Surviving cancer, a tale of hope: The fight back
(continued from "Final Confirmation") This was a turning point for me as I said to myself "I'm stronger than I realise" and from that day onwards I started to strengthen myself, starting with gentle exercises, walking especially with my dad and eating energising foods. Slowly, as days went by, I was gaining my strength and the feeling in my hands...
Surviving cancer, a tale of hope: Final confirmation
(continued from "Missing The Signs") By April 2014, my tummy was increasing in size compared to the rest of my body. I looked as though I was 7 months pregnant. A telling blood test Again another trip to my GP, another scan, MRI, blood tests which revealed that my Ca125 was raised (this is a protein tumour marker to detect ovarian cancer),...
Surviving cancer, a tale of hope: Missing the signs
I have been asked to share my Cancer Survivor Journey so that those who have had cancer or currently having cancer treatment will see there is light at the end of the tunnel. The family connection But firstly let me introduce myself my name is Preeti Dudakia born in Nairobi - East Africa, my family (Dad, mum, 3 brothers and myself)...
Don’t talk to me about racism
America may have been the source, and the death of George Floyd the flashpoint, but the anger has spread has across the globe, enveloping many nations and nationalities. The feelings of injustice resonate for so many, in so many places where intolerance and racism persist. Ambika Kucheria has distilled her feelings into a poem. One that was found to be...
I Can’t Breathe
At a time of global pandemic, it is telling to see the large gatherings of protestors across America. Personal safety has been thrown aside in a quest for justice. The deep upset and anger caused by the death of George Floyd has been felt far and wide, and it's certainly not just African Americans that can sympathise with the systemic...
Kargil Chronicles: Celebrating operation VIJAY after over a decade of the historic war
It was a warm summer morning in Mathura, and I was relishing the taste of my first sip of piping hot filtered coffee after a good 40 minutes run with the troops, when the phone rang. It was from the Indian Army Headquarters - and on the other end of the call was none other than my father, Major...
Debut novel depicts the challenges of a young Asian woman expelled from Uganda
Winter was just setting in when I first saw the images of Ugandan Asians disembarking at UK airports. The weather was foul and l’ll never forget the look on the faces of the new arrivals, as they started their new, diminished lives. The year was 1972 and I was a teenager leading a comfortable life in the English countryside....
Lockdown Diaries: A child’s perspective about managing adults during this period
Adults and parents are often the cause of a child’s confusion and irritation. This is a piece of writing to help children understand and manage adults (especially parents) better. Behavior Adult behavior is very peculiar, at least to children. The behaviors vary as much as teenagers. They can be happy, angry, tired, and the one I am most familiar with (and I’m...
Lockdown Diaries: My extended vacation and a beautiful entrapment in Holland
It was in November last year, when we decided to visit Europe. We wanted to cover about seven European nations. As our journey date was approaching, an unprecedented global crisis was unfolding fast. Covid-19 or Coronavirus, has taken the world by surprise. The unpreparedness of countries to deal with this virus has been exposed at various stages. We were also quite...
Lockdown Diaries: Reflections of an Oxford shut-in
Something lockdown has given us all, in perhaps more quantities than we know how to deal with, is time. And as I find myself currently living alone, with my housemates having returned to their family homes, I have had all that time to myself. I had expected this to attract some sympathy - but the more sympathy I received,...
