Navigating a myeloma diagnosis in the land of ‘I don’t know’
I am a longtime journalist with a firm belief that knowledge is power. My life’s work has been to answer the who, what, where, when,…
Columns
How to offer caregivers help that actually helps
“Let me know if you need anything.” No matter how well-intentioned that statement sounds, I personally believe it’s the most useless thing someone can say…
When self-care feels like another thing on the to-do list
My therapist advised me to engage in more meditation. A friend sent me a link to a YouTube channel dedicated to yoga. In the waiting…
Feeling relieved, then guilty, when my mum falls asleep
The most peaceful part of my day starts around 10:36 p.m. That’s when my mother has taken her last pills, I’ve checked her vitals, and…
The things I miss about life before caregiving
I miss deliberately and intentionally placing my phone on silent mode. I miss the luxury of my phone battery dying, of my being out of…
The hidden signs of myeloma that whisper before they shout
When people think of cancer, they often imagine clear warning signs, such as a lump, dramatic weight loss, or a test result that leaves no…
Planning for the future when even tomorrow feels fragile
A few weeks ago, my cousin asked if I would join her family for her oldest son’s wedding ceremony this November in Dubai. “We’ve started…
How we’re adapting and finding hope in life with myeloma
When my mum, Esther, was diagnosed with myeloma in January 2021, our world split in two. There was the life we thought we were…
Questions to ask a caregiver — and which ones to avoid
I recently went to the supermarket to pick up some groceries. While I was shopping for avocados, an acquaintance approached me. “How is your mother?”…
From Mum’s myeloma diagnosis to our shared mission of advocacy
It started like any ordinary ache — something my mum, Esther, was all too familiar with. She often woke up with a crick in her…
