The true meaning of friendship

This entry is dedicated to the hundreds of wonderful friends out there (didn't realise I had so many!) who have given me the strength to go on the journey, with the guidance of the Almighty.

Over the week, my anonymity in writing this blog has become history. Those who have only known me via the blogosphere, I am still D - the lady who never reveals how she looks. To those who have known me for the past few years, past decade and decades, I am that very person you know. The girl who was neither this nor that in school, neither here nor there in university. I am just an average person trying to live my life the way I am supposed to as a Muslim.

Over the week, I have been blessed with buckets of tears, hugs, du'as, well wishes, words of advice and many more material gains. This is the true meaning of friendship. What more can be better than a gift of sincere du'as from the people around you? Bluewonder has been trying to contact every single friend we had in common - in 'ol Edinburgh, and also our (Mr D & I) ex-schoolmates whom she also knows. BAMZ107 has also done the same - informing our ex-schoolmates of Mr D's health condition. Thank you, girls...

Mr D and I went to the same school many, many years ago. However, I didn't know him then because I was the scruffy, sloppy and moody junior who didn't take much fancy to those of the opposite sex. Especially the seniors. We met each other about 8 years later and since we were meant for each other, the relationship just developed.

Last weekend, Mr D and I have been touched with the number of people who have turned up at the hospital to visit him. No one is spared the surprise to see how thin and frail he looks now. Friends in Coventry and even friends from Durham and Darlington have come with well wishes. Being the person he is, Mr D even jokingly said on Saturday, "So many people have come to see me - it's just as if I'm dying!"

Yet, a smile is sketched on his face and there is hope in his eyes. Friends have given him more strength and determination to fight the battle.

Nonetheless, consuming anything is almost impossible now. He gets hiccups if he attempts it. His tummy is now bloated, perhaps due to the lack of food. I'm going to speak to the doctors today and maybe urge them to put him on drips so that he can regain some energy, especially for the chemo.

On behalf of Mr D, I thank all the wonderful friends out there for your du'as. We'll keep on praying to the Almighty because only He knows what's best for us.