Comments on: Anna Donald: Making meaning in the now, for the now http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/ Just another blogs.bmj.com weblog Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:29:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jade http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2408 Jade Thu, 22 May 2008 04:45:22 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2408 dear anna, you came to our school on the 8th, duncraig and i found it very interesting and just would like to say thankyou as i have never met an author of a book i have read an enjoyed. thankyou kind regards jade dear anna,
you came to our school on the 8th, duncraig and i found it very interesting and just would like to say thankyou as i have never met an author of a book i have read an enjoyed.

thankyou
kind regards
jade

]]> By: Ghislaine Young http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2407 Ghislaine Young Wed, 14 May 2008 07:21:30 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2407 Anna As with several others Richard Smith alerted me to this blog. Synchronicity or mere coincidence? I have been aware of thoughts of death ever since my father died in an accident when I was only a child. I realise that at a subconscious level I entered nursing because it appeared that doctors and nurses were on the other side of the "big divide". More recently a close friend has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For a time I started to feel guilty whenever I laughed, relaxed or read a novel, when others were made to count every second. But as you so rightly say Anna "more life is just more" and all there is, is the present. My hero the metaphysical poet said so eloquently: "no man is an island entire of itself... any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind, so never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee". Anna you are blessed because you are seizing every moment, you love and are loved in return. Its is more than any of us can ask for in life. I shall leave my final words to my all time favourite medieval hermit, Julian of Norwich, who speaks on the nature of the Divine: "Love was his meaning...Hold fast to this and you shall learn and know more about love, but you will never need to know or understand about anything else for ever and ever". Anna
As with several others Richard Smith alerted me to this blog. Synchronicity or mere coincidence? I have been aware of thoughts of death ever since my father died in an accident when I was only a child. I realise that at a subconscious level I entered nursing because it appeared that doctors and nurses were on the other side of the “big divide”. More recently a close friend has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For a time I started to feel guilty whenever I laughed, relaxed or read a novel, when others were made to count every second. But as you so rightly say Anna “more life is just more” and all there is, is the present. My hero the metaphysical poet said so eloquently: “no man is an island entire of itself… any man’s death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind, so never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”. Anna you are blessed because you are seizing every moment, you love and are loved in return. Its is more than any of us can ask for in life. I shall leave my final words to my all time favourite medieval hermit, Julian of Norwich, who speaks on the nature of the Divine: “Love was his meaning…Hold fast to this and you shall learn and know more about love, but you will never need to know or understand about anything else for ever and ever”.

]]> By: gurpreet http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2406 gurpreet Tue, 13 May 2008 11:49:55 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2406 Anna, have been looking out for your next blog; hope your feeling ok. Have been thinking of you lots and can picture your face asking ' why? why? why?' I can see you've searched high and low for the answers. I wondered if you have ever read 'Japji sahib'-the sikh morning prayer-it may give you some comfort. There are some translations on the internet but most of them are pretty poor-your nearest temple in Sydney may have a good one otherwise let me know if you want me to send one to you. Anyway, Anna -there are clearly lots of people who care about you a great deal; how many people can say that their life has touched so many. Sending you a huge hug and lots of love-gurpreet. Anna,
have been looking out for your next blog; hope your feeling ok.
Have been thinking of you lots and can picture your face asking ‘ why? why? why?’
I can see you’ve searched high and low for the answers. I wondered if you have ever read ‘Japji sahib’-the sikh morning prayer-it may give you some comfort. There are some translations on the internet but most of them are pretty poor-your nearest temple in Sydney may have a good one otherwise let me know if you want me to send one to you.
Anyway, Anna -there are clearly lots of people who care about you a great deal; how many people can say that their life has touched so many.
Sending you a huge hug and lots of love-gurpreet.

]]> By: Birgitta http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2405 Birgitta Mon, 12 May 2008 23:12:45 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2405 Dear Anna I am so impressed that you have the strength to share your thoughts and feelings with us. You are really a wonderful person. And your blog is turning into a very interesting document, also because of the replies, that display a lot about the different views on disease of different cultures. So here is my contribution: I got breast cancer when I was 42. I had 14 positive nodes of 16 removed and thought I would be dead before christmas, but I am now 56, alive and well, stronger and wiser and probably a much better doctor than if I had not been ill. I had chemotherapy but also used complementary medicine, and it was very important for me to choose the treatment that felt right for me. My childen went to a Waldorf school, so I used some anthroposophy healing methods and homeopathic medicine and I also used visualization daily. When my white blood cells were too low for me to get the full dose of chemo, I could use visualization to get it up above 2 and get the full dose, which I wanted, now I had decided to have the stuff. I read with great interest about your meditation training and I really think you can get far by mobilizing the healing systems and powers of your own body. So I look forward to following your blog and your thoughts. Good luck, be as happy as you can. A big hug from me! Dear Anna
I am so impressed that you have the strength to share your thoughts and feelings with us. You are really a wonderful person. And your blog is turning into a very interesting document, also because of the replies, that display a lot about the different views on disease of different cultures. So here is my contribution:

I got breast cancer when I was 42. I had 14 positive nodes of 16 removed and thought I would be dead before christmas, but I am now 56, alive and well, stronger and wiser and probably a much better doctor than if I had not been ill.
I had chemotherapy but also used complementary medicine, and it was very important for me to choose the treatment that felt right for me. My childen went to a Waldorf school, so I used some anthroposophy healing methods and homeopathic medicine and I also used visualization daily. When my white blood cells were too low for me to get the full dose of chemo, I could use visualization to get it up above 2 and get the full dose, which I wanted, now I had decided to have the stuff.

I read with great interest about your meditation training and I really think you can get far by mobilizing the healing systems and powers of your own body. So I look forward to following your blog and your thoughts. Good luck, be as happy as you can. A big hug from me!

]]> By: Luis Gabriel Cuervo http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2404 Luis Gabriel Cuervo Mon, 12 May 2008 15:22:02 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2404 Dear Anna, It is good to open the page and find your wonderful transparent smile. Thanks for reaching out to your colleagues and friends from all over the world, allowing us to hear from and learn from your thoughtful insights. What a privilege to learn from your perspective on the very important issues that you are bringing up! You certainly enrich the issues with your unique set of skills and with your talent. The challenges you face and so brilliantly display of bringing together evidence (or its lack of) values and context are humbling and a continuous learning experience. I appreciate your allowing us to reflect on the realities of facing such a situation, and enriching these reflections with selfless insight and pragmatism. I am humbled the strength, courage and determination you have had to overcome fears and to share your learning experiences thriving in these challenging times, in a very unique way. I will continue reading your blog with delight, knowing that all that that makes you so special can come with the strength and response seen in people who beat the odds and overcome such health problems. Warm regards, Luis Gabriel Cuervo Dear Anna,

It is good to open the page and find your wonderful transparent smile. Thanks for reaching out to your colleagues and friends from all over the world, allowing us to hear from and learn from your thoughtful insights.

What a privilege to learn from your perspective on the very important issues that you are bringing up! You certainly enrich the issues with your unique set of skills and with your talent. The challenges you face and so brilliantly display of bringing together evidence (or its lack of) values and context are humbling and a continuous learning experience. I appreciate your allowing us to reflect on the realities of facing such a situation, and enriching these reflections with selfless insight and pragmatism.

I am humbled the strength, courage and determination you have had to overcome fears and to share your learning experiences thriving in these challenging times, in a very unique way. I will continue reading your blog with delight, knowing that all that that makes you so special can come with the strength and response seen in people who beat the odds and overcome such health problems.

Warm regards,

Luis Gabriel Cuervo

]]> By: gurpreet khaira http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2403 gurpreet khaira Sun, 11 May 2008 20:43:43 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2403 Dear Anna, The Anna I knew never shut up, never gave up and never took no for an answer. I'm proud of your academic achievements and all that you have given to medicine. I, as you know, became to the humble GP -much to your diappointment for not fulfilling what you perceived was my academic potential. General practice has taught me one thing though-that cancers often don't follow the prognosis; that there is something more powerful than predictions-call it God, faith or love. Thankyou for sharing your journey. I'm sorry we lost touch with each other-after finals and the birth of my children. If you spot this email and feel inclined I'd love to share your busy life via email. You are the person who persuaded the editors of the OTM to substitute he with he/she as a humble medical student. Thinking of you Anna-with love Gurpreet & Harmeet Dear Anna,
The Anna I knew never shut up, never gave up and never took no for an answer. I’m proud of your academic achievements and all that you have given to medicine. I, as you know, became to the humble GP -much to your diappointment for not fulfilling what you perceived was my academic potential. General practice has taught me one thing though-that cancers often don’t follow the prognosis; that there is something more powerful than predictions-call it God, faith or love.
Thankyou for sharing your journey. I’m sorry we lost touch with each other-after finals and the birth of my children.
If you spot this email and feel inclined I’d love to share your busy life via email. You are the person who persuaded the editors of the OTM to substitute he with he/she as a humble medical student.
Thinking of you Anna-with love Gurpreet & Harmeet

]]> By: Neelima http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2402 Neelima Sat, 10 May 2008 15:07:14 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2402 Hi Anna, I have been also struck by the same beast...My life has changed ..from anger, rage, why me times... I was looking at the world through the tinted glasses of immortality before which I removed after the diagnosis.I can see the picture clearer now . I laugh at myself now...how death seemed to frighten me before...doesnot do it now. I say to myself...I came from no where? I will go in to no where.That is the ultimate truth.Rest is all maya.It is all a matter of time...for each one of us.I just pray to GOD if there is one..to make the journey for each one of us bearable.love you Hi Anna,
I have been also struck by the same beast…My life has changed ..from anger, rage, why me times… I was looking at the world through the tinted glasses of immortality before which I removed after the diagnosis.I can see the picture clearer now . I laugh at myself now…how death seemed to frighten me before…doesnot do it now. I say to myself…I came from no where? I will go in to no where.That is the ultimate truth.Rest is all maya.It is all a matter of time…for each one of us.I just pray to GOD if there is one..to make the journey for each one of us bearable.love you

]]> By: Catherine Harkin http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2395 Catherine Harkin Sat, 10 May 2008 08:36:38 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2395 Hi Anna. i too am a member of the Cancer Club and had a mastectomy in 2006. i identify with a lot of what you say........the depth of terror i experienced going through the diagnostic processes was like nothing i'd ever met before, and i will never, ever call a patient "anxious" again. i am considered "cured" but you never know do you.......and i had the same idea as you, that even if i die now i've already lived longer than most women in the developing world and had a pretty full and exciting life. the only way i could cope when the fear overwhelmed me was to think, well, i AM going to die.........but not today. some time it will be today........but until then you might as well live. i did find the reactions of colleagues quite strange in some cases........i'm not sure whether it was the word "breast" or the word "cancer" that caused one of my colleagues to burst out laughing but i did find that a tiny bit inappropriate..... like you i was amazed at how kind and understanding many people were, but i found it odd and hurtful to get the "leprosy" reactions of those who felt embarrassed or didn't know what to say. i'm proud of my scars.........i went through a lot of pain to get them, and since i had a LD recon i can now flex one of my boobs which is an interesting party trick that i'm happy to demonstrate to anyone who wants to see it. going diving off the Barrier Reef three months after the op was quite a struggle, as was the first post-op Munro........but it's great to be well again and appreciate all the good things of life......... Hi Anna. i too am a member of the Cancer Club and had a mastectomy in 2006. i identify with a lot of what you say……..the depth of terror i experienced going through the diagnostic processes was like nothing i’d ever met before, and i will never, ever call a patient “anxious” again. i am considered “cured” but you never know do you…….and i had the same idea as you, that even if i die now i’ve already lived longer than most women in the developing world and had a pretty full and exciting life. the only way i could cope when the fear overwhelmed me was to think, well, i AM going to die………but not today. some time it will be today……..but until then you might as well live.
i did find the reactions of colleagues quite strange in some cases……..i’m not sure whether it was the word “breast” or the word “cancer” that caused one of my colleagues to burst out laughing but i did find that a tiny bit inappropriate….. like you i was amazed at how kind and understanding many people were, but i found it odd and hurtful to get the “leprosy” reactions of those who felt embarrassed or didn’t know what to say. i’m proud of my scars………i went through a lot of pain to get them, and since i had a LD recon i can now flex one of my boobs which is an interesting party trick that i’m happy to demonstrate to anyone who wants to see it. going diving off the Barrier Reef three months after the op was quite a struggle, as was the first post-op Munro……..but it’s great to be well again and appreciate all the good things of life………

]]> By: Dr.Viveck Atheya http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2396 Dr.Viveck Atheya Fri, 09 May 2008 16:15:00 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2396 Dear Anna, We dont die because of a disease.We die because our time has come.This time is individual's very own.Indian monks hypothesized that ones' number of breaths is preordained(so the yoga & Praanayaam -to decrease the No. of breaths per unit of time and try to prolong life).I hope this fact gives you something to think about and help u with ur quest to reach fruitful conclusions regarding Life-Disease-Death. Viveck Atheya Dear Anna,
We dont die because of a disease.We die because our time has come.This time is individual’s very own.Indian monks hypothesized that ones’ number of breaths is preordained(so the yoga & Praanayaam -to decrease the No. of breaths per unit of time and try to prolong life).I hope this fact gives you something to think about and help u with ur quest to reach fruitful conclusions regarding Life-Disease-Death.

Viveck Atheya

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2401 Tom Fri, 09 May 2008 08:24:27 +0000 http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2008/05/08/anna-donald-making-meaning-in-the-now-for-the-now/#comment-2401 Excellent post. And I heartily agree: go for quality and quantity, but focus on the former... 'better to live on your feet than to die on your knees', or some such thing. Excellent post. And I heartily agree: go for quality and quantity, but focus on the former… ‘better to live on your feet than to die on your knees’, or some such thing.

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