Day 99 – A girl called RG

Sometimes in life we, as humans moan and groan and whine about the most trivial and pathetic things and I include myself in this.

Today I met a real life inspiration. I will never forget this girl. Ever.

Let me tell you all a story. Today I had an “example” sent to me. And yeah I do believe the shit that I am saying.

I was whining all day how sick I was feeling and how fantastic I am to be at work when I am on my deathbed with this awful cold, and poor me I am just so “cough, cough” sick and “Ohhh I am so cold, sneeze, sneeze”.

This afternoon at 2.45pm in walked a patient, a patient that has now made me re-evaluate my life and re-examine my trivial life. Today I met a 38-year-old girl whom I will refer to as RG who is a single mum to the most gorgeous and precocious 5-year-old little girl. RG is suffering from a brain tumour. Her husband has abandoned both her and her daughter and yet this woman refuses to give up. I said REFUSES to give up.

RG’s mother accompanied her today (as the poor girl is unable to drive) and who is also a lovely lady and she told me about her daughters life battle with this brain tumour and I wont go into the whole thing but this RG is a fighter, a survivor, and as kitsch as this is going to sound but this girl is now my inspiration.

With all her problems and all her health issues and with only half of her face being able to function properly this girl walked out of the dental surgery towards my desk fucking smiling!!!! Then giggled and said to me “I was so scared but I cant remember why” And here I am writing on my blog that I am pissed with myself for only losing 19 kilos in 3 months and being a complete dick.

You know she walked away from the desk and part of me wanted to run from behind the desk and just hug her. How fucking brave. This girl knows that her expiry date is most likely coming up yet she walked in and out of the surgery smiling. Her mother tells me that her daughter’s optimism and positivity has inspired a lot of people.

I can’t even begin to fathom how hard this whole journey has been for her. She had an epileptic fit just 5 weeks after giving birth and within 24 hours she was CT scanned/x-rayed, diagnosed with a brain tumour and before she could even absorb the information she was put under and had a brain tumour the size of a lemon removed from her brain, only to have had the tumour grow back and now having to endure chemotherapy. Her ex-husband also managed to clear their bank account and disappear out of his wife’s and daughter’s life whilst RG was in hospital. The motherfucker. Yet she smiles and laughs and here I roll my upper lip and pout because in my fucked up head things didn’t turn out the way I wanted or expected them to.

Fuck what an inspiration! RG cherishes each and every day and is THANKFUL for each passing day. She said to me that every morning when she wakes up she is thankful for the day that past and the day that she has ahead of her. When I wake up, I moan and groan because my band feels tight and then I moan and groan because I get to go to work and get paid to do something I like and I also get paid to laugh and talk with people. Yet all I do is complain.

I almost burst out crying when her mother was telling me RG’s story and her mother is just as brave as RG is. As she is now re-raising her grown daughter and raising her 5-year-old granddaughter as well. That aint easy shit to have to do.

Today, for me, was like a slap in the face or a reality check. I have to drop the “Drama Queen” attitude and I need to enjoy, accept, appreciate and be thankful for each and every day that I have with my family and friends. I need to appreciate each and every day whether it be a good or a bad day. We don’t know when our time may be up and we don’t know what is in store for us.

So, RG, you are an inspiration to me and there wont be a day that I forget about you and your battle, your endurance, your strength, your positivity, your passion for life and for not giving up. Your giggle is imbedded in my brain forever.

Reney