Because not all of us are blessed with comfort & health
In spite of feeling as though my body’s going to break apart anytime and that there’s a mountain load of work waiting for me, I had to take time off to write this post.
Amidst the fatigue and stress due to having to juggle relocating my residence and work deadlines (I scheduled my relocation week to be free of work actually, but alas, schedules seem to have a life of their own), I was on the way of my usual pattern of wondering why am I always caught in such a situation – until two events made me realise how insignificant my worries and troubles seem to be.
1) The Iranian election.
2) 4 yr old Charmaine, who is battling 4th stage cancer.
I cannot do much for 1) except the pray for those who fight for truth and hope for the best. However for 2) I hope to be able to do whatever that is within my own means to help.
And that means writing this post to spread the message, even though I know the readership of the blog is not really worth mentioning anyway. However, if I can just convince one of you, just one, to lend a hand to this little girl, it will be enough for me.
I do not know Charmaine, but I am deeply affected by her strength. That she was still smiling in her pictures – even though not much of her hair is left, that she has to undergo chemo at the tender age of 4. Here I am, complaining about the aches acquired from painting a few walls.
The last blog post I read, she has the urge to pee every 10 minutes and she cries each time she pees because it is just so painful. May I ask if any of you, would have similar courage to smile if you have to go through the same ordeal?
She needs 350k USD to have a 40% – 50% chance of survival as she needs to go to New York to get some special (read: expensive) antibody. If she stays in Singapore, her chance of survival is only at maximum 20%, though realistically, 10%.
Okay, the first reaction most of you is going to have is to look at the 350k and think you are never going to make a difference. But, every effort counts. Even if not monetary, spreading the message is very much helpful as well. Charmaine and her family will need every ounce of effort from us.
Charmaine’s mother is a mother who singlehandedly brought up her two kids and she is facing this battle alone because Charmaine’s dad left them when she was not even born. Can you imagine how Charmaine’s mother felt, when told of her daughter’s condition and the amount of money needed for treatment? I would have crumbled in despair, honestly.
So, she may not survive even if she’s able to raise that amount. At least we can answer to ourselves – that we have tried our best. That is what Charmaine’s mother is asking of herself, she has wondered through the same process, that half a million SGD can help many starving children in third world countries. Yet this is her own precious daughter, even 1% of a chance is still a chance, I know I would do the same if I were to be in the same shoes.