My deepest wishes for your continued healing Lin. You have been very instrumentally in my good health and I send you the same positive energy you have always sent me. You will continue to remain in my thoughts with healing energy being sent to you and Derek.
Please know that our thoughts, prayers and well wishes are with both you and Derek at this time. You were single-handedly the best health care practitioner I have ever had,; thank you for your knowledge, empathy, wisdom, support during my health care journey. Thanks to you I have had renewed faith in my own ability to heal myself.
You both have touched so many lives with your love, caring and healing- with myself long after contact. May it all come back to you many fold in this challenging time. Love and peace.
Dearest Lin - words cannot convey the deep caring thoughts we have for you today - of course, I am sure you have always known that we cared for you deeply since our first meeting. Our prayers have been going out since we heard of this illness and we think of you daily. Gina's Mother also sends her well wishes and if not for you, I am sure she too would not be as well today as she is. It is always easier to go into battle with many troops at hand - be assured we are part of your army!
I am so sorry to hear of Lin's illness, and will hold both Lin and Derek in prayers of love for wholeness of body, mind and spirit. With your permission, I will ask our congregation's prayer chain to hold you in prayer as well.
Sarah-Lynne just got a new tea set and I suggested she invite you for tea so she phoned you and met you at the elevator as she does all her imaginary guests! It was lovely to have you over!
Journal Entry One - January 7, 2007 by Lin
Finally I feel ready to write about my experiences and progress. Sorry for the delay, as I know many are wanting to hear from me. I awoke after surgery on November 8th to find my life had changed in a way that I didn’t in the least bit anticipate. I awoke intubated, with Derek by my side, and full of questions even though I was still sedated. I tried tracing words on his palm with my finger, and eventually was given paper and pen to communicate until the tube was removed. I think those questions have barely stopped since then. Many, such as: Why me? How is this fair? Why didn’t I know? have long gone, and now I focus on what to do next, what information and support is there for me to tap into.
I am overwhelmed and so completely touched by the love and support that
has poured in from family, friends, patients, strangers even. My challenge
has been to let that in and feel the love and prayers—it is so much easier
for me to give than receive. But receiving I have been, and what a wonderful
experience to bask in those emails, letters, and cards. Thank you so much to
all of you who have prayed, sent healing thoughts, written, and also donated
money to my fund. All of it has been such a wonderful gift.
And there’s the crux—how to see this situation as a gift, an opportunity
to love, be loved, connect with my soul. I am progressing all the time, and
feel my spirit return, my energy and passion for life and understanding seeping
slowly back. I decided to refuse chemotherapy and radiation treatment for a
number of reasons, and am still very glad to have found alternate treatments
that I have great confidence in. I am also still exploring my possibilities
and staying with the process, seeing what thoughts, suggestions, insights come
my way.
Each day is a joy and a challenge. I have pain, and am doing various things to come to terms with this. The pain keeps me aware that there is a problem, and I also need this reminder to not get too loud. I am slowly getting back into my body, and coming to terms with the new one—scarred, missing a few bits and pieces, and a lot more knobby than the old one, but I recognize that the strong, resilient, absolutely willing body that I have always had is there underneath it all.
Thank you to my amazing husband, Derek, who has been there absolutely for me, whether to do Reiki at 3am to help me go back to sleep, or wash the dishes and cook the dinner. He guarded me fiercely just after the surgery until I was strong enough to see people again. He helps me with my enemas, and holds me and tells me how much he loves me. I am so blessed in this man. Also, thanks so much to my mum for listening to my outpourings on Christmas Day, things long overdue were said and I feel so light and free now. I don’t know if you entirely understand, mum, but I sure do feel your love. And also my brother Dave, and sis in law Viola who have been so supportive of me and shown so much love. And thanks to wonderful friends Zachariah, who created my healing circle website, and Carolyn, who sent out numerous emails and has been in charge of the healing fund. Thanks also to Lani for your incredible Reiki treatments that were so transformative when I first got home and continue to nourish me. Thanks so much to Sarah for jumping in and taking over my practice—what a loving and courageous woman! Love has come my way in so many forms. Thank you everyone.