20130824, Minutes, by Jane Cheng
It’s a quiet afternoon inside while raining cats and dogs outside. There’re not many people turning up but definitely an intimate and deeper discussion with only 7 senior members (Jane, Tzong, Harris, Nathan, Bill, Jeffrey), 2 second- time attendees (KC, Allie) and one first comer, Dorrie who works in TSMS.
Jeffrey had browsed this book because he happened to have one at home; his wife also had interest in the book. Some of us had heard of or read near-death experience stories, but most of them were too personal so it’s hard for us to buy it. However, the story that Anita could revive from being dying and her 4B lymphoma cancer cells disappeared in short weeks without any treatment was a miracle which was hardly believed if the case wasn’t validated by the doctors who had done careful check on all of her medical records in the hospital.
Most of us believe the life after death, some are skeptic and only one believes it’s all about chemical in our brain. Tzong said he didn’t believe it before but now he was softer about it because the more he read, the more he found there’re something beyond what we knew. Jeffrey believes it because his wife is very sensitive about these things. Wow, very spooky! I was more skeptic before I read the book but now I am inclined to see it as Anita does because then I can feel the love my diseased father towards me anywhere and anytime.
We believe the food, life style, environment and genes all are the main factors of why we get cancers. However, some arguments have put forward; for example, aging can cause cell mutation so we now hear of getting cancer more often since the life span of human beings is keeping prolonged. Some also mentioned the density of population also makes us have the illusion while there’s such suspect that some unknown viruses which can cause cancer have been widely spread through traveling. I put forward Anita’s point—fear, different kinds of fear which have been bred into us that one day our immune system can’t take it and is broken down. I believe the way we think is also very important. The more optimistic one is, the healthier one will be.
There were a British couple who both suffered incurable diseases, cancer and a rare heart disease, and had been declared by the doctors that they couldn’t have lived longer than one year. Being married without any children, they decided to sign a contract with a travel agency, who paid all the expenditure on their traveling around the world until their last day in exchange for the amount of money acquired from selling their house. After one and a half year, it turned out than expected that they were healthier than before and declared by the doctors that their illness had been greatly improved and under control. The couple said every day passed was bliss because they earned it, by time and also by money. They were totally freed without fear and anxiety. Doesn’t it say something extraordinary?
When we were asked about our views to Angelina Julie’s decision to undergo a precautionary double mastectomy, we were all approve of it if the medical evidence was 100% correct. I think it’s better proactively taking precautions than living everyday with tremendous fear, isn’t it?
When we talked about fear, we thought the best way was facing it and then conquering it. Think logically and find the solution for the worst possible scenario. Nathan said sometimes fear wasn’t a bad thing because it could help us not do stupid things. What a good point! I think there’re many kinds and different levels of fear. Tzong mentioned about the fear when we were facing the unknown. Yes, the unknown is the most dreadful thing and death is the ultimate. If we know the life after death is like going home and everything has its own meaning and purpose, then what we have being a human is only bliss. No fear at all.
