Remember and understand the suffering of those who are terminally ill

AS A CHRONIC stage-four terminally ill cancer patient I am articulating the pain and suffering endured by us cancer patients.

I am not begging for sympathy, but some understanding and support from immediate ones and our children.

As parents, we make serious sacrifices throughout our lives to ensure that we provide the best for our children and family.

We often go without the basic necessities, educate our children in private schools, pay all their university fees, books, extra tuition, medical aid, etc, – but to what use or point in the final analysis?

When we die we leave our wealth, money, and possessions to our children as a customary practice.

In my present condition of health, I cannot eat and have to sip tea through a straw – even this is painful and I cannot swallow any food because of the side effects of the chemotherapy.

I have my own car but cannot drive due to extreme sudden feelings of weakness and dizziness, yet, have to beg others to drive me to the specialists on appointment days.

The pain is excruciating and acute with us not being able to sleep at night.

Many of us live alone and it is frightening to walk to the kitchen to make a cup of tea as we could fall or collapse or faint through weakness.

We have to literally beg our children to visit us or to buy something that we need to eat – and visiting an ailing sick father or parent is like asking for an impossible task.

We seem to have lost empathy and the world, with our present day youngsters, seems to revolve only around their needs with the exception of a few who care and look after their parents.

I can hold up my head with respect and dignity because despite my excruciating pain, weakness and desperation, I am totally independent, still sit up for short periods at my computer, and work to support my entire household expenses in every respect.

ASHWIN KAURJIT SINGH Morningside