26October, its here again.....

Two years ago this day, my father was cruelly snatched away from me by cancer. Though, I knew it -but it was very difficut to accept and till date it is. And I don't know how long will it take.....

In these, two years life has been so difficult, never a single moment has passed when I haven't missed him.

Papa, I love you and miss you. But I know you are here with me, always and forever.

                                        (5October 1942- Forever...)

Picture from the last vacation we had....

P.S: I Love you, Papa

Opioids for CANCER pain

In my previous post I have talked about “PAIN” relief in cancer. In this post, I will be talking about about opioids- drugs which are used to provide some relief from the constant "difficult" pain.

With each passing day, cancer becoming more aggressive, pain becomes a 'constant' part of life. The pain is not only acute but is chronic and with time, it tends to become more uncontrollable. At this stage doctors prescribe OPIOIDS.

What are opioids?

Opioids are medicines that are used to provide relief from moderate to  severe pain( usually in cancer) .These medicines work on the principle of "reducing the intensity" of the pain signals being sent to the brain and affect those areas controlling these senses, and thereby considerably minimising the effects of the painful signals.

Opioids act much like endorphins-  natural substances created by the body to restrict or limit pain. Some of them work better than others in terms of providing  relief from terrible pain. 

Opioids were once formulated from the opium poppy( plant), but today many pharmaceutical companies are creating these drugs synthetically in laboratory, though addiction to these drugs still remains a critical issue .

Types of Opioids

Severe Pain

• Morphine 
• Buprenorphine
• Fentanyl and Alfentanil  
• Hydromorphone 
• Diamorphine
• Methadone
• Oxycodone 

Moderate to mild pain 

• Tramadol
• Codeine 

All  of the above mentioned drugs are available at drugs store strictly on prescription. 

Side effects

Most of the people taking these drugs over a period of time develop a kind of tolerance to these drugs. Therefore, the doctor has to prescribe higher dosage to provide relief from pain  or the other reason can be  increase in pain due to the advancement of the disease. 

A little  increases in the dosage or a change in the type of medicine will help in relieving the pain.

Common Side-effects

• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• Vivid dreams 
• Myoclonic jerks.
• Sedation
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Constipation
• Dry mouth 
• Itchy Skin 
• Coughing,wheezing, and shortness of breath
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Blurred vision

All these symptoms are common, and usually the treating doctors provide medicine to help overcome these effects. 

Im my personal view these symptoms never actually go away. Though the doctor’s do prescribe some medications to control these symptoms, but they prove to be of little or no help. Eventually all the symptoms emerge. ( In case of my father, where I tried my level best to read about the symptoms before hand, so that I could "prevent" them from emerging. With absolutely no result, my father went away!)

Towards the end, when pain becomes “difficult", the body has become resistant to opioids and nothing helps- the focus should be on making life easy- good palliative care.

Because you love them, tell them, show them- be with them. They need you, for the last time!

I love you papa!

Gall bladder and problems

Today, while I was sitting in a cafe...I was thinking about " the comfort zone " factor. Being in one's comfort makes you idle and you are less then inspired to do anything.  Writing is my forte..I always knew but I only realized its importance after papa left. I was too lazy to understand earlier. 

For me the BIG C, was just another disease until it took my father. I never really bothered but now i am determined to tell people, even if they don't want to. They will have to listen to me...This is my humble request...don't ignore...because for any kind of CANCER...only AWARENESS is the CURE!

Once CANCER cells attack your body..even after successfully surviving does not guarantee that CANCER will not return....I  know someone, where CANCER started with breast ...over a period of time has now become blood cancer.

I, understand it is not something which everyone wants to listen or talk about but that will not change the fact that CANCER is a deadly disease. My father was a teetotaler.   He always always started his day with an apple. He was very disciplined regarding his health. Still CANCER happened...and it took him away.

If you are reading this please spend 5 minutes...to know what is gall bladder, and its functions...and various problems that affect GALL BLADDER ( Click on the link).

Gall bladder and Problems

Love u, Papa!

The night it happened......

It was 5:00a.m, Papa woke up. He wanted to have tea. My heart sank. I choked.

I woke  my mother. She made tea.  Papa had half a cup of tea. He looked contended. And went back to sleep. He looked so normal, as if he just woke from fever and now everything will be fine. But I knew...nothing will be fine now...never.

Somebody,  I know once told me - when the day will come, you will know-  It will feel as if everything will be all right. I will notice a strange shine on my father's face. And I don't know why, but I always knew that papa will go on a saturday night. And today was saturday.

My instincts were telling me-the day has arrived. For past two days every time, I tried to take papa's blood pressure and pulse - the machine always showed error.

I went to my home, took shower and was packing my bags when I received a call from my aunt. My aunt informed me that palliative care team( of doctors) visiting papa has arrived and wanted to speak to me. I knew the news was "not good". I took the receiver, and the doctor said( what I din't wanted to hear)..."Your father is half gone, you can call your brother".

I was just stabbed in the heart. And blood was coming through my eyes. I packed my bag and ran down the stairs. My husband followed. I was shaking when I reached my daughter's school. I picked her up hurriedly. 

Back in the car, My husband said, everything will be okay...and I said "today is the day, and I know it". I called my younger brother. He was in office. I said bhai, "Come" and dropped the phone.

I reached home. My aunt told me, today papa had apple juice. After months of not eating or drinking anything, he even had porridge.  Papa was having difficulty in breathing. I decided to get an oxygen cylinder( owing to my Asthma,  I know how it feels when you can't breathe). I got the oxygen cylinder. But, I could see - It was not much of a help. 

It was 7.pm. My younger brother arrived straight from office.  I called papa. He opened his eyes and recognized my younger brother. He smiled at all of us.

Around 9 p.m:  I noticed papa's breathing had become more erratic and irregular. I decided to nebulize him. Papa was restless. I put the mask, and started the machine. Around 11:30p.m,  I held papa's hand and said, I will come in the morning. Papa put all his left strength together and screamed "don't go". And I din't...

I switched off the " Mahamritunjaya Mantra" and asked everyone to sleep. I said, I will sit. Everyone would sleep around papa.  Lights were switched off. And, I took my tablet and started reading. Every two minutes, I would check if papa was still breathing. Papa was extremely restless and was panting heavily.  He was struggling for life and life was moving away....far away!

My father was in deep pain.  But he was trying. He wouldn't give up. I was suffering.  I have to let him go......

At 12:35a.m, papa asked me to remove the mask. He wanted water. I gave him water and said papa, you can go now, I love you....

The time period between the breaths increased...and it kept on increasing...I woke my mother, aunt ...I called for my brothers, husband and uncle....

We all were there when papa took his last breath......1:15am,  26th October 2013!

I Love you, Papa!

Illuminated Memories

22nd October 2013. Few days left to Diwali, people were busy cleaning and decorating their houses with flowers and colorful lights. Market abuzz with women and children shopping, festivities in the air. Oh! it felt so good- not anymore.

At my home- life had lost its meaning. Everyday was just the same. The sun came up but had no brightness. And then it went down.  Even the air that entered my home had lost its fragrance. The roses that my father had raised with love over the years had started dying as if they knew the known but unsaid.

The room which once was filled with giggling sounds had become so gloomy and dark. The chair which once was forever occupied by papa( and nobody could make papa leave his chair- not even a fight with mom) now became my constant companion. The newspaper for  which I fought everyday with papa now lay unread for days.  The bed, which papa was the first one to leave every morning now became his world. And their, I sat watching papa depart- never to come back.

Rightly is said, it's the circumstances that decide our happiness. Diwali had always been my favorite festival. It always brought so good memories with it. I loved everything about it- the aura, the feel, the mild winters, scent of earthen diyas, sweet smell of flowers and the lights . I love colorful lights. I hate darkness. Every year papa would buy different lighting accessorize and then me and papa would put the lights.

Every evening, I would  switch on the lights and at night papa would switch off the lights. The twinkling of colored lights...I am so fond of it. I would joke, Laxmi ji will not be able to find her way to our home. And papa would say, laxmi ji can come in the morning, let her also sleep she must be tired. ( I miss you papa!)

The sweets, the food- ma and papa made, I was the first one to be served. It felt so good. Papa always said, I looked exactly like my granny(dadi) and my mom was very close to my granny-  I was the special one! And now...... I wait! Where are you papa?

Diwali will never be the same again. 

Without you Papa, celebrations are worthless and happiness is incomplete. 

Love you PAPA!

Papa and the web

The next morning , the doctors came. I had spoken to her about a node behind papa’s ear. It looked like swelling but papa said it was painful. 

The doctor pricked the needle once, twice, thrice.... Papa screamed in pain. My very strong father was screaming " to stop". My mom could see no more. So she asked to stop.

The doctor said, aunty if we won't check how will we prescribe the medicine. I believe the doctors know before  us- the time has arrived. Then prescribing medicine to a person who is.....

I took my father not for some research. I knew nothing will help. I knew he was going. I just wanted some pain-less moments.

I am sorry papa.

Love you PAPA!

Papa and Me!

Time just flew away, in a week …it will be a year. And I remember, how I counted minutes in the hospital room. A few minutes felt like days….and with a whole year gone by. I missed you everyday papa in everything I did.

Today I am sharing, what it was like to be your daughter….

• You were my best friend. I could always discuss with you anything and everything
• You treated me as a princess. You believed in me and my opinion was always counted.
• Like any teenager, I too had arguments with mumma and you knew just how to handle the 2 women you loved.
• You knew exactly, what to say and when. You knew where to begin and how to end.
• You trusted me completely and never questioned any of my decisions and the choices I made.
• You gave me the freedom to choose and live the choices. But you were there always behind me to support, If ever I may fall.
• You were always there for me. No matter when and where I was, you was always there.
• During my growing years, I too had arguments with you, but you always took time to explain and listen.

And lastly, I can say that  I have( you are always my papa) the BEST FATHER…in the whole world

To you PAPA( Lovely Song by Barbara Streisand that exactly conveys my feelings)

God, our Heavenly Father
Oh, God and my father
Who is also in heaven

May the light of this flickering candle
Illuminate the night the way
Your spirit illuminates my soul

Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you see me?
Papa, can you find me in the night?

Papa, are you near me?
Papa, can you hear me?
Papa, can you help me, not be frightened?

Looking at the skies I seem to see a million eyes
Which ones are yours?
Where are you now that yesterday

Has waved good-bye and closed its doors?

The night is so much darker
The wind is so much colder

The world I see is so much bigger

Now that I'm alone

Papa, please forgive me

Try to understand me
Papa, don't you know I had no choice?

Can you hear me praying?

Anything I'm saying?
Even though the night
Is filled with voices

I remember everything you taught me
Every book I've ever read
Can all the words in all the books

Help me to face what lies ahead?

The trees are so much taller

And I feel so much smaller
The moon is twice as lonely
And the stars are half as bright

Papa, how I love you
Papa, how I need you
Papa, how I miss you

Love U Papa!

Chapter 4- Chemotherapy begins

After papa got admitted to the hospital. I was  impatient. I was restless. I wanted the treatment to start as soon as possible. The chemotherapy (chemo) to start as soon as possible as already so much time has been lost. I wanted some thing to  look forward too. I wanted a miracle to happen. I wanted to hope. As as the famous saying in hindi goes, a straw is enough to save the drowning person, for me chemotherapy was the straw. 

Most of us know that chemotherapy is a very painful process and for those who don’t know, chemotherapy- strong acids are injected in the body to stop the growth of cancer cells. These acids are injected through veins( intravenous) . The cycle includes sending poisonous chemicals into the body through very slim needles. And then flushing out the toxin from the body by sending another chemical(s). 

Chemotherapy causes more harm then doing good to the body. But i wanted to give it a try for myself- who was desperate and would do anything that will add few years to my hero- my father's life. For papa, who wanted to live. For my mother- his partner of 42 years. For my brothers, who looked up to papa as their idol.

I was informed about the side of effects of chemotherapy.  Reduction in blood platelets count, nausea, fever, mouth ulcer, diarrhea and hair loss. During his two cycles of chemotherapy , papa suffered all  of these except for that he never lost a single hair. In fact, in the final few weeks, he was so irritated by his hairs, owing to being bedridden now for months (Papa had beautiful silky straight hairs and  he always kept his hair nicely trimmed and well combed) that to pacify him, I had to trim his hairs.

The first chemo cycle lasted for 3 months, at the end of the 3 months a review was done, to find out about the improvement in papa's condition and to ascertain the extent to which the disease has  been  controlled or has spread. The first cycle was divided in to two parts. The first phase, papa had to be admitted to the hospital. He was supposed to stay in the hospital for 3- 4days. Papa was tied to the bed for as long as 56hrs with a needle in his arm. First the medicines and after a break of 10hrs, the toxins were flushed out. The only time he was allowed to leave the bed when he wanted to use the washroom.He hated it. I hated it too. It was painful for him and for me. But he believed in me and i believed in the doctors, who said it is important if you  want to prolong your father’s life ( Is their any other answer). 

The second  phase- lasted a day. We would come to the hospital in the morning, get the chemo done and leave by evening. Both phase(s) were carried out in the alternate weeks. 

Every morning the schedule was same in both the chemotherapy phase(s). Reach the hospital early in the morning, get the blood test(s) done. Wait for the reports and on the basis of the results, it was decided to go ahead for the chemotherapy. 

After every chemotherapy session, papa felt weak and exhausted. But he refused to give up. He tried to be as normal as he could be and do most of his daily chores by himself. As days turned in to weeks and weeks in to months, papa grew more weak and lost considerable weight. Chemotherapy has started taking its toll. I could see but was helpless and at the same time hopeful.

It is said, that the first chemotherapy cycle is the rosy period of the treatment and it turned out to be true. After 3 months reviews were done. The results of the first cycle said, the cancer that started from gall bladder has shown 20% decrease and no growth  was reported in the pancreatic region. Papa blushed. He smiled after almost 4 months. I felt relieved. Finally after months of sadness, we have a good news. 

It was my 6th wedding anniversary, and i could not have received a better gift then this - my father’s improving health.

To my father’s courage and never say die spirit. I am so proud of you papa!

Chapter 3 - The bond

A few days ago while reading, i came across this beautiful quote, which i would like to share.

    Sometimes, it’s not the person we miss
   It’s the feeling you had when you were with them. 

It made me think!. Since i started writing this blog, i have only written about the difficult, painful and bad times of our lives. But that's not all. We did have great fun. We were happy and have a lot of beautiful memories to share.

My father was a central government employee with a fixed salary coming at the end of the month. We were three siblings, all studying in a good school. After the monthly expenses, very little (money) was left to spend on luxury or buy expensive toys. But still papa did his best to get the best for his kids. Every evening, he would spend time with us. He was always an involved parent and took keen interest in our lives. 

Before settling in Delhi, we were based in Pune. In Maharashtra, there is a culture of small girls playing with these toy steel utensils. All my friends had this beautiful collection and i too wanted it for myself.    

It was difficult to build the collection in day. For that i had a plan. Every morning, i would write on a piece of paper and put it in my father's pocket. In the evening, papa would get me the toy. This continued for months. One evening, for some reason papa couldn't get the toy, which i wanted so desperately. 

When he came home, I asked him at the door itself, as was the routine. I became very sad, papa  sensed it. That very evening he took me to the market and i bought the toy. I was happy, very happy( that age, when toys make you happy, and now when i come to think of it,  if only i could exchange that happiness with my father's life ). Few years later, books ( i love reading ) replaced these toys and i was least concerned where these toy( once my prized possessions) were lying. 

Papa and I always shared a special bond ( blame it on the genes, father -daughter) but still there was this unsaid understanding between us. He always knew, what i wanted and in his best ability, gave me everything I laid my hands on. I tried my best to make him proud, may be not completely but i tried.

Today, when i think of all those happy times we spent. I realized, that i have a treasure full of memories which are enough to last a life time. But what is wrong if had a few more spilling out of the box.

Btw, i still have all those toys utensils. My parents retained them all through these years and gave them to my daughter ( my own walking, talking toy) when she turned 2.

Love you papa!

Chapter 2 - Hospital

Papa was diagnosed with cancer in one of the so called best hospitals in Delhi. But since the hospital din’t have dedicated oncology department. So it was mandatory to shift him to some other hospital. Now the  major question was where to take papa for his further and specialized treatment. I had two options stay in Delhi and be there with papa or send papa to Mumbai, where my younger brother stays. 

I turned selfish and decided to find a hospital in Delhi itself .Besides papa wanted to be at  home and be with his “chutki beti”( his only grandchild and my daughter). 

Papa, was admitted to a Cancer hospital in Delhi.  The hospital staff was very good. I must say, during the entire treatment, i am more then happy with the junior staff. The staff was compassionate and dedicated. From ensuring personal hygiene to a dedicated nurse to look after papa.  Timely medicines to dressing the wounds, or just applying lotion on a swollen nerve. Everything was done in a very disciplined manner. Every morning the CEO, would just come without informing. And would listen to everyone and personally ask every patient or relatives about the hospital, doctors, or any other issue.

Papa, loved to dress up and was very conscious the way he looked. On 29the November 2012, the fateful day when we went to the hospital for the first time to consult the doctor regarding removal of gall stones. He woke up early. The first thing papa did after waking up was to shave( i have seen him doing since i was a baby). This routine continued till he himself was able to do it. And later on when he became bedridden, he would ask my elder brother to do it.

Papa, would never wear clothes without ironing ( he made ironing look as a form art)l. He was again dressed in his favorite neatly ironed cream colored shirt, brown trousers and well polished shoes . Looking at his preparation,  mom joked, you are not going to office  but to the hospital.

Mom tells us that papa was a great fan of Dev Anand ( the actor). Infact, when they got married. All his shirt had long collars. His style sense was so strong that it gave complex to many even today. 

The colors, he chose were very elite. His dressing style was way ahead of times. The suits he wore are still in fashion. In an earlier chapter i had mentioned, papa loved shopping. But after he came to know about cancer, he lost interest in life, colors and everything else. After that he never shopped. There was this mall next to this hospital. And since we had ample time after giving sample for blood tests and collecting report(s). I would often take papa to the mall.. Once when i insisted that he buys something for himself, he said “ now i don’t need it”.It was painful. And my fears have started taking shape- fear that papa has sensed his approaching “end”

In the next few months he grew weaker and weaker. He couldn’t walk and would just sit in the waiting area. But I never stopped telling him about the new SALE(s) going on and my shopping. He would see, listen , smile and then we would get up and  start walking  towards the report collection center. 

Miss you PAPA!

Chapter 2 - Admission

The next morning, papa and I reached the hospital, a little early then 8:00am. I was accompanied by my husband. Reaching early, still the hospital compound was abuzz with 100 people. I took token and waited for my name to be called out. My token number was 63.  After that i decided to grab some breakfast. My husband got juice for all three of us. We started waiting and about 12:15, papa’s name was called out.  I reached there deposited money and papa was given Id card. This id card had to be brought every time we visited the hospital( i still have the id card). I became relaxed, now papa will be admitted. But the wait was not over yet. We had to wait for a room. 

I told papa, let us have lunch and come back. We went to the cafeteria. I asked papa what he would like to eat. He said,”idli”, since i was not in much of a mood to eat. I also ordered idli for myself. Not knowing that it would be our food for the next 10months.  My father loved food. He was an excellent cook. Whatever he made, he put his heart and soul in it.  Whenever me and my younger brother would visit our parents. He would ask my mother to make delicacies, he loved. We all would joke, its you papa, who wants to eat and telling mom to cook for us. 

Around, 530pm, papa was allotted a room. I checked the room. I didn’t like it. So we had to wait for another 30minutes for another room. Finally around 7pm, papa was on his bed. I called my mother. Soup arrived at 8pm. My mother reached around 9pm. I went downstairs, saw my little daughter in my mother’s lap. I picked her up and kissed. I handed over the passes to my mother. And around 930pm, I left.

On 8thNovember 2012, papa was finally admitted to the hospital. I was happy, because now i had hope. Hope that papa will walk free someday and we all will celebrate. It was not even a year, when papa left us. 

I still remember the times, when all of us would sit and enjoy tea ( papa made excellent masala tea, and mom would always crib about the spicy tea). Have jalebis, made by papa and discuss some or the other topic. Those days are gone. Days when we all  would sit( papa will never be there) and enjoy.

Life is not same without you papa!

We all miss you a lot, If only we could bring you back and still enjoy being together. Love you forever!

Flashback

During the last few days when papa was very sick, he would often tell me what a good baby i have been....he was so proud of me...and i would wonder have i been?...the answer comes from within...NO.

In flashback when i think, in the past few years i was so busy with studies, job, my husband, my daughter..i didn't spend much time with him.  He would call me daily, though just for a minute and ask me the same question- How am I?  

Now I so urge that he ask me the same question, and he is no where. We as a kid are so selfish that we don't realise the importance of our parents. Had i spent a little more time with him, I would have known that he was not getting old but was fading.

I am an Asthamatic, I would get attacks at night, ..i remember, once when i had an attack...my first major attack after arriving in Delhi..I had to be hospitalized in the night itself.. i always wanted a play doctor set..that evening my father visited me in the hospital with the play-set.

When i returned, from hospital he would check several times at night if i was breathing. That was my papa for me. The best father in the world!

I will always be my father's baby,  even when a few years ago i became a mother to a princess myself.  I was very sick after my daughter's birth but the way papa took care of my daughter is unbelievable even when he himself was in his late sixties. I  would sleep peacefully, from feeding to changing nappy's papa has done all. 

For the first 2 years of her life meraaya was raised by my parents. Papa and Meraaya loved each other's company and in his company she learnt so many things so fast, as compared to other children's of her age. Papa would recite poems, teach her hindi( she picked up u se ullu) and maths( papa would consider himself a genius in maths, infact he was but we always made fun of him). And god only know what all she would eat with him....amla wafers, gulkand, apple murabba, Hingoli, Jeera goli, Anardana goli( she would se anar dana doli de do nanu) and the best -eating mangoes with hand. 

Things were perfect, and then papa left ..things changed forever ...in matter of months life is just not the same as it used to be. With papa gone, something inside me died that day -the zeal, the enthusiasm i had for life. I don't follow my passions anymore. I keep on running from myself. from one place to another...i try to keep myself so busy that i don't remember that one moment that changed our lives . I am always trying to get myself lost in a crowd that is unknown to me. If only i can find something that gives me peace.......!

Rose Bud

For me writing has been always my passion....it is a medium that i vent out my feelings .good or bad..feeling happy and light without having to say a word!

This blog is not just a blog, its like i am painter and this blog is a canvas on which  i am painting my masterpiece...sometimes i will use bright color as red and some time pastels to show my state of mind. With patience and determination, i will create a piece of art- which will be a motivation to those around me and those who are away from me.

My father, always wanted me to write, and i always said...i will write papa...the day you become free of this daemon...and walk away as a "SURVIVOR", But nothing like this happened and the daemon took papa away, he left me behind on 26th October2013 and became a star- the brightest star - My PAPA!

I am writing for my father- who believed in me ( he always said - believe in yourself and things will be in your favor). He believed my lies, just like truths. He listened to my stories, just like a friend. 

He gave me choices, just  like a father would have. He gave me everything that i laid my hands on. With him around ..my hands were always full!

That one moment ( 1:20am, Saturday, 26October, 2013) - i felt i could not breathe. I wanted to hold my papa so tightly that i will never let him go. He was going ....he din't want to, I din't want him to...helpless and shattered, i stood there and he want away.

He din't deserve this. I always wanted his sufferings  to end! But...

And they did, he faded - moments after he was gone, i looked at his face-  it was so bright and calm as if nothing has ever happened. The scars, the bruises, swollen nerves left behind by months of chemotherapy and various tests just disappeared. He looked so peaceful as if he was fast asleep after a long tiring day and will just wake up! and call me"Beti".

My father was a very disciplined  and organized person especially when it came to health. Even after his retirement he maintained his disciplined routine. He was always a very happy and a contended man,  leading a very fulfilling life with his wife and his children and grandchild. Until tragedy struck and life came to a halt!  I lost my papa to CANCER( Gall Bladders cancer to be precise). 

I am not sharing all this because, I want to vent out the pain inside me. It will be there forever.  But i don't want anyone else to suffer like me. The pain, the anguish never goes but i am hoping things will be better.

In one of the finest CANCER hospital of India, where papa was treated, I saw this written 

                                          "If detected early, CANCER, can be cured"

I can never believe this, but in the hope that it will be true for someone. I want to use this blog as a medium to make people aware, so they don't go thorough the pain of loosing their loved one.
Miracles do happen, don't they ?

Be Aware, Be Careful and Stay Happy Always!

HaPpY PaReNts DaY!

Parents Day - 27th July2014

Parents’ Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July in the United States each year to apprciate and promote parenting as an integral part of the family  and the society.

History

Parents’ Day is celebrated to spread  message about the importance of parents in development of the child, which requires investment, focus, and commitment. In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed into law a resolution adopted by the US Congress to establish the fourth Sunday of every July as Parents' Day. 

National Importance

Parents’ Day is a national observance but it is not a public holiday in the United States.

Events  

Parents’ Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday each year. Parents’ Day is a popular time for people to send cards, gifts, flowers and  cakes, to those who play an important role as a parent  in their lives. It is also a time for families to come together for lunches or dinners. Special tributes to are paid to parents who have played an important role during their growing years a through local announcements, at church services, or at local community events. 

Citizens, organizations, and federal, state, and local governmental and legislative entities are encouraged to recognize Parents’ Day through various activities, and educational efforts to recognize, uplift and support the role of parents in bringing up their children.

The Parents’ Day Council plays an active role in celebrating and promoting Parents’ Day through a number  of events and activities.  For example, the council honors “Parents of the Year” at local, state and national levels. Those who have been nominated or selected are people who exemplify the standard and ideal of positive parenthood. Exemplary parents from each state are nominated for “National Parents of the Year”.

In recent times, to promote Parents’ Day rallies have been held  and many organizations such as the United Civil Rights Councils of America are involved.

You don’t need a special day to tell you parents you love them. But you can make today and everyday special by telling them you do. So go ahead and tell then... I Love you!

Papa and Momma this is for you, I love you!

White wish!

I don't know what i want to write...but with this blog, i wish to heal and help others to heal who are in pain!

I am not a great writer, dancer, singer, cook or may be i am not good at anything...but what sets me apart from others is the urge to be a good human being...be an asset to this world....do something good for the society.

The name,  "Pause for a Cause", does make you wonder....as what it means... the lifestyle we are leading nowadays has no time for ourselves, parents, friends and kids.

Pause, spend time with those you love and who love you unless it becomes too late.

I don't want to preach nor i wish to pry in your  comfort zone. But i only want to give back what my father taught me.

He always said" if you can't do good, then don't do bad"!

Life is all about experiences, good or bad...you have to decide what to hold on too....and what to let go!

I am choosing to keep the good- TO THE JOURNEY TOWARDS SELF HEALING, in words of buddha

"Because you are alive, everything is possible"