The Woman Who Guided Me Is Facing Her Hardest Battle

Happy Sunday Hivers!

Two days ago, I received a message on WhatsApp from a dear friend and former colleague, along with a screenshot. After reading the message in the screenshot, I couldn’t describe how I felt at that moment. I just found myself with tears streaming down my cheeks.

It has been nine years since our career paths separated when I decided to resign from the company. But when I left, I carried with me the lessons, learnings, and knowledge that she had willingly shared with me from the very first day I joined the company.

She was my mentor. She was the person who believed in me, even when I was still learning to believe in myself. She was the woman who constantly encouraged me and reminded me that I was capable of doing things I once thought I couldn't.

When I was younger, I was extremely quiet and reserved. I preferred staying in the corner rather than being the center of attention. Our personalities were completely opposite. She was jolly, expressive, talkative, energetic, and confident. Meanwhile, I was the quiet one who preferred to observe and listen rather than speak.

Since she was my mentor in the first company I worked for after graduating from college, I felt a lot of pressure at first. Our personalities were so different that I sometimes wondered how I would keep up with her.

But when it came to work, we had so much in common. We both loved being organized, disliked being late, and were committed to continuous improvement, or what the Japanese call Kaizen.

Little by little, the pressure I felt began to fade. I started to understand her better, and we learned how to work together. I realized that although our personalities were different, we shared the same values when it came to our work.

She helped shape the person I am today.

Whatever knowledge I have now when it comes to HR matters, a huge part of it came from her. She guided me, taught me, and patiently shared what she knew. She helped me grow, not only in my career but also in my confidence. I will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from someone like her.

But now, the woman I remember as energetic, cheerful, and full of life is fighting one of the hardest battles anyone could face: Stage 4 stomach cancer.

It is difficult to imagine someone who used to bring so much energy and happiness into the workplace going through something this painful. Sometimes, life gives us news that leaves us speechless, and all we can do is pray and hope for better days.

Do you know that whenever I see a bouquet of flowers, she is one of the first people who comes to mind?

She was the first person who ever gave me a bouquet of flowers on my birthday. During the nine years we worked together, she made sure that every staff member received a bouquet on their birthday. Every year, we would find flowers waiting on our tables.

That was how thoughtful and sweet she was. She remembered our birthdays and made us feel special. It might have seemed like a simple gesture, but those little things created memories that stayed with us long after we left the company.

And now, whenever I see flowers, I am reminded of her kindness. Sometimes, it is the smallest gestures that leave the biggest marks on our hearts.

After receiving the news, I had a conversation with the friend who informed me about her situation. I told my friend how stressful her work had been over the years.

Yes, she earned a good monthly salary, but I couldn't help thinking about how expensive medical treatments can be. No matter how much a person earns, the cost of hospital bills, medications, and other medical expenses can become overwhelming when a serious illness comes.

My friend told me that her first chemotherapy session cost around ₱500,000, with five more sessions expected to follow, each costing approximately ₱300,000.

Just imagining the amount of money needed for her treatment makes my heart ache. Beyond the financial burden, I can only imagine the physical and emotional challenges she and her family are facing right now.

It is a painful reminder that no matter how hard we work or how much money we earn, our health is something we should never take for granted. We can never predict what will happen to us in the next few days, months, or years. Life is uncertain, and sometimes, things happen that are beyond our control.

That is why I believe we should try to find balance in our lives. We should work hard, pursue our dreams, and fulfill our responsibilities, but we should also make time to rest, spend time with the people we love, and take care of ourselves.

Our careers are important, but so are our health, peace of mind, and the people who make our lives meaningful.

We often become so focused on reaching our goals that we forget to listen to our bodies and recognize when we need to slow down. We push ourselves to do more, achieve more, and earn more, sometimes forgetting that we are human beings who also need rest.

We cannot control everything that happens in life, and we cannot assume that every illness is caused by stress. But we can try to take better care of ourselves, manage our stress, and remember that our well-being matters just as much as our responsibilities.

We work to live, but we should never forget to live while we work.

As I write this, my heart is filled with prayers for my former mentor.

I pray that the Lord will continue to give her strength as she faces this difficult battle. May He comfort her on the days when the pain becomes unbearable, give her hope when things feel uncertain, and surround her with His love when she feels tired and weak.

I also pray for her family, especially her husband, who is standing beside her during this challenging time. I know how important it is to have people who will stay with us through life's hardest moments.

May the Lord continue to strengthen their family, give them wisdom in every decision they make, and bless them financially so that they will have the resources they need for her treatment. May they find peace even in the middle of their worries, and may they never feel that they are facing this battle alone.

I know that I cannot take away the pain she is going through. I cannot carry the burden for her, nor can I promise that everything will be easy. But I can pray for her, remember the beautiful things she has done, and be thankful for the years when I had the privilege of learning from her.

Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!

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Watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

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