Last Saturday, before the unfortunate encounter with the makcik, Davie and I were at adik Hazim’s place. His mum had wanted to cook for Davie and I tagged along to see the kids. It was good to see them, still laughing and smiling despite the challenges they face.

That same time, Latfy, who runs Flickers, also came by to interview Hazim for his site. He took photos, some of them can be found here.

The video is out. Don’t forget your hankies!

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Do check out Flickers for inspiring and meaningful stories of people, or rather, warriors of light who lead ordinary lives most of the time.

Talking to my favourite people in person is a luxury nowadays. I don’t mind phone calls but it’s much nicer to be physically at the same place, having conversations over [insert beverage of choice] or doing stuff together. While I must admit that I am guilty of having “anti-social” mood swings and picky about who I hang out with (don’t you?), I do make time for the ones that matters. And then some.

In Yogya, I had my hack friends with me. In Saigon, there was Coy and in Macau Eddy. It was really good to catch up on things we don’t talk about online, especially in the last two trips since I usually see them once a year. As with the last time Sara was back, the few days spent with these orang-orang jauh are good times, even if we just spent it lying in a luxurious bed trying to cram a bit more sleep before checkout time.

It is somewhat reassuring I guess, that people still seek me out, even if it doesn’t happen too often. Heh. I’m okay with that. If you see me all the time you might not like it anyway.

The lawyer tagged me.
Here goes:

Twenty-two year old Yvone has a rare genetic disease – neurofibromatosis type 2 – that causes benign tumours to grow in her brain, spine and along her peripheral nerves – since she was 16. The disease is incurable.

Yvonne has survived several surgeries to remove tumours – one on her spine and the rest on her brain. She is now semi-paralysed on her face, deaf, partially blind, has poor balance and a stiff right leg. Right now she needs to undergo yet another surgery.

Yvonne, who runs a blog (www.yvonnefoong.com) is the author of I’m Not Sick, Just A Bit Unwell, (picture), has been raising money on her own to pay for her operations, is losing her eyesight. The operation is due in December and once again she needs to raise funds for it. The cost of the surgery is USD44,000 (RM154,770) and the cost of her hospital stay for two weeks is USD915 or RM3219.

She has already raised RM10,000 of this but obviously still has a long way to go. She’s hoping to raise the rest by republishing her book I’m Not Sick, Just A Little Bit Unwell in English and Chinese.The books are now available in Malaysian bookshops and from her website store. She is also selling T-shirts at bazaars and via her store. You can read about her surgery and donate to her fund here.

Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com.

You can also help by sending on this meme. If you do, please follow these meme rules:

1. Create a blog entry titled “Meme: Save Yvonne’s Sight”

2. List three things you love to see. Add in the picture of Yvonne’s book cover. The URL is http://www.yvonnefoong.com/images/banner/my-story.jpg

3. End with the line, “Yvonne Foong is in danger of losing her eyesight thanks to neurofibromatosis (NF). Please find out how you can help her by visiting her blog at http://www.yvonnefoong.com.”

4. Tag 5 blog friends. Be sure to copy the rules, OK?

5. If you have a Facebook account, please check out Ellen’s new invention, a “feme” pronounced FEEM, a meme designed for Facebook. And if you want to blog about NF, that would be great too! (I’m not on FB so I have no idea what’s this about)

I’ve met this young lady a few years back, and owns a copy of her book. From her blog and book, I gathered that she is one gutsy person who has not stopped fighting to get better. Like Davie’s kids, Yvonne has good and bad days and I hope she’ll be able to raise the funds for the surgery to have more better days.

The three things I love to see are:

1. A set of shelves stacked with books
2. Vintage Mini (Cooper or otherwise) cars on the road
3. Faces of my favourite people

You’re tagged!
Cocoy
Dr. Mafeitz
That James of Loopy Meals
Tony G
Sashi

I spent most of the weekend with a couple of old friends, a cancer patient and his family and a group of strangers for project Hazim Family Day.

Davie wanted to fulfil another wish of Adik Hazim’s which was to spend a day camping near a waterfall. She was able to rope in Hafiz and Zaidi and needed someone to take photos. How can I say no? I am still not keen on camping or masuk hutan, but what the heck. Hafiz eventually had to pull out but Zaidi made it all the way from Bangkok just for this. Even his family didn’t know he came back for the weekend.

With the help of Faizah, a Hospis Malaysia staff, Davie was able to get the services of Redah 4×4 Club members to transport us to Lata Berembun, near Raub. There were six “jalopies” for the trip, five of them from Redah. Leader Perah, Sesenduk, Marajali (and Kobis), Keladi and sweeper Tetebu were joined by non-member Tembikai. There were a couple of prospective members who came along too and by the end of it are planning to get their own rides.

There are many stories to tell about the whole trip but for this post, I want to highlight the warriors who made it happen.

I’ve known Davie since I was 13, that was exactly 20 years ago. She has been doing volunteer work for a while now, but is currently focusing on kids with cancer. It’s something I know I’m not able to do. Not like her.

The Redah people have been doing volunteer work while satisfying their passion for off-road adventures. They went prepared with everything. Except man-made toilets. Heh. But seriously, they’re the people you’d want to have with you should you get stuck in nature. On land that is. Kalau kat laut saya panggil Awi the Duyong boatmaker.

Zaidi made babysitting look fun and easy. Faizah meanwhile made sure Adik Hazim got his meds, and the rest of us fed well. She even got a nurse to be on standby! Hehe.

Real life warriors of light? I don’t doubt it.

Nor, confirm Mike dah tak ada…

It was over a month ago when Eddy and I were talking and somehow Mike’s name came up. She was our high school classmate who, a few years back, discovered that she had breast cancer. It was maybe another week after the conversation that I sent a message and received a prompt reply. Through the messages I found out how she had just given birth to a son and that her cancer had returned and had spread to one of her lungs.

June 11 was the last day I communicated with her, asking if she was still at the hospital. “Still warded! The tube that was poking my lung is out but white blood count is low so 4 more days,” was her last message to me.

I didn’t even get to speak to her, to hear her voice. Once, I wanted to call but she was in a chemo session. Another time I asked if I could visit, she told me to wait til she’s feeling better. Understandable, but I feel a tinge of regret.

The last time we actually spoke was years ago, when she was first diagnosed. It was a long conversation and I can still remember how she was determined to fight the cancer. Well, she did, and was able to move on to marry and have two children. It saddens me to think of them growing up without her around.

What a day to know about her passing, which occurred on Monday. Suzy called to confirm it, Eddy was first to alert me. But I had revisions to make on stories that will go to print very soon and trying to concentrate was difficult amidst the messages and calls.

What a news to start the weekend with, after a mid-week cyst scare, on top of deadlines.

A fighter to the finish, her last entry on her blog was dated May 3. I cried buckets when I read through her entries.

In one message, Mike said I should really write. I take it as another sign. It’s time to write stories.

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Siti Marlina Zainal 1976 – 2009
Al-Fatihah