The legend of Princess YungXin and Ah Ming

Ah Ming was a young man who grew up in Siang-Siang village where it was famous for its delicious ‘Heong Pan” ….. Ah Ming had his parents, an elder brother and a younger sister. Though life was hard, the family were happy and contented with what they have; planting vegetables, rearing chickens for eggs to be sold in the market.

Their happiness did not last long and soon a dark spell cast on the village. The season started to change drastically with no rain for countless days. The land was scorched and green leafy vegetables were slowly withering.

The village headman called for a meeting with all the Heads of each family. They decided to perform a special prayer to the Rain God so that the fields would be nourished once again. During the prayer’s session a trance was carried out to communicate to the Rain God. It was told that the villagers have offended the Rain God who was angry with Ah Ming who befriends Princess Yung Xin. She had descended from the heavenly realm and while playing by the river she met Ah Ming who did not know that she was a heavenly princess… Princess YungXin refused to go back to heaven to be with the Rain God and it made him angrier and wanted to punish the earth people.

Princess Yungxin and Ah Ming were very much in love and cannot be separated. The villagers came and begged Ah Ming to let go of Princess YungXin. How can heavenly beings and human beings be together? This is seriously violating the laws of heaven and earth.

Wise Heavenly Lao-tze emerged from heaven and advice the broken heart couple- Princess YungXin and Ah Ming. He proposed a wise plan that Princess YungXin to return to heaven Ah Ming will meet her every 8mth of the Chinese calendar for 15 days. Reluctantly and sadly both Princess YungXin and Ah Ming agreed and they parted...

The rain came back and the fields were nourished again. Flowers grew attracting all the birds n butterflies. The villagers enjoyed good harvest from their crops. Time flies and soon it was 8^th month 1^st day. The moon was exceptionally bright… Ah Ming wonders whether he will meet Princess YungXin looking up to the sky.

All of a sudden many birds were seen flying in the sky and soon it was obvious that a bridge was seen with all the birds coming closely together ‘chirping’ happily inviting Ah Ming to climb up. Ah Mind did not hesitate and started to climb up on the heavenly bridge built by thousands and thousands of birds coming close together.

Ah Ming continued to walk mindfully and happily, knowing he will soon see Princess YungXin. Though it was a yearly encounter in heaven each 8^th month. Ah Ming and Princess YungXin never gave up their hope of being able to meet again and again. When there is hope there is a way…

The Journey of Karuna n Cittas

In the village of Mesu there was a pathway leading up to a beautiful garden. The garden was visited by the bees, butterflies and children. However there was a special bumble bee by the name of Karuna. As the saying goes; “as busy as a bumble bee, Karuna was always seen holding a red pail and flying all over collecting honey. Karuna has to be mindful when flying all over so as not to spill the honey out of the red pail which seemed very important.

Karuna wished that another bumble bee, much stronger and bigger being able to hold a bigger pail will come by and help as it has been tiring sometimes.

One day while Karuna was out on its rounds, it met Musava, another bee and requested for help. Musava said loud “no way, I will help you…go away. I don’t want to waste my time doing all these silly things. Anyway I have lots n lots of honey at home”. Sadly Karuna flew away and continued her journey….yet not giving up hope, aspiring that someday there will be another bumble bee wanting to help too.

One hopeful morning while Karuna was out on its task, a bumble bee with a red pail came behind her. “Hey Karuna, I have heard about you and would like to join u too to collect honey. My name is Pana and I just moved into the village….”

Karuna “hi Pana, great to meet you, welcome to Mesu village and I hope you will like it here too… I am so happy that you wanted to join me and you know the honey is very important for the survival of Mesu village… let me tell you the story…”

“After my daily collection, the honey is given to Cittas, she is a little girl that stayed in the green house. Cittas was born with short limbs. There are many other children, boys and girls in this village with short limbs. They need the honey to keep them strong and alive….Without the honey, they will soon become weak and finally die… ”

Cittas took the honey home for her father to be processed and distributed to the other children in the Mesu village. On the other hand, the children helped by making sure the special flowers named Tipata grew well as the bumble bees feed on it. While the children with short limbs needed the honey, the bumble bees needed the Tipata flowers.

So you see it is so important that we have to help one another for our survival in Mesu village. We have to continue to let more bumble bees know the importance of the honey for the short limbs children and the Tipata flowers for bumble bees.

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On reflecting on the Journey of Karuna and Cittas (using the 6ps of the chronically-ill child) I felt somehow tired though the journey must continue… In reality our society-the community is not as beautiful as in the garden of Mesu village. Things seemed well camouflaged around us. I will continue and preserver to have this Glimmer of Hope for myself n especially in the area of chronically-ill children…that was how it started bringing me to BOLD to experience play therapy in depth… a journey of no turning back.

How can the situation be just a little better when the days seemed so thin and cold…? Yet I have to learn, accept and face the reality of changes within nature.

“I will ask mummy to make me a pair of wings so that we can both fly together to heaven…” This line was from an Oncologist who overheard 2 children playing and one asking the other to get her wings ready…….

Words of wisdom from our children...

Suna n Dana

My apology to all for discussing on chronically-ill children during the recent tutorial, taking up sometime. My personal experience working with these children since 2006 had inspired me not to take life for granted... Time will not wait. I have attached a 6 part story of a bumble bee by a chronically-ill child. She did this drawing by the bedside as she was not able to go to the playroom that afternoon we met....

Once there was a bumble bee name Suna and her task was to collect honey, however mama Suna was concerned for her well being collecting honey by herself and tried to stop her. This made her very unhappy, annoyed and sad... Suna's happiest moment was when papa was around, both of them went round collecting honey together.

After collecting the honey Suna gave it to her friend name Dana. Dana was a special need child with short hands and prevented her from doing what she wanted. Dana took the honey home and for papa to process the honey which they sold in the market and made good profits.
*Moral of the story: never give up Hope and strive to do one's best...

Background of Child: Mother passed away when she was sick in the hospital. Most of the time she was alone in the hospital. Step mother visited her in the evening as she has her own career. While most children had their mamas with them by their bedside when night falls, Suna was all alone and does not enjoy the warmth of mama. Yet she tried her best to stay 'bubbly' through her laughter.

I have not seen her for quite a while. I recalled vividly the last time we met and she asked me to open my mouth and she fed me with a grape... followed by a grinned...and touched my cheek. Seemed to remind her of 'mummy'... It sure pulled a heartstring in me.

Now that we are working on therapeutic story, I hope I will be the story teller the next time we meet...

King Natta n the Monster...

Once a upon a time in the kingdom of Nicca lived a king named Natta. King Natta always had his people at heart, making sure there is enough food especially for the poor families. One day King Natta with his wisdom was asked to help a neighbouring country who was very poor and the people were suffering because of the drought season. King Natta set out to the neighbour country bringing with him his 3 wise generals, many types of seeds and seedlings.

Not too long after King Natta had left, a very strong wind blew across the kingdom of Nicca. The palace guards quickly ran to close the windows but they were not in time to close the last one…. A strong gush of wind came through the window and immediately the presence of a monster was felt, though not seen… there was a stench. Soon the monster was visible and the 7 palace guards were shock to see its presence. They immediately armed themselves with sticks and tried to push the monster toward the entrance of the palace. Red-Guard shouted “monster… you have no right to be in the palace of King Natta!” Ora-Guard said “Get out before King Natta is back… “ Yel-Guard “you are so smelly and dirty!” Gre-Guard said: “Don’t touch our King Natta’s throne, you skunk!”

With every unkind words uttered from the 7-Guards, the Monster became bigger and bigger and the stench was horrendous. Monster was gnashing its teeth “grrh…grrh…” and tried to avoid the sticks trouncing on it flaking and crusty body. The Monster grew in size becoming bigger and bigger… the eyes were rage with fury! Puffing heavily…”arrh…arrh…arrh…” were raising its fist on the guards.

At this very moment, King Natta appeared! When he saw the monster he quickly approached it while 7 –guards tried to stop him, fearing harm from the monster. King Natta reached out his hand “Hello monster… welcome to the kingdom of Nicca… You must have been very tired, hungry and thirsty…, please take a seat on the throne… 7-Guards please prepare icetehtarik, meemambo and icecream with choco toppings for our guest… Please bring the fragrant bungamelor towel to refresh our guest, don’t forget the sayang-layang fruits from our garden too…” Monster’s eyes brightened and well with tears … that King Natta was indeed a wisdom king of compassion: to nurse when it is hurt, to feed when it is hungry, to love when no one cares…

7-Guards applied Karuna oil on the monster and massage the flaking and crusty body… Feeling the compassionate touch from 7-Guards … and every kind and loving words from King Natta, the monster became smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller … And with the last kind word from King Natta, monster vanished from the palace…

The story of King Natta and the monster was told to children chronically-ill… I told this story to children in the chronic ward. When I finished the story, I asked the child who is King Natta and who is Monster? I had a child who told me “He is King Natta and the Cancer is the monster”… I smiled at the boy… had a moment of silence and said: “yes, you are King Natta, now we will say nice words to monster ya… and monster will be smaller and smaller and smaller and smaller…”

The original story the King and the monster was told by Ajahn Brahm, an English Buddhist Monk from Australia.

Children who are chronically ill create stories of Hope mainly on drawings, though non-verbal most times. They seemed to know life is fragile though not expressed verbally. How do I answer a child when she told me "I m going to die... "please ask Jesus to pray for me..." or a hand gesture 'waving goodbye' and maintaining the eye contact.

The child was reaching out to the telephone: "ring...ring...ring... Anybody there, if only someone understand what i m going through, my fears, my pain. When will all the chemo be over and my hair will grow back again... Will I ever go to school? Will I see my classmates again..."