my blog.

My Nominees:

Now it’s my turn to pass on the love.  So, here is my list of blogs that I believe need to be discovered:

Debi Sczublewski Babb at Modern Day Mimzi

Emma Greene at Its All Good

Allie Hoellwarth at Bohemian Nation

Anita Wisecup at My Road My Story

Atakpor Sylvia at Kesyhub

Here are the questions for my nominees:

1.  What do you enjoy most about blogging?

2.  Why did u start blogging? What inspired you?

3.  Aside from your own site, what’s your favorite blog?

4.  What do you find most challenging about blogging?

5.  What do you do when you get writer’s block?

6.  Is blogging your full-time job? If not then how do you manage it?

7.  Your house is on fire! Aside from people, what do you save?

8.  If you have a book you re-read often, what is it? If not, what’s your favorite book?

9.  What is your favorite time of the year?

10.  What is your favorite inspirational quote/quotes?

11.  What motivates you to keep blogging?

Congratulations everyone!  I look forward to reading your answers and future posts.

Follow these simple steps to accept the nomination:

1.  Write about Liebster Award on your blog and of course answer the questions I have for you.

2.  Nominate other bloggers you feel who deserves the award.

3.  Notify your nominees.

Thank you!  Willjohn Zoleta” and “Sravanya for their nomination,  Jack at The Global Aussie for keeping The Liebster Award alive and my nominees whether they participate or not – I hope you have as much fun as I did with this post.

Readers …Wish to get involved? Tell 3-5 random facts about yourself in the comment section below.  And if you would like to share your thoughts, then please feel free to do so.

Happy blogging for all the bloggers over there.!!

Stay Blessed, Be Happy...!! :-)

Preeti