Truly Thankful

Today is Thursday, December 21, 2023 and I’m so unbelievably thankful that I went to Umrah this week. الف الحمد لله يارب على الصحة و العافية. To be honest, ever since I left the hospital all I’ve been hearing from family and friends around me is “Lulu, you need to travel. You need to change scenery. You need to get away. You need a break.” Every time I’d hear those words from anyone I’d discretely roll my eyes but just nod along and say yes, yes soon hopefully. No one understood that the last thing on my mind was to travel nor did I even have the energy or strength to travel to begin with. I get it, everyone was coming from a good place and they just wanted what they thought was best for me…to travel and get my mind off of what I’d gone through…to change scenery for a bit and feel better…to literally take a break from it all. As much as I appreciated everyone’s care and concern for me and my wellbeing, I knew that the last thing I ‘needed’ was to travel. All I needed and wanted was to slowly get my strength and health back and to mentally be in a better place. That’s honestly all I wanted. I’m so happy that since my last post, which was almost a month ago, I’ve been getting better and better الحمد لله. From the time I was discharged from the hospital, I told myself that the moment I felt physically and mentally in the right place, that the first place I wanted to go to was to Umrah. I’m so, so, so grateful I was able to finally go this week.

From the very beginning of the trip everything felt right and easy الحمد لله. Once we arrived in Makkah we rested for a bit which gave me an opportunity to recharge before performing the Umrah. I’m so grateful that I was able to perform the Tawaf on foot. By the time we completed that though the exhaustion was setting in…I had to complete the Sa’i on the wheelchair. This was my fourth time going to Umrah and by far it was the most crowded I have ever seen it! ما شاء الله, ماشاء الله, ماشاء الله there were so many people there! I knew it was going to be emotional for me but I didn’t anticipate this level of emotions. I’m so blessed to have had the opportunity to go الحمد لله.

Last week I had my monthly bloodwork and check-up appointment with my doctor and thankfully everything is on track. All my bloodwork levels are normal except for the protein which has gone down slightly but nothing alarming. I’ve gone back to adding protein powder to my meals and drinks and hopefully it’ll bring my protein level back up. My next follow-up and bloodwork appointment will be on January 12 and hopefully there’ll be good news to report. I’m happy to be ending this year on a positive note and I’m praying the year ahead will be a better one.

اللهم إني أسألك فواتح الخير , وخواتمه , وجوامعه , وأوله وآخره , وظاهره وباطنه والدرجات العلى من الجنة اللهم إني أسألك أن ترفع ذكري , وتضع وزري , وتطهر قلبي , وتحصن فرجي , وتغفر لي ذنبي , وأسألك الدرجات العلى من الجنة , اللهم إني أسألك أن تبارك في سمعي , وفي بصري , وفي روحي , وفي خَلقي , وفي خُلقي , وفي أهلي , وفي محياي , وفي عملي , وتقبل حسناتي , وأسألك الدرجات العلى من الجنة .‏

الحمدلله على تمام العمرة ، اللهم تقبّل منا ولا تترك لنا دعاء إلا وقد أجبته ولا ذنبًا الا غفرته يارب العالمين.