Alby says,
KAYA!When I read this month's challenge, I immediately knew what story to share. The big question for me was whether I am ready to share it. After delaying for a few days, I typed my journaling. True enough, writing about it brought tears to my eyes. It was still difficult for me to think about that experience. I debated whether I should share it. I considered other options but I thought someone might learn something from my experience so here it is. The symbol I chose to use is the sunset. While sunsets bring forth darkness, it also reminds me that the sun will rise again the following day. It gives me hope of a new and brighter tomorrow.
Now, making the layout is another challenge. I knew I only have this weekend to work on this layout. I knew I wouldn't have time to do a paper layout so I decided I'll go digital. Last minute, my hubby decided to go to my in-laws' place. I just brought my computer so I can work on the layout. Lo and behold, I didn't bring our external hard drive where my digital kits are saved. So, I had to improvise to come up with this layout, which looks more like a newspaper clipping.
Brace yourself for a long read.
Journaling: Early 2005, during a routine check up, my OB Gynecologist felt bilateral masses on my breasts (lumps on both breasts). She recommended an ultrasound where breast cancer was ruled out. However, just to be sure, I was asked to undergo ultrasound every 6 months. In 2006, shortly after my 3rd ultrasound, my dad was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was caught early and he recovered well from it. He didn’t even have to undergo chemo. Praise God for that. However, because I now have family history of breast cancer, I had to do a mammogram as well – just a baseline read. Before my 1st mammogram session, I started feeling a bit of pain in my breast. I really worried. I thought I might have breast cancer, too. So, I dreaded having that mammogram. There are instances when the fear of being sick was so intense I would have palpitations, shortness of breath, cold sweats and a bit of tightening in my chest. I thought I would have a heart attack. This didn’t happen just once. It happened on several occasions, mostly at night, while driving alone, or in the middle of the night when my hubby is already fast asleep beside me. As a Christian, I knew I shouldn’t fear death so I am not afraid of death itself. I' m afraid of how my death will affect the people I love. Mostly, I am afraid of leaving Ariel alone. I also feared that I’d have a heart attack while I’m alone driving and I would crash my car and injure other people. I thought about how Ariel will receive the news. Will strangers come to my rescue? When I feel it coming while I’m driving, I’d call Ariel and tell him that I’m not feeling well and if he could stay on the phone until I get home. I didn’t want him to get worried so I didn’t tell him how bad those “episodes” were. I just told him I was having "bad" palpitations every now and then.
Then one night, while driving home, in the middle of another “episode”, I cried out to God to help me because I knew something was wrong with me. I suddenly remembered a friend who shared with me about her “panic attacks”. She started having these after a traumatic experience of getting robbed in a taxi. She’ll wake up in the middle of the night fearing for her life, palpitating, and breaking into cold sweat. She sought the help of a psychiatrist to help her cope and over time, she was able to deal with her traumatic experience. I called her right away and asked what her symptoms were. When she described them to me, my tears started falling. Finally, I knew what was happening to me. I had no idea that I was so affected by my dad’s diagnosis. While I had complete faith that he will be ok, I didn’t know that I needed healing too. I believe God whispered my friend’s name that night to me so I will realize that the fears are all in my head and I had nothing to worry about. I finally had the courage to see a doctor, do the mammogram and even an ECG, and all tests confirmed that I’m ok and I have nothing to worry about. I never had a panic attack after that. I really thank God for rescuing me from what was probably my darkest hour. I finally had peace. I was finally healed.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid." John 14:27
Supplies Used:
Software: Adobe CS2; Font - American Typewriter, Distressed Alphas by Michelle Coleman, Century Gothic
Techniques Used:Dropped shadow, color burn, blending modes - I experimented a lot and used the undo button about a hundred times. :)
About Me:
Hi I'm Alby! I'm married to Ariel. Been scrapping since 2005 but only got to know about acid-free scrapping since last year. I love scrapping because it helps me showcase my photos creatively. It is my stress buster and my "me time". You may see some of my work at my
blog.
I'm Alby - weekend scrapper, weekday corporate slave, nightly internet stalker, blessed with a sweet and loving hubby and surrounded with four playful canine babies. Together with my hubby, I love exploring new places be it remote islands of the Philippines, religious and historical monuments or nature reserves elsewhere in the world. I document our exploits in my travel and leisure blog and once I have the photos printed, I scrap them and post in my scrapbooking blog. See you around!
.jpg)
