9th Year

I haven't got a chance to update this on July 7th, 2019
It marked, the 9th year of my transplantation.
Part of this blog is to update on my medical conditions as the year progresses.
Currently, I am visiting a transplant theme at a hospital every 3 months.
I am still on the same medications.
Unlike Japan, I am not doing monthly check ups to the check the condition of my body. This is because of certain health access limitation of my visa
In Japan, I had X-Rays, CT-Scans and even MRIs.
Anyways, I plan to run some tests when I am back home to Malaysia at the end of the year

Recently, I have frequent nosebleeds, and difficulties breathing especially when I take plight of stairs.
I have reduced some weight and approaching for optimum weight. My weight has been the same except during and post pregnancies. The best I can do to sustain my health, is to keep a healthy weight.

Now that I am 40 and 9 years post transplantation, I have to work harder to maintain a healthy weight for a healthier 'second-chance' life

You'll be in my heart

You'll be in my heart ~ Phil Collins


I love watching animations, especially Disney animations.
This is one of my favourite songs which is now very applicable to my bubu
It makes a great lullaby

Come stop your crying, it will be alright
Just take my hand, hold it tight
I will protect you from all around you
I will be here, don't you cry

For one so small, you seem so strong
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm
This bond between us can't be broken
I will be here, don't you cry

Cause, you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on, now and forevermore
You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say,
You'll be in my heart, always...always

What a wonderful world

Louis Armstrong~ What a wonderful world

I see tress of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands, saying how do you do?
They're really saying, I love you

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself, what a wonderful world.

It will indeed be a wonderful world, if everyone is as appreciative and positive as the lyrics depicts

With great power comes great responsibility

My title for the post was borrowed from the 'Peter Parker Principle'.

This is my 100th post, and I have been meaning to write about responsibilities for quite some time now.

Quite often I think about the responsibilities of parents or even caretakers of kids.

Kids are super innocent younglings that are totally dependent on their caretakers to develop their personality and characters.

I have read many articles that cite the importance of mothers in a child's development. The special bond of mother-child, if it's absent or inadequate, can lead to an abnormal development of a child. 

Now that I am a parent, I realized how occupied the role is. Kids mimic everything that their parents do and they also follow all our believes and fears. If you instill optimism, love and kindness, the kids will grow up believing in those. In contrast, if you teach them hatred and superiority, they will grow up believing in those traits. Therefore, being parents are the greatest responsibility ever as we have the duty to raise responsible human beings who need to be kind to fellow human, community, animal and environment. Parents could also be abusive which could deprive a young child's happiness and confidence that eventually affects his future. 

I hope to remember the great responsibility that we, as parents have taken when we decided to have kids, to continue our crucial commitment to raise happy and loving human beings.

With the power of parenthood, comes great responsibility 

Positive approach towards life

I am 40, yay!
Some may think that turning 40 means getting old and life may not be as exciting as they were younger.
Not for me.
I see it as an achievement,  and that I have made it to 40!
Maybe this is the post-transplantation optimism.
I see life as a blessing, as a second chance and now I am 40, I am grateful for what I am and what I have achieved over the last decade.
Yesterday, my son wanted us to bake a birthday cake for me. We did it together, and once we're done (slightly overcooked), he sang the birthday song for me. It was amusing at the same time so lovable as he was looking forward for my birthday. He even told one of his friends, and I was awestruck when his friend wished me happy birthday. Aritya made me so happy and I hope to have many more happy birthdays with him.

4 & 40

It is my birthday today. This is a very special birthday as it marks the 40th year of my existence. It is also very special as my son is 4 this year. I have planned to have a 4 & 40 celebration when we return to Malaysia for holidays at the end of the year. I have also realized that, next year, when my son is 5, I will be 41 (4+1 =5). This continues till he is 13 and I am 49. When I am 50, he will be 14 (1+4=5) and this pattern continues. OK, I am aware that I am a possessive mom, but I am just excited about the mathematical similarities between our ages. Anyways, with 40th comes wisdom. I am not sure about wisdom but I have some specific aim in life. I am grateful for the life that I am living post-transplantation. As I sit here writing this blog, Aritya is sitting very nearby to me writing a 'surprise' birthday card for me. He is planning to write, Amma, I sayang you a lot. It's a very happy beginning.

The Coin Collector

When I was in Malaysia, I like collecting 50 cent coins. They are big and heavy and it feels nice to collect them. Similarly, 50 cents in Australia are interesting too. What fascinates me was, some of these coins has some special minting and usually these coins are circulated at limited numbers. I thought of teaching Aritya the value of saving, so I started by explaining to him that some of these 50 cents has special minting. I also thought him that he can keep and accumulate these coins over time. He was a bit excited about it, and asked for a small box where he can put away his collection at a very special place. Every time I received some coins with special minting, I will pass it over to him. Sometimes, I will give him regular coins too. He likes to keep them in his special box. We make some exciting activities by tracing the coins on a piece of paper and also learn some additions using the. He is still collecting these coins, and he is still excited about his special collections. He has a collection for 1 dollars too. I hope he continues this hobby, naturally instilling the habit of saving while appreciating some unique details about these special coins.

Our trip to Canada

We have planned for a trip to Canada since we were in Japan. We have been surveying for permanent residence options and Canada is one of our preferences. But then, Satya was offered a job in Sydney and we all moved to Sydney at the end of December 2018. However, we didn't hold off our plan to visit Canada. When we were in Japan, we were invited for the application of permanent residence in Canada and we diligently applied for it. Fortunately, our application was accepted and we had to visit Canada to get our residency card. Since, we did not want to miss this opportunity, we headed to Canada on June 13th. It was a 21 hour flight from Sydney and we landed in Vancouver shortly before proceeding to Toronto. Since, Aritya usually gets airsick during travels, the trip to Vancouver was disastrous from him. The poor boy was sick throughout the journey and kept clasped in my arms. He recovered, rather quickly when we arrived in Toronto. The whole experience fascinated him. He often speaks about his adventure to Canada to his teachers at his daycare. He often describes the places he visited, the place that we stayed, and also the people that we visited. When we were in Toronto, we visited the museum,  science centre and also the Niagara Falls.  We also visited Satya's friend from his University in Japan at Canada. Both Helmy-san and his wife Heba-san and their wonderful boys received us with open arms. At their house, Aritya learned a bit about the macroscopic anatomy of cat's paws and its hidden claws. Overall, it was truly an unforgettable experience for the three of us. After our short trip, we headed back to Sydney from Toronto via Vancouver. Fortunately, Ari-chan did not get sick throughout the journey and it was a very happy journey indeed.

Paper accepted for publication

On a chilly October, I would like to update on the acceptance of my very important work in a stem cell journal. I have been working on this article for a year and finally it was accepted for publication yesterday.
It is indeed a very happy news for me, right before I turn 40 this weekend.

My son is 4!

My son who turns 4! We had a small celebration at home today. This is his first birthday celebration at Sydney, Australia. Usually, we celebrate his birthday at home and we invited some friends to join the celebration. However, this year it was just amongst us three. I baked a cake for him as usual but this time he helped me to bake his cake. He enjoys watching me baking and cooking and always asks questions on the procedure that I follow to make a meal. We've got him a collection of Roald Dahl books which I've bought from Gumtree Australia. He enjoys reading them almost everyday. Speaking about books, I found that Charlotte's web is one of the most well written books and both Aritya and I enjoyed reading them. Initially, we'd borrowed the book from our local library, but then since it was so enjoyable, we bought one for ourselves. It is definitely one of our favourite books.

Mother's Day 2019

A day that has been special for me since my first pregnancy.
A day to remember and to appreciate the hardship of my mother.
A day that will always be special as it always coincide with my son's birthday. It was the same day as my son's birthday last year. As for this year, his birthday is tomorrow.
I am feeling gratitude, contended and appreciative.
Happy Mother's Day

Sayonara Japan

I cannot believe that this day finally came.
Me leaving Japan for good. As I mentioned previously, our next venture begun. The next phase of our life is in Sydney, Australia. We have finally bid goodbye to our good old Japan and flew to Sydney at the end of December 2018. Satya left earlier and bubu and I stayed back to clear the house and the both of us flew to Sydney to join Satya.
The last months of our stay in Japan was memorable in many ways. We independently, cleared the furniture from the house, transported the car to the port to be shipped to Australia, celebrated a very lonely Christmas in Japan, stayed in a hotel the last night in Osaka and flew to Sydney.
I miss Japan for its beautiful culture, its friendly and humble people, its cleanliness, its attention to details, its healthcare system, its geographical wonders, its food and its charm. I am forever thankful for Japan as giving me a life, my children, my confidence, my education, my humbleness and all the beautiful things.
I hope to visit Japan again, definitely, whenever I am crushed with doubtfulness and to refresh my physical and soul and to remind me why I should always strive on.