Actress Lisa Ray, currently battling cancer, is overwhelmed by the love and support she has received from India in her time of crisis.

Lisa Ray More Pics

She’s currently aiming for a stem cell transplant and to be symptom free by December. Sleepless at 6:30 am, she blames the steroids and India.

She says, “And I blame you India. You have sent me so much love. And advice. So I went through each and every message. Like the good, dutiful half-Bengali daughter I am. Except I’m not studying for my medical finals, I’m looking at each and every word you have sent.”

Lisa blogs, “I’m humbled. ... The point is to connect and share. English is not everyone’s first language. Nor should it be. I wish I could speak more languages. But the language of the marrow. Now that’s one that penetrates. Thank you for teaching me the goodness of being alive.”

She shares some thoughts on alternative therapies. “I was in Kerala on a yoga/ayurvedic retreat when I had to have my first blood transfusion this year. That was in March. I’ve been practicing yoga for 10 years now. I go to Dharamsala for month-long silent meditation retreats at Tushita Meditation Centre once a year. And then on the other end I chant Mantras for hours. I also practice vipassana, Metta, Shambala and as many other meditation techniques as I can find. My cupboards are full of naturopathic, Chinese and homeopathic remedies. I consider myself a seeker and a student of many spiritual traditions. I’ll write about this one day, but I suspect it might be as full of capers and misadventures as deep insights.”

I’m an ‘alternative’ girl in every way, Lisa quips. “However, when I started my treatments, which is not long back, I did not want to mix. My hematologist, Dr Ahmed Galal put me on a relatively aggressive, first line treatment because he got that look in his eye: we’re getting membership into the FULL REMISSION club. But you know, it takes time. Like getting into the Breach Candy, or Otter’s Club. You apply then you gotta be careful which members you mix with as you go for your interviews. Slowly, you learn more about the club, the conditions you need to fulfil. Then you’re in and believe me: even an earthshake won’t get me out!”
“So right now,” she says, “I’ve chosen not to mix therapies. There are even some things I love like green tea and grapefruit (well, ok, no one loves green tea!) that I can’t have as it inhibits the work of the drugs I’m on. I have faith in this course of action. I am aiming for a stem cell transplant and to be symptom free by December. Then focus on alternative therapies to rebuild full, wholesome health.”

The actress, who’s getting puffy on steroids, writes, “I’m getting so healthy and so round after years of being depleted and thin. So much that when I walk around into corner stores now, the owners start to suspect I might be a high school prankster with sticky fingers. ‘Only three kids in here at one time’ the guy behind the counter told me the other day. Baby cheeks getting me in trouble.”

SOURCE