Brutal Start to 2026

 This year has been brutal and it is only April. For a start, my mother-in-law was critically ill since mid January. She was in hospital ICU for 2 months. Some of her doctors weren't sure if she can pull through. But thank goodness, her will to live is so strong and she overcame the biggest hurdle. She is now on palliative care at home. Dominic has been flying home every 2 to 3 weeks and it has taken a toll on him and his father. One cannot imagine the stress until one is in the situation. If you know somewhere in similar situation, show more empathy. It helps.

Then the most brutal was my mother passing in mid March. My mother was diagnosed with cancer four years ago. She completed her chemo treatment in 2022. Since then, I have managed to arrange for her to visit me in Germany on her better days. In 2025, her kidneys showed sign of failing. We planned a Japan trip for July 2025 but unfortunately she had to start her dialysis in May 2025. She didn't make it to Japan. Since the beginning of dialysis, it had taken a great toll on her body. She became so frail and was in so much pain. One day, she suddenly turned critical and was gone within 24 hours. The suddenness of her passing gets into my father. He is still trying to come to terms. 

My parents are taoist. I am also a taoist but not religious. We had wake for my mother and buried her. I will write about the taoist wake, beliefs in another post. It deserves a post on its own.