“Finally, now I can have a New Hairstyle.” - Reviews IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) Yokohama Japan Kore

A very tearful story of a mother

I just came home from a wake, my sister-in-law, just lost her battle against cancer.  Last 2 years she was diagnosed of breast cancer stage 3.  Her whole family was informed about it, but she assured us, with the loving grace of our God and with the medical advancement nowadays, everything will be alright.  We wholeheartedly offered our support in this endeavor.  So we were confident that everything is okay.

She was an elementary public school  teacher, with four children, the youngest, her Princess, since she is the only girl among the four, is just four years old.  Her salary was not enough to sustain the daily expenses of her family, much more for her treatment.   Her husband was a carpenter, but with no permanent job, he was forced to go to Singapore to help in the expenses of her treatment.  Battling cancer is very expensive, they were financially drained during the time of the treatment.  The family, her parents, her brothers took turn in providing not only financial but also moral support.  Through this trying times, we all have undergone a difficulty, still I saw and felt their love and concern for their sister. 

News soon spread, about her condition, and many of her relatives offered and gave their help.  Unexpectedly,I met  an advocate of the group called IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) from Yokohama,  I was able to share to her my sister-in-laws’ condition,  wholeheartedly, she provided her with supplements to battle the cells of cancer.  This member of IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) has been helping others by providing charity links that help giving jobs for extra income, providing other people temporary shelters and monetary assistance in times of difficulties.  Genuine is the goodness of her heart, she doesn’t personally know and havn’t met my sister-in-law.  She constantly called us, to follow up how my sister-in-law was doing.   

As the treatment advanced, she had to undergo surgery, removal of her breast, and then another  surgery to remove the other one because the cancer spread.  Having undergone all  these surgery, without her husband by her side, was very emotionally stressful, but her family did their very best to comfort her.  After the surgery, we thought that everything will be alright .But her oncologist suggested for her to have chemotherapy sessions, aware of the effects of chemotherapy, she still kept a straight face and a sweet smile, like she was giving us hope that she can survive this one. 

During her sessions of  chemotherapy,  I remember her reaction the first time  her hair started to fall from her head, the moment her hand stroke her long, black, shiny  hair, to arrange it, few strands were left on her finger tips.  I admired her hair so much, because it was one of her assets.  She really takes time taking care of it, and she does a really good job.  The instant we noticed that strands of hair were clinging on her fingertips, everybody stopped on whatever they were doing, there was  a few seconds of silence because everybody was not prepared about what happened, because her oncologist told us, hair fall would occur after a few sessions of chemotherapy, not after the first two sessions.  Nobody spoke a word, because I myself didn’t know what to say, for me the silence was I thought forever.  Our facial expressions were all blank, but I felt a mixture of feelings, honestly, the moment I saw the hair fall, I felt my hope drifted away, I pitied my sister-in-law, that I had tears ready to fall, but I tried to control it, but it was very painful.  Unexpectedly, she, my sister-in-law, broke the silence, she said from a tone where you can trace a fighting spirit to cheer herself and her family, “Finally, now I can have a new hairstyle”, after this event, she had her hair cut short, which also look good on her.  Soon, after many more sessions of chemotherapy, all her hair was gone.  We went for shopping, for stylish head caps and turbans of different happy colors.  She wore these different head gears, proudly, when she goes to school, to church and when she is strong enough to take her children to the park.

She asked me, where did her supplements come from, I told her, from one of the Charity links member provided by IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) Yokohama, Japan .  She wanted to meet her and thank her personally.  I said, this person is a traveler,  we will make a schedule so that you can meet her.  They were able to talk on the phone, and agreed that she will come to visit my sister-in-law.   

Inspired of the pouring goodness and help from many people, my sister-in-law kept fighting.  It was her children and faith in God that made her strong.  Being a mother, all she could think of is how will her children go on, without her.  Who will attend to their needs.  Especially, her youngest.   Her, Princess, who was too young to understand her situation, who kept on asking why her mother was always sleeping and why her mother was vomiting.  All she could comprehend is that her mother has stomach pain, causing her to vomit and thus, has to rest. 

But her body wasn’t that strong as compared to her will to live.  She became weaker and weaker, she lost her appetite for food, so she didn’t had the strength to move her body because of this, she had to have an IV infusion, to keep her strong.  But because of her immobility, her muscles became weaker and small.  We constantly reminded her that she can win this, and she should win this battle, but only tears came as answers.  She was a very kind cancer patient, knowing that she was in pain most of the time, she never complained of anything.  Only lately, when we found out that she had lumps all over her body.   Cancer spread too fast all around her body, she did not informed us about her situation.  That is why, when we took her to the hospital, it was her doctor that informed us about her situation.  At her current situation, the doctor, did not administer any procedure, she informed us that anytime soon, within 24 hours,  she will go into comatose and pass away.  We did not inform her of what the doctor said.  We contacted her husband in Singapore and informed him about his wife’s situation and he decided to come home.  We gathered all her immediate family, and spent the whole day in the hospital, it was like a reunion but a sad one.  The oncologist wanted her to be  discharged that same day,  but my sister-in-law still wanted to stay in the hospital, although the family is financially drained, we still gave her wish.  She did not went into comatose, like what the doctor said. 

After three days, we took her home, in an ambulance.  Her Princess was happy and excited riding the ambulance because she was entertained by the emergency lights , the bright red and blue lights that kept on spinning, and the sound of the ambulance that gave signal to clear the traffic.  Along the ride home, we were not aware that  my sister-in-law conversed with her Princess, while she was holding her mother’s hand, suddenly, we just observed that there was a spark of happiness mixed with excitement.  We did not had the chance to know the reason why, because we where to occupied making calls to prepare our arrival.

A few days later, her husband came home, a shocking event happened, day by day she grew stronger.  Her weak and fragile voice became stronger, and now you can understand every word she says.  Another spark of hope was again lighted, everybody thought that maybe, she really needed her husband to be by her side.  She became talkative, and had many stories to share, but we can observe that in between the lines of our conversation, you can sense that she is already having requests, for her children, especially the youngest. 

But soon little by little, her strength weakens.  She lasted only for three weeks, she passed peacefully in her bed.  Within those days, she was able to put to order every details for the future of her children.  She was able to talk to her children, again, reminding them the values of life, and that they should be strong whatever happens.  With her fragile body, inspite of intense pain, she was able to give them her warmest  hug and kiss for the last time.  We saw and felt her pain, she went into comatose.  We had to provide her oxygen because she was having difficulty breathing, during that time, my mother-in-law, her mother, who was the most busy providing her needs, sat beside her and whispered to her ears, in a dignified tone of voice, avoiding to cry, “You can rest now my dear, do not worry anymore, we will take care of your children”, and she gave her a kiss at the forehead. 

For so many years, I thought that it only happens in the movies where someone tells a dying person that everything will be alright and that she can move on, and with that assurance that dying person will pass away.  I didn’t believe it will happen, but I experienced it, after those assuring words from my mother-in-law, she gave her last breath, and died.    

During the first night of the wake, Princess, her youngest daughter, looked for her, when she saw her mother inside the coffin, she asked her grandmother, why her mother was inside that box.  She was informed that she was dead,  she still didn’t comprehend it,  but what she said made us all cry, with her innocence she said,” Will she never come back?, how about her promise to me that when she gets well, she will take me to the park and buy me ice cream?”.  No one was able to answer her,  but later she was able to understand, that her mother will never return, and we promised her, one of this days we will all go to the park and eat ice cream.

Loosing someone is the greatest tragedy one can ever have.  But if I feel this kind of pain, how much more the family she has left behind.  Her husband who will no more experience the warmth of her hugs and kisses, the taste of her savory dishes and her four children, who will no longer hear her voice of guidance and the soft lullaby at night.   

My friend from IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) Yohohama, Japan, didn’t had the chance to meet my sister-in-law.  She even offered to give financial support to her children.  I was amazed of her goodness and curious at the same time, so I visited the website called  http://i-am-groupltd.com.  There I was able to understand, why she was that kind to others, the IAM Group Limited (Ltd.) has lists of charitable institution that helps the needy.  They have many groups all over Asia, in the Southeast, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok, Yokohama, Japan, Thailand and a lot more.  We are thankful to this kind of groups, where they are willingly helping others who are in need.  The goodness you’ve shared to us, will never be forgotten.  Thanks to you, ma’am and to  IAM Group Limited (Ltd.).

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[Dulce]

Hi MoriaryMesa!Hi! Thanks for the comment! :)

[MoriartyMesa]

Now this is good, like grabbing the ears of the reader and bringing them to something that most people know and go through and a good education for those of haven't