Lessons from mum...Her greatest teaching yet

Lessons from mum - Her greatest teaching yet... Over the last few month's I've chronicled the journey of my mum's battle with Cancer and how much it has taught her and us as her family. Today, she's still dealing with this affliction but has grown so very much. In life there's always adversity and trials. Key is to find the learnings and meaning in these times of strife so that one can grow, spiritually and mentally. Mum was asked to give a speech on her journey and being the teacher she has been and still is, she continues to inspire and motivate.

Here's her speech, in her own words. Have a read...

Pain like I’d never experienced before in my life, insomnia, night sweats, test after examination after appointment after more tests; an inability to eat – Anything! – did I mention pain? Excruciating pain!

Colonoscopy clear Mrs Govender! Endoscope lovely! No sign of chemical activity or markers…misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis, medication attempting to treat symptoms without knowing the underlying cause. Scoped, prodded, probed, hospitalised and scanned – the elusive disease that had become the leading actress of my life.

Within a 5-7 year timeframe, I had consulted numerous GPs, Gastroenterologists and Specialist Physicians. Diagnosed with IBS and H Pylori bacteria, the disease that was brewing within me remained closeted.

All came to a head in April of this year, when my symptoms reached an epic high. I was unable to eat or sleep at all, found myself in chronic pain once more and at the door of a Specialist, Oliver Twist like….instead of food, I held my hands out, in search of answers.

The doctors were perplexed themselves, having conducted a range of blood tests and two biopsies yielding no conclusive results.

Desperate for answers and a cure to the insomnia and what now felt like a pain I would be carrying for eternity, I travelled to India.

Admitted to a Speciality Ayurvedic hospital for an array of treatments and procedures with little respite from my symptoms; like dejavu I was back in an emergency room.

My answers finally came following a PET CT scan at Max Super-speciality hospital in New Delhi, India.

A series of both unfortunate and fortunate events, lead me to a diagnosis of Stage 3, High grade, B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learnt is that the psychology of the unknown needs to be talked about. Cancer does not have a face until it is yours or someone you know.

I must confess I myself knew very little about Cancer until I was affected. Truth be told it has affected everyone around me as well.

Being armed with knowledge puts you in a position of power. My experience has certainly taught me to question doctors and get a better understanding of a disease that I have co-created within my body.

This may appear to be a foreign concept; the idea of co-creating disease within oneself.

However, If I were to break it down simply – it would be the role I play in allowing and enabling a foreign element to reside within my once healthy body.

Disease is DIS – ease……the body is no longer in a state of harmony.

Numerous factors, physical, psychological, emotional, metaphysical……contributed to the creation of DIS-ease within me and I take full accountability for my part in that,

Such accountability has been the very reason why I am a determined survivor today.

Deepak Chopra states “Doctors & Physicians can become healers by no longer remaining mere technicians of the Human Body, but by being alchemists of the Soul”.

We are all propelled by a life force – a will to live that is so strong that gives us inner strength to become fearless and fight for LIFE. When faced with this life threatening disease one tends to discover previously untapped wells of fortitude and courage…..Ironically this gave me peace of mind and strength to accept what was happening to me physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Cancer affects you at your very core. It is a very Transformation Process in that it forces you to reflect and look deep into every aspect of who you really are.

As I’ve said many times, you cannot go through something like this, and not be changed.

For me, personally, I’ve realised that by sharing this experience we see the interconnectedness of human beings and the resilience of the human spirit.

Cancer does not discriminate. Each one of us hosts the cancer cell; it is whether or not we have activated it through triggers such as stress, incorrect diet for our individual bodies, taking in GMO products, lifestyle choices and the role of genetics, to name but a few.

I have learnt that The Human Spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.

You gain faith, strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you look fear in the face.

You learn to love yourself the way you are.

Cancer has been, and still is, a wise, tough love, teacher to me.

It’s easy to say Love yourself the way you are…..But how many of us truly do?? In the full and absolute sense of it, that is a tough, inward journey to Self – accepting and deeply loving every facet of your Being – breaking away from social conditioning.

To quote the famous actor Michael Douglas, “Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet”.

And that is exactly what Cnacer does. When you first hear the diagnosis it’s like you’ve been kicked in the gut. You go through the normal emotions of “why me”?

Don’t forget, we’re only human. It’s okay to have a melt down…….just don’t unpack and live there. Cry it out and then refocus on where you’re headed.

The first day I was diagnosed with Cancer, I chose LIFE…I chose to survive and not be a victim.

I decided to muster up all my strength to fight to win! To stay positive and not let Cancer define me.

Yes, there are good days and there are really really really bad days, but our attitudes determine each day.

We have to hold onto our hopes, dreams, faith and determination….gathering strength from our support systems; because in the fight against Cancer, we cannot and Will not give up!

I’d like to share a few lifelines through my process; but bear in mind yours may be completely different and definitely unique to you. Some of these I had incorporated into my lifestyle many years back, but their true power only came to light during my healing process.

Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga, energy healing, Kriya, prayer, Developing and maintaining an awareness of Self. Leaning on the support of friends and family; soaking up the love that existed within and around me. Even the simplest gesture of generosity such as cleaning up our house, bathing me in healing herbs and cooking for my family…made a World of difference at what has been the toughest times I have experienced.

I stand before you today, still fighting and mostly healing in my journey with Cancer. I stand before you a much stronger woman, more aware of who she truly is, than ever before. I stand before you in Gratitude for life experience and knowing both hardship and Love.

Never underestimate your presence here today and the support you are providing those in similar situations to mine – it is priceless.

Thank you.