ZITA PERERA SUBASINGHE
Dear
Colleagues,
Life’s great, really worth living
I’m terminally ill
I accept graciously
It’s not anyone’s will
Life throws at us cautiously
But not too much to bear
Not beyond our power and will
But just enough for us to care
There’s some life ahead still
So let’s make the most of it
This chance of togetherness
Let’s enjoy life, savour it
I
love you all, my family
My
friends and all who care
I’m
so lucky even willy nilly
To
have you with me there!
Life’s great, really worth living
If you take the Good with the Bad
Learn the gentle art of giving
For sure! You’ll never be sad!!!
It was heart breaking when I first received the news. I have not spoken to her directly for some time as she is so tired, at the request of her daughter Nisha. I have maintained contact through Nisha. Zita is incredibly brave and pragmatic. She also believes in the power of prayer. Please pray for her, whatever your personal beliefs are as it means so much to her. Her family comes first of course but she has a special love for her batchmates as we all know.
ReplyDeleteIf you are not able to post a comment, please email me and I shall post on your behalf.
Dear Zita
ReplyDeleteThank you for that lovely rhyming poem so very distinctive of your wonderful poetry all through the years in our blog. This one is so very special and touches us deep within. Our thoughts and good wishes are with you all the way. We will think of you, Joe and the rest of the family at this time. I admire enormously your attitude and approach at present. May you continue to be comfortable and be at peace with yourself.
MESSAGE FROM MAHESWARY NADARAJAH (SINGARAYER)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear the news Zita. I rang Speedy and he brought me up to date. Much as I would like to phone you, I shall wait till you are ready. In the meantime, I am praying for you and shall continue to do so. I am with you and your famuly all the way.= Love, Mahesh
Mahendra, Nihal, and each and every blog and batch friend, I love you all, and am so privileged to have you in my life from the start of our course and now in my last days. I love you all, I’m really proud of you, and I ask for Blessings on you and your loved ones. Each of you is a name in Gold in my life. May you and your loved ones have the best part of your life ahead of you! All Blessings on you 🙏from your friend forever, Zita
ReplyDeleteMESSAGE FROM SUSHEILA THIAGARAJAH
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this on my behalf Speedy. I was so upset to hear the news about Zita. Speedy, thanks for letting me know the situation. Zita, my good friend, I am praying for you and shall continue to do so. II do hope that you will become better and stronger and we can see each other again.- Sushy
Zita I very sorry to hear about your illness. I remembered you as a bubbly Medical Student in the company of Sujatha. I lost contact since 1967,until the London mini get-together. I was able to recognise you with no difficulty. We had lovely exchanges of opinions. I wish you will free of pain during the course of the illness.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me so sad to hear that you are terminally ill. I should have gone before you, to spare me from these agonising moments.
ReplyDeleteI first came to know in June 1961 when we fell into the same group of Chemistry during the 6 months course, when most of the others in our medical college batch were still in school. Our last names separated us from bonding further. That is fate.
I struggled through to pen this comment. I didn't write to you thinking that you won't be looking at them. But now that Speedy says that you do read e-mails, I am copying this to you in a private e-mail as well.
Get well soon Zita!
Hello Zita, I was saddened to read Speedy's email and the brave poem that you wrote about your terminal illness. I sometimes wander why a person with such enormous talents an accomplished Physician not to mention your god fearing ways would have to go through all this suffering. Only our Lord knows. I will always remember you from our Medical school days, and the priviledge I had in seeing you in London when you and your husband came all the way to share a meal with me and my friends a true friend you are. I will continue to pray for you and your family and will keep reading that touching poem you sent us. God bless you. Rajan ( Patas)
ReplyDeleteDear Zita, this comment may not reach you because of technical problems. We did connect earlier, and you know that you are in my prayers. Your poem reveals your faith and acceptance. I wish you strength and courage to face whatever comes your way. All the best and many blessings to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWell, that worked, so it must be my lucky day! Thank you for your part in keeping this blog alive all these years. I’m glad you decided to share the news of your illness with all of us. That’s what friends are for!
ReplyDeleteZita
ReplyDeleteI saw your poem only now. What a great poem,it touched me so deeply that tears just came rolling down my cheeks. You are so talented to get the poem rhyme so well.
I have been in touch with you right along and knew that you wrote a poem in hospital as you told me, but I did not know that it was this lovely poem till now.
I am thankful to Nisha for her updates.
Nisha sent me a photo of you, Joe and and grand kids on the 24th of June, photo taken a few days prior to it. I was so relieved to see you so happy in that photo.
I admire your courage for facing challenges bravely with a happy face.
We are all praying for you, our whole batch is behind you to give you strength to face any difficulty.
My thoughts and good wishes are with you always, keep smiling, be happy dearest Zita, I know you are strong and brave to face any situation. Your loving friend Chira
PS. I will send this to Zita's E mail.
Dear Zita
ReplyDeleteSharing ones' feelings is not easy ,under these circumstances .You never cease to amaze me!.I am grateful that the blog enabled me to connect with you and get to know you better.I always enjoyed your poems and music.Your sincere and warm comments were much appreciated.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
It's sad news but you are brave. We all agree we are born to go one day. Our thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteMay the triple gem bless you
Susil
Nice to see you, Buddy, in the blog. After all, you have not forgotten, Zeta.
ReplyDeleteDearest Zita . It was heartbreaking to learn of your illness. Your courage in the face of adversity and your cheerfulness inspite of the distress and discomfort you must be going through is an inspiration to us all. Your poem moved me to tears.
ReplyDeleteZita to me you were always more than just a friend and batchmate I consider you as a very very precious sister...a feeling I had from the very first day I met you in the Anatomy Block way back in 1962.
I firmly believe that
Family isn't always blood.
It's the people in your life, who want you in theirs.
The ones who accept you for who you are.
The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and love you no matter what. I am truely blessed to have you as my sister.
I pray that Our Loving and Gracious God will Heal you, ease your suffering and pain and Comfort you.
It was so moving to read all the sincere concerns and good wishes extended to Zita and her family by our colleagues. They were all fantastic but I especially loved the sentiments expressed by Suri when she said -
ReplyDeleteFamily isn't always blood.
It's the people in your life, who want you in theirs.
The ones who accept you for who you are.
The ones who would do anything to see you smile,
and love you no matter what.
Zita is in good hands and she will take whatever comes with courage and fortitude.
I am very sorry, Zita, it is my smart phone that is creating names it fancied.
ReplyDeleteSumathi, these "smartphones" are not so smart sometimes!
DeleteSpeedy, you are absolutely correct.I have been using my smart phone , instead of my laptop and has come across a lot of errors in spelling.
ReplyDeleteSuri, blood is not always, thicker than water.At times friends are more loving and helpful.Friend in need is a friend indeed.
ReplyDeleteYes Sumathi that's exactly what I said !
DeleteCOMMENT FROM EDWIS WHO HAD PROBLEMS POSTING COMMENT
ReplyDeleteDear Zita
We are so saddened to hear about your illness. I was so happy to have met you at the recent reunions after so many years. You were so cheerful and pleasant and made us feel relaxed reminiscing about the wonderful times we had together.
We will pray to God to give you and your family the courage and fortitude during this trying time.
Josephine Francis (Edwis Samarakone)
COMMENT FROM PRAM WHO ALSO HAD A PROBLEM POSTING IT
ReplyDeleteDearest Zita
I was so moved by your poem. Zita, my mind goes back to the wonderful times we had in Wembley London and Colombo. Those were amazing days, carefree times. You and Chira were there for me when I injured my eye following a badminton accident. You made all the arrangements for me to have my surgery at Moorfields.
As far as I can remember you never missed a single of our London reunions. You and Joe were always there.
We will surely miss you at the reunion on the 27th July in London but I will make up for it by coming to see you at Southend before I return to Sri Lanka and will bring some photos as well
Love you lots. Praying for healing and a pain free convalescence
God bless you Zita. Pram
Zita,
ReplyDeleteIt is with sadness I read the news about your health. . Your contributions to the blog have entertained us as well as made us aware of your talents beyond medicine. Your poetry as well as music will be missed . You will be very much in our thought and prayers wishing you success in this fight, to get back your health pain free.
Thanks to the blog we are friends.
just arrived at Dammikas in London near Victoria station for our mini batch reunion.
ReplyDeleteDear Auntie,
ReplyDeleteI love the love of life you have expressed so beautifully.
The worth of one's life is in the love and respect one cultivates, the honour that one lives by and the seeds of love a person plants and nurtures to fruition.
You have done all these and more.
I have been very lucky to have been a little bit in your life.
But I have been incredibly lucky that you have bestowed into my life four beautiful people, Nisha, Rohan, Rihan & Kyan.
You are a blessing not just in my life, my family's life but as I see, a lot of other people's lives.
There is a lot of life for you to enjoy.
Lots of love,
Jayesh
Dear Zita,
ReplyDeleteI am able to write a proper comment now. I hope that whatever is going on in your body, that you are comfortable and pain free. I hope that your spirit has been uplifted by all the loving comments that have been written here. Hopefully, you have been able to read and enjoy them. Others have also commented on the poems and music that you have shared with us over the years. Thank you for sharing your talents with us and keeping the blog going all these years. I wish you strength and courage to face whatever awaits you. Please know that your friends are by your side in spirit. 💕
Dear Zita,
ReplyDeleteI was moved very much by your beautiful poem and incredible courage and bravery.Kanthi and I will keep you in our thoughts and prayers and ask for the blessings of our Lord Buddha to keep you comfortable and peaceful.
I was handicapped all these days by lack of access to the blog via my ipad. I managed to get hold of an old laptop and hopefully this will go through.
Dear Zita,
ReplyDeleteThe above comment was by me Kumar.
I have to learn the laptop all over again.
Kumar
Kumar, there is a 3day lockdown in Queensland. Are you in SriLanka at the moment 💜?
ReplyDelete