I want to mention one more thing. Last night our little sister Nadia called from California. I put the phone to Rina's ears and Nadia talked to her. I could swear that she heard and understood everything. Nadia was just here for a visit and left only 9 days ago. She's in the last trimester of her pregnancy and in California with her husband. I know Nadia's heart is in Michigan right now. And our hearts are intertwined with hers across the miles. We're so glad she got to spend a week with Rina recently and all of us sisters got to be together.
I also want everyone to know that my Dad and I are sitting here with Rina. I just read all of the comments submitted by all of you on the blog. I know that she heard me.
Saki, thanks for posting the updates on Rina. My heart aches for your and your family. I know Rina hears each and every word you are saying and can feel you and your family's love. As you read this to her, please tell her we all love her and wish her peace and comfort. My prayers are with you. Beth
ReplyDeleteAm having lunch and thinking of you all and remembering meeting Rina in third grade when you guys first moved here. I hope she is much more comfortable today in terms of pain control. Please give her another (super gentle) hug from me and let her know I love her.
ReplyDeleteLove, Laura (Dykstra) Thomas
Ferdousi, you have been in our hearts and prayers so much over the last week. When I ask my little girls at night who they would like to pray for, they always say that they want to pray for you, Ferdousi. I just read all of these last week's worth of posts. My heart aches for you and your family, but I pray for God's peace, comfort, and strength over you. I'm so thankful that we got to visit with you while you were here in the cities. I know that God loves you intensely and that you are in His hands. How I wish to give you another hug and see your smile. You are a very strong woman, Ferdousi. We are continuing to pray for you. Love,
ReplyDeleteGlenda, Steve, Jemma, Keziah, and Alethea Holden
We are praying for her and all of you, her family. She's been my friend for so long and one of the best I will ever know. We love you and have you in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteLove always,
Ruben and Cindy.
My prayers and strength go out to you Rina and your family.
ReplyDeleteYou are so strong and such an amazing person. I will send you all my strength and energy and hope that you are not in pain. your friend. Lynn
Selina, I was good friends with Rina in college, but we lost touch in recent years. I am thinking about Rina and your family and praying for all of you. Rina is one of the most amazing people I have had the privilege to meet. Blessings to you all! Amy Hasburgh
ReplyDeleteFerdousi,
ReplyDeleteYou have been a great friend and have made such a positive impact on my life. I wish I could be there with you. You are such a wonderful person and I still remember the night when we were sitting in your garage in Nashota in the middle of the winter, huddled around the fireplace and drinking wine. It was so much fun! I hope you aren't in a lot of pain right now. You and your family are in our prayers. Be strong.
Steve Arrington
May Allah give her the strength to recover from all kind of inner and outer pain. Amin
ReplyDeleteFerdousi -
ReplyDeleteI am at work reading these posts over and over again. I just cannot believe what is happening. I am in tears and I so wish for a miracle. I want to see you again.
I wish you and everyone at your side much needed relief. I love you and hope for the very very best.
Thank you for your friendship since 1993. Wow!
Love, Neda.
Ferdousi - sending you love, strength and healing peace. You are a strong woman who is loved by many. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteShauna (Stephens) Franklin
I know that Rina heard Nadia, and I know she can hear all the things everyone is saying to her. Your family is amazing - I remember how you always welcomed me and so many others into your home. Rina is one of the first people I met in Platteville and I will forever be thankful that she is my friend. Be with her and keep sharing with her all the wonderful messages people are leaving. She is our fearless friend, beautiful sister, strong mother, and loving daughter. And, so many more things - but she knows that. Rina - you're just the best. !Paz y amor!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the updates. Please keep us informed of how Rina is doing. We are all praying for her and you, her family. God Bless. Keith
ReplyDeleteMy Friend,
ReplyDeleteThis weekend Vikas, Avni and I are planting a blueberry bush in your honor in a sunny area at the side of our house. It's a beautiful spot surrounded by lilies and lavender. This way, you will always be with us. I can't wait to tell Avni about her amazing aunty, and I hope she is lucky enough to meet a friend like you. Today, I was thinking about so many of our fun times - scurrying up the stairs to your bedroom as teenagers and whispering about the boys we thought were cute, running, talking for hours on the phone, spending afternoons watching Bollywood movies, hanging out in San Francisco, and so much more. You have always had a knack for seeing the best in people and tough situations. Thank you for being my friend for nearly three decades. You have enriched my life. I love you Reen Bean.
Tara
Thank you Saki for being the "sister interpreter" for all the other "sisters" that Rina has gained in her journey. Rina, you and I moved to Platteville in the same year, and our journeys followed eachother into the now. I moved from Maine, you moved from Bangladesh. From there, we lived parallel lives, (did I follow you? or you follow me?) crossing paths in Chicago, crossing paths in Pewaukee. I cherish most our nature hikes, deep into the forest, puzzling together at the awe that is Mother Nature, at plants, mushrooms, and trees, saying together, "what the??". I continue to be in awe of our journey together. I love you. Cara
ReplyDeleteI know Ferdousi very distantly. She was going to join our Junior Woman's Club until she found out she was sick. Sara brought her to a couple meetings and we all loved having Ferdousi there. The pain I see in Sara's face and read in her words is probably about the same as your whole family is experiencing. I just wanted to let you know that many of us are praying for strength, peace and comfort for Ferdousi and everyone who has been touched by her, as she sounds more and more like a person I would love to know better. God Bless!
ReplyDeleteMom ive been reading all these comments from your friends on your blog and it looks like you have a lot of love and support. The reason i address you personally is cause i know that you will get through this and be able to read this one day, one day momma. I love you uncondtionally way more than you will know and i know over the past years i probably havent showed it as much as i should of or as much as you wanted me too and im so sorry. Ive always been so proud of how strong you are and the person that you are. You have encouraged me to become the man that i am becoming today. All the good things people see in me , thats all because of things you've done or said. Idk how long is left with you but i just want you to know how much i love you and every thought i have is of you. Oh and remember when i said i had no more tears left to cry when i first found out you had cancer? Well turns out i have a lot more left and theyre all coming out now. See mom, you can get the impossible out of people. I know your going to make it, i know. - Love David
ReplyDeleteDavid,
DeleteCan you be any more amazing! Jon and I are with you and your mom in every thought, prayer, wish and breath! Be Brave, Be Strong, Be just like your Mom!
xoxooxoxoxox
Melenee & Jon
Dear David,
DeleteEvery time I read your post, it makes me cry. Can't imagine the pain you are feeling right now. It breaks my heart. Your mom is watching over you right now and crying with you too. I am sure her physical pain was nothing to her compairing to the pain she had to go through knowing to leave you so early. May Allah give you strength. May He comfort you and carry you at this most difficult time. We love you. You will be in my prayers, now and always. -Sultana khala, Platteville
Dearest David (and family)-
DeleteMatt and I loved your mom so much, she was the most wonderful, amazing woman! So dedicated and full of life! She also loved you so very much and taught everyone around her to live life to the fullest! I pray that you find comfort in this as you grieve the loss of your mother - may she forever remain in your heart and watching over you. My heart aches for you and I want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!
Beth and Matt Gissibl
Dear Family and friends of Ferdousi,
ReplyDeleteI am a facilitator with the Cancer Support Group that Ferdousi attended a few times this winter/spring. She touched me immensely in the few times that I was with her. As did Noorjahan, her sweet mother. Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of visiting with Ferdousi at the hospital. As I held her hand and spoke to her . . . I am POSITIVE that she understand every word that I said. I shall never forget those moments with her. And I shall not only cherish them, but learn from them. Thank you for sharing this beautiful young woman with us. I am richer for having known her. And I am grateful. With gentle love, Cheryl
Hi Rina - projecting waves of love and strength in your direction. You know me so well and I miss our talks, walks, cooking, and sharing. I remember you sitting in the hallway in third grade - working so hard, as you always have. You have brought out the creative side of me in writing you poems and you've reminded me that the little things just don't matter. Family, friends, and love matters. May the powers that be protect you and your family. Always, in love and prayer, Kim E.
ReplyDeleteRina - You and your family are in my prayers. You are such a special person with so much energy and such a positive spirit...gifted with brains and beauty, both inside and out. You are so lucky to have wonderful friends and a fabulous family. Sending hugs your way. -- Karen Smith
ReplyDeleteRina Apu,
ReplyDeleteI miss you so much. I know you are being so strong through all of this, and your son David, is the best son you could ever have. His post made me cry at work. I wish I could be there right next to you right now. Thank you so much for always being an amazing sister to me. I keep remembering the times in Platteville when me and Sharmin apu used to come over and play dress up and watch movies all night. I remember going canoeing with you, that was so much fun. What makes me laugh is when we took your blow up raft to the lake and attached David to a tube on the back. 10 minutes into the ride, we looked back and David had fallen off and was floating in the middle of the lake! I just want you to know how much I love you and I know you'll pull through. Keep fighting always. I love you
Nadia
Selina,
ReplyDeleteI want to tell you how much I personally admire you and your family. I have been in the position of being the care taker for two terminally ill family members and it is the single most emotionally draining task a human being can endure. Your strength to post updates for those of us who care about and love Ferdousi, but cannot be by her side, is so incredibly amazing to me. I feel very privileged to have known your sister for the few years I was blessed with and keep her and all of you in my prayers daily. Please tell David that I feel as if I knew him because of all of the wonderful things his mother would say about him and I am very proud of him right now. His post made me cry at work today also.
I will keep you all in my prayers and pray that a miracle happens and I will get to visit as planned next weekend.
Prayers and strength to all of you,
Julie
Rina,
ReplyDeleteIt broke my heart to learn that you fell sick. Ever since then I couldn't take your smiley face off my head. I pray every day to Allah to hear a miracle. Your family is amazing and I have thorough respect for your parents. I am lucky to have Nadia here at california with me, who brought your boy David to my house last year. He is an amazing kid and I hope Allah gives you and your family the strength to get through this difficult time...Amen!
Selina: Thank you for keeping us updated at this critical moment of your life. I spoke to Jameer bhai the other day and ran out of word to say, as I had none to comfort him.
I can only imagine what Bhabi is going through. It is an enormous task to give care and to be emotionally balanced because you have other people depending on you. I admire your affords and your sincere sacrifice. I admire your family members for giving care in an organized fashion. Be strong and supportive and you will be blessed for your actions.
Take care and tons of hugs.I will keep praying for you all.
-Munni Aunty (Swat's Aunt)