Not many would
know of this lady.
But what I can tell
you is that she is
worth her weight in
Gold and precious
stones. In fact her
blood is worth
bottling.
Fay is her
name. Fay is a
very humble person
and a very
intelligent one. But
despite her overseas
university degrees
she works as a
cleaner.
I first met Fay
some two years ago
in the middle of my
chemotherapy. She
would come into my
room to clean it and
in her shy voice say
hello.
Fay was no
stranger to people
with cancer. In fact
she saw people come
and go with many
never returning or
being moved onto
palliative care one
floor up in the
cancer centre.
Slowly my wife
and I started a
conversation with
Fay which was
reciprocated in her
own gentle way.
She told us her
story and it touched
us deeply. While I
was in hospital on
and off over a six
month period I would
always bump into
Fay.
She would bring
me sandwiches, a cup
of tea and if she
had time would stay
and have a chat. Fay
did not have to do
all of that but in
my eyes she was an
angel in disguise.
When the final
toxic chemotherapy
flowed through my
veins and into my
heart to do the
final cleansing Fay
was there.
When my stem
cells were being
reinstalled into me
after having been
harvested a month
before and put on
ice, Fay was there.
When the
specialist decided
it was safe for me
to go and removed
the tubes, Fay was
there. Fay and I
exchanged emails
promising to keep in
touch.
As the months
went by
communication became
less and less even
though I would visit
the cancer ward
during my periodical
checks. I just could
not find Fay
anywhere.
Today after
lunch I made my way
for the final
briefing with the
post stem cell
dietician at the
cancer wellness
centre.
After my
meeting I left a
message with the
staff downstairs and
made my way to the
cancer ward to pay
my respects and wish
everyone a Merry
Christmas and a
Happy New Year.
I met some of
the staff who were
happy to see me
alive and well, each
commenting that they
don't often get
patients returning.
I left a
message on a long
sheet of paper,
created for all
those who wanted to
leave good will and
wishes.
As I was about
to leave, I spied
Fay in the corner
with her hand on the
mop which was in the
bucket and I said
"hi Fay, it is
wonderful to see you
again"
Fay looked and
looked, staring at
me and finally
started crying when
she recognised me.
The last time we saw
each other, I was
pale, thin with no
hair on my body.
We both hugged
each other and
exchanged
pleasantries and I
gave her my details.
We wished each
a Merry Christmas
and a Happy New
promising to keep in
touch. Fay
said between her
tears that seeing me
well was the best
Christmas present
she had received.
As I left and
went to the lift, I
am sure that it was
raining because I
had raindrops on my
cheeks.
The moral of
this true story is
that no matter what
station or status we
have in life there
are good people to
be found everywhere.
FAY WAS ONE OF
THE MANY WHO HELPED
ME THROUGH MY
DARKEST PERIODS. FAY
IS TRULY
INSPIRATIONAL.
Fay is one many
dedicated
individuals of ONJ
CANCER WELLNESS
CENTRE at the Austin
Hospital. All of the
team from the
Professor down to
the humble cleaners
are committed to
making life
worthwhile.
Peter Adamis is
a freelance
journalist.