After today I may not be able to post for a few days. I learned that I need to have another surgery as I fight a battle against breast cancer. This procedure will take place first thing tomorrow. And yes, I do have upcoming posts about care and treatment in Saudi hospitals and as a sneak teaser, I am happy to say it is ALL GOOD! If you are in the Kingdom and find you need medical care or surgery, do not be afraid. There is excellent, compassionate, state-of-the-art care here.
But moving on to this blog, while I recover it may mean I might not be able to have daily posts starting right back up. So in the interim while I’m recovering, I encourage…no, I challenge, my readers to continue to post stimulating comments so I can return and see many lively dialogues!
In fact, let me close this post with a few questions for you… what do you want to see in a blog about Saudi Arabia? What issues tend to attract you to a blog about Saudi Arabia? What makes you return to a blog? What are your top five favorite blogs about Saudi Arabia and why?
What do you like best about my blog? What do you like least? How can I continue to improve my blog?
And the real thought provoking question, what impact, if any, are blogs having on society and keeping individuals informed about life in the Kingdom? What social or political impact are blogs about Saudi Arabia making? Are blogs about Saudi Arabia making any difference and if so, what? What makes a blog about Saudi Arabia, “good?”
Filed under: culture, islam, politics, relationships, religion, Saudi Arabia, Saudi blogs, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, Saudi education, travel, Uncategorized
Carol,
I wish you the best of luck with your surgery. May God be with you inshallah.
When you come back you will find all your questions answered and more
.
Get better soon,
Carol, I am sorry to hear that you must deal with breast cancer, and need another surgery. Another? I didn’t know. Well, I’m sure you are getting the best care possible. Even twenty years ago, when I worked there, we were doing heart transplants, intra-uterine blood transfusions, in-vitro fertilization, and those are only the ones I knew about. There were others; every specialty had its cutting edge treatments, and I’m sure still do.
Now, on to the blog! Are you sure you want to turn it over to us for a few days? And with all those tantalizing questions?
I like your blog for many reasons, the most important ones being your objectivity, and your courage to look at controversial issues while keeping your readers from degenerating into emotional diatribes. I also like your broad range of subjects.
I return to your blog because I never know what I’ll find, but it will relate directly to the perspective of living in KSA. I know I’ll find something that educates, entertains, and (in my case) pulls a wonderful chapter of my life up into the present.
Another reason I return is that you attract intelligent, interesting people whose comments are stimulating and whose blogs are also of high quality.
And that’s enough from me for now.
Rabi wiyaki Carol. All our prayers with you. We look forward to having you in your Blog soooon …
All Best Wishes
Carol,
I had no clue and this after a few dozen personal e-mails back and fourth. Insha’Allah, God sees you through this and back to perfect health.
My MIL had breast cancer pretty bad but was able to fight it off and is still here after 15 some years.
Manal and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
Hi,
I hope you recover as quickly as possible from your surgery,my mom’s cousin had breast cancer too, and I really do hope you get well soon, and keep your spirits up!
I just wanted to say that I love your blog, and my favorite one was: where have all the honorable men gone? and I also liked Saudi Arabia: the women who dared to drive. I loved those two the most, I love that you live in KSA and that it’s a completely different culture, and that people can actually see what it’s like in your situation and how you adjust, especially because you were American.Lol, I’ll always love those subjects cause I like to learn about cultures.So please write more posts about what it’s like to live there and your experiences.
Best of luck with everything, and InshAllah you’ll get better and feel great!
May Allah be with you
You are in your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I wish you a speedy recovery.
I am sure you will have many comments to read when you get back..
I’m sure you will get well soon and return to answer some more of my questions
Good luck dear. God willing, everything will be alright.
Hi Carol,
I really hope you recover fully soon. I love your blog for a variety of reasons. Foremost, you bring to life interesting details about the Saudi customs and traditions, which would otherwise never be known to an Expat. I am sure it takes a lot of your time and effort to get a regular stream of articles.
Whenever I log into your blog, I could rest assured that there would be a new blog entry and you make it interactive which keeps the audience hooked to the blog.
I would suggest you to get a “Subscribe to new posts” option on your blog. This is readily available from http://www.feedburner.com.
Best Wishes,
Pratik
Thank you everyone for your encouragement, support and lovely thoughts. Well, I just learned that due to the procedure I’ll be undergoing, my surgery is now postponed for a week…so that means I promise you daily posts until at least next week.
Here’s my next question…should I allow someone to maintain my blog when I am out having surgery? I have learned that the procedure will require a bit of a hospital stay.
Carol, I wish you all the best of luck with the surgery and a speedy recovery.
I was just reading the opposite about the health care in KSA.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13§ion=0&article=111133&d=23&m=6&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Local%20Press
‘One of my friends was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and doctors said he needed surgery to remove it. After consulting a major medical center in Canada, he was advised to undergo surgery in Jeddah under the hands of a famous Saudi doctor. My friend was very happy that a Saudi doctor would be performing the surgery. However, he was shocked to discover that limited income patients have to wait two years to undergo the surgery, which is available to them for free. However, patients who can afford SR50,000 can undergo the procedure within three months….’
Thanks, Lynn.
Had no idea you were battling cancer! Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery Carol, InshaAllah. Love your work and look forward to more from you soon.
After going through my own health trials I found that the best way to approach a long recovery is to believe the glass is half full…rather than half empty.,..in other words…optimism is the best medicine. Good luck for a speedy recovery.
I am sorry to hear that the surgery will require more time in the hospital than you may have anticipated. May Allah strengthen you and bring you back to perfect health. You are in my prayers.
All of we regulars are well behaved, but it might be a good idea to give someone the authority to moderate posts, not for us but for new visitors. You know, when the cat is away…
You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers, Carol.
Carol,read this personal story from a woman called Cathy Goodman, in which she explained in the movie The Secret how she recovered from breast cancer.
she said:
[I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I truly believed in my heart, with my strong faith, that I was already healed. Each day I would say, "Thank you for my healing." On and on and on I went, "Thank you for my healing." I believed in my heart I was healed. I saw myself as if cancer was never in my body.
One of the things i did to heal myself was to watch very funny movies. That's all we would do was just laugh, laugh, and laugh. We couldn't afford to put any stress in my life, because we knwe stress was one of the worst things you can do while you are trying to heal yourself.
from the time I was diagnosed to the time I was healed was approximately three months. And that's without any radiation or chemotherapy.]
Again, watch that movie until you grasb the law of attraction to help you recover from the cancer.
best regards,
Carol,
I think continuity is important for blogs, but you have so many readers that are addicted by now
. I do not think missing a few days will impact that. You may want someone to monitor comments just in case someone comes in and make a mess of things.
I think we will all be here waiting for your return. Not just for the articles but also because your readers care about you and will want to know that you are doing well.
Carol, no need to have anyone fill in. They wouldn’t do you justice. We can all wait.
You are (as you know) in my prayers and thoughts daily now. Don’t give a thought to the medical care, you will be taken care of.
Just keep focused and positive, this is the most important thing to do. And, laugh. Laughter keeps us alive.
Your Neighbor.
Thank you each and every one of you. Yes; I am thinking positive and determined to get through this. I do believe that all things happen for a reason. We may not know why or understand why at the time but our job is to deal with whatever comes at us, learn from it and grow from it.
I have already decided after my own recovery I do want to be even more outspoken, particularly on cancer and the need for awareness and pro-active care.
Yes; both the bookclubs I belong to chose “The Secret” as a book of the month. I’m glad I had read it
As Salaamu Alaikum Carol:
Leave it to you to leave us with homework while you are gone
My dear sister: may Allah (swt) make this latest test easy for you, and may He cure you completely/Ameen.
PS: I would like to read a post about the lack of beards on the men in Saudi. What’s up with that?
Shukran Jazelin, Safiyyah!
And I look forward to receipt of your homework assigment. (smile)
I like your suggestion in regards to Saudi men and beards..that will be a fun one to write about!
Hi – I just stumbled on your blog tonight. (you were featured on the wordpress home, congrats.
I will keep you in my prayers. My mother underwent breast cancer surgery two months ago and is finishing her radiation therapy now. Everything has gone well. Her biopsy experience was much worse than her surgery, and the radiation was bearable. She was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster she would ride, which was much more challenging than the physical things, so don’t be surprised if that hits you – it is normal and you are not alone.
I think blogging is fabulous! I love it. It’s addicting. I have two blogs – my fitness blog is new. I also have a religious blog. I think that a lot of the blogs out there are negative and angry and I stay far away from them. There’s enough downers in our daily lives without reading more of them! However it looks like yours is a very positive place and these are the kinds that keep me coming back. I don’t know of any other Saudi blogs. In fact, I don’t know anyone who lives there at all, nor do I know much about the country. I have images of heat, sand, oil wells and daily Arabian horse races (of course Lawrence is in there somewhere – with his flowing white robes…)
So you obviously will have to set me straight – because my vision did not include any hospitals or doctors at all, until now.
Life is an interesting journey isn’t it? We never know what the next hill will be that we have to climb. it is always so much nicer when we climb them with people either beside us, or rooting for us! This is the true power of the blogosphere. I send my three cheers your way – you are going to do GREAT! (and we are here for you when it’s not-so-great) – God Bless
A2B – thank you so much for the lovely comment and happy to have you at the blog! I do hope you will be a return visitor.
I greatly debated on whether to share my fight against cancer with readers since I do not want to deviate away from the purpose of my blog but at the same time, through blogging, many many of my readers I believe I can now also call friends. And even those who may not know me, they come to my blog and would likely wonder if there were a period with no posts… last thing I’d want anyone to think is “oh, there goes another one…up today, gone tomorrow.”
Thanks for sharing your mother’s experience. It is indeed an emotional roller coaster ride particularly as news and developments can change. A strong support network and positive attitude are very important.
And I guess if this was going to happen to me, I should be grateful that it has happened while here in the Kingdom where I can receive state-of-the-art treatment by competent and compassionate professionals without the worries of “how much will insurance pay and not pay.” Trust me, that aspect alone also gives me a great sense of relief.
In regards to Saudi, oh yes, your images of heat, sand, oil wells and Arabian horses and races are on the mark…and Lawrence too! One will see many variations of Lawrence here! (smile)
Best Regards,
Carol
Carol,
Having someone with the ability to moderate comments might be a good idea.
You could also maybe post several very short subjects for people to talk about whilst you are gone, just throw out a few things. It is clear we all dont have a problem talking about the issues! }:>)
Not having to worry about insurance is a big deal. We had to pay $6,000 out of our own pocket last year for healthcare.
We wish you all the best.
So, the ”Secret” was numero uno? I’m not sure why, it didn’t do much for me.
I had read the ”Celestine Prophecy” years ago on the theory of synchronicity based on some ancient Peruvian manuscripts found, and it had the same basic flow. How humans relate with energy.
A. Bedu-I have to dig out a good Reiki site for you. Meanwhile, if anyone knows a trained certified Reiki instructor/healer in KSA, could they post it? We have a good one here. It’s a nice alternative to mainstream Drs for healing some ailments, not all.
We can discuss beards while you’re gone.
I volunteer to moderate comments if you need Carol.
Let me know.
However, I don’t tolerate bad language, and ”time out” is an option.
Reading your blog opens new dimensions for me, everytime i sat down in my computer, ur blog is the first thing i check.Im always excited reading the new posts,may ALLAH bless you and keep u safe.
Um mohd,
Thank you for your kind words.
All: Just my bad luck that the internet has gone out at our house and we were told it would be several days before it is fixed so I apologize for not being able to respond to each and all as I would wish.
Salaam Aleikum, Carol:
I have so enjoyed reading your blog and posts and am extremely grateful for the advice you have given me regarding my situation.
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. You are a wonderful, intelligent and giving person. I’m glad to hear that your treatment is going well.
Inshallah, may Allah ease your suffering and make your recovery swift and complete.
Fondly,
Sarah Ouadghiri
Dear Carol –
Hope all goes well with your procedure. I am very new to your blog, and have had an opportunity to ask you some tips on possibility of us moving to Jeddah. I will be able to share more once we are there.
Be well. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
All,
Carol is experiencing an Internet outage at her home. She wanted to insure the continuity of the blog and supplied me with a number of posts to publish daily in her absence, which may extend through her hospital visit.
Please, continue posting your valuable comments. I know Carol will appreciate reading them upon her return. I will respond to any urgent comments as needed. Keep Carol in your thoughts and prayers.
Regards,
Blog Moderator
Welkl at least that’s one positive thing about saudi men: they don’t all wear beards! i can’t stand men with beards! YUK!
Let alone a soup-strainer with the remains of several days feeding stuck into it!
The secret is all very nice but make sure you stick with conventional medicine, and if you like have it as a side-dish. I lost a lovely aunt through breastcancer due to ”positive thinking” and ”alternative effective therapy”
Your blog is the first thing I read nowadays as I get up and eat breakfast!
I will throw aside all my caution and be as horrible as I really am while commenting on your blog, while keeping to my lady-like vocabulary.
I’m praying for you.
Hi Carol,
It has been a while since I visited your blog. I had no clue at all that you are actually suffering from breast cancer.
I pray that you will go through the surgery well and Insyallah Allah will be with you.
Even I was away from you blog for many days, I know one day I will go back and visit blog again and again.
Thanks for iniatiated and maintaining such a wonderful, interactive and informative blogs. We wil wait for you!.
Love you, Sharie72
Dear Carol,
Wishing you a successful surgery and a very speedy recovery.
Hi Everyone! Thanks so much for the supporting and positive comments. We had our internet restored today and I HOPE it will remain on. As long as the internet cooperates, I’ll be responding to comments until I am offline due to the upcoming surgery. However I will continue to have my “blog moderator” upload the posts I’ve written in advance in case we have another outage.
One of the important keys to any success and especially with healing is positive thinking so I am focusing energy on positive thoughts that I will beat this battle I’m facing!
AA Carol,
I am so sorry that I am just now getting around to commenting on this post. I am at the point in my pregnancy that I only have, Insh’Allah, about 45 more days to go and I’m beginning to feel exhausted again. I don’t accomplish much these days! ; ) My heart really went to my feet when I read you were battling breast cancer AGAIN. You and your husband are often in my thoughts and definately in my prayers. Insh’Allah you’ll recover in speedy time and return to perfect health. I know you have a great support system with your husband and all of us who care for you very deeply. You are such a wonderful person and have so much to give and share. Don’t you worry about us here on your blog, we’ll entertain each other and be here waiting for your healthy return! Please take of yourself! ; )
Hi Tina!
How exciting that your delivery time is near! I hope you will give us a little announcement so we can let the “Bedu blogging family” know this wonderful news when you deliver!
Thanks for your support. Yes; the last surgery indicated there’s more so I’m going back to win this battle!
Best Regards,
Carol
Carol’s interview in Arabnews. See link below.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=111503&d=5&m=7&y=2008
large cell carcinoma of lung
http://carcinoma.blogstream.com/
[URL=http://carcinoma.blogstream.com/]large cell carcinoma of lung[/URL]