Skip to main content

Trusting the unseen: Ramadan and healing


Back in my chemo chair for my fifth Zometa infusion… and this time, it falls in Ramadan.
There’s something about Ramadan that feels collective. Even if you’re not Muslim, you can probably relate to having certain seasons in the year that feel different; more intentional, more reflective, more connected. For us, Ramadan is that month. Yes, we fast from dawn to sunset. But it’s also about slowing down... about discipline when it’s hard, patience when you’re tired, and remembering what really matters.
And today, my Ramadan looked different.
Instead of fasting, I was hooked up to an IV. Instead of preparing for iftar, I was listening to the steady beep of machines and watching medication drip into my veins.
I won’t pretend that it didn’t sting a little. There’s something tender about knowing your family is moving through the day in a shared rhythm, breaking fast together and you’re sitting it out.
But faith isn’t one-size-fits-all.
In Islam, when you’re unwell, you’re not just allowed to pause your fast, you’re encouraged to take care of your body. Still, even when you know that, it doesn’t automatically quiet the feeling of “missing out.”
Somewhere between the antiseptic smell of the hospital room and the quiet drip of the IV, something shifted for me.
Ramadan and cancer treatment actually speak the same language.
  • Both ask you to trust what you can’t see.
  • Both ask you to hold onto hope while the work you can’t see yet begins to take shape.
  • Both ask you to believe that today’s discomfort carries tomorrow’s growth.
Ramadan teaches us that what we give up today can transform us tomorrow. Treatment asks for that same surrender, trusting that what’s entering my body now is doing its work, even if I can’t feel it yet.
So maybe I wasn’t fasting today. But I was still practicing patience. Still practicing surrender. Still making intentions.
My worship just looked like showing up to my appointment. Whispering prayers in an infusion chair. Trusting that God is just as present in hospital rooms as He is at the iftar table.
If you’ve ever had a season where life didn’t look the way it “should,” you’ll understand that sometimes faith is less about performing the ritual perfectly and more about showing up honestly.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to My Journey: Finding Strength Through Sharing

Hey there, and welcome to My World My Life , my little corner of the internet. After what felt like an endless process, I’ve finally moved all my old blog posts from their outdated home to this fresh new space. It wasn’t easy, balancing this with treatment, work, and family life, but with a little help from my family, I made sure every post made it over intact. No missing entries, no broken links (because let’s be honest, that totally would have happened). Now that everything is in place, I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. This blog isn’t just about sharing my journey; it’s about creating a space where we can connect, support one another, and navigate life’s unexpected twists together. One of those twists came in the form of breast cancer. One moment, I was going about my usual routine, and the next, I was sitting in a doctor’s office, hearing words that didn’t feel real. In an instant, my world flipped upside down. My days became a whirlwind of appointments, treatments, and ...
2 comments
Read more

Mediterranean courgette, goat cheese & mint tart

This is one of those recipes that always makes me think of grandma and our family meals. Growing up, whenever she made stuffed courgettes (zucchini), she never let anything go to waste. After scooping out the cores, she’d turn them into something just as delicious... like this simple, flavourful tart. It always felt like a little extra treat, made with so much love. Every time I make it now, it takes me right back to those warm, comforting moments around the table. It’s the kind of dish that feels special without being fussy... perfect for a relaxed picnic on the beach, a lazy lunch in the garden, or a cosy meal at home. The courgettes turn soft and sweet, pairing beautifully with tangy goat cheese and rich black olive tapenade. And with flaky puff pastry as the base, it looks impressive but is really so easy to make. I hope that one day, when you make it yourself, it brings you the same comfort and joy it always brings me and maybe even reminds you of me. Ingredients: 2 cups of courg...
2 comments
Read more

Moving through cancer: How exercise helped me heal

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I knew life was about to change. Surgery, chemo, radiation... it all sounded terrifying and exhausting. But through all of it, one thing kept me feeling like me: moving. Before cancer, I was always busy; work, gardening, the gym, weekend runs. I didn’t sit still much. So even when treatment wiped me out, I still felt this itch to get up and move, even if it was just to the end of the street. On my hardest days, resting felt worse than being tired. Just getting up and moving, even a bit, brought back a glimpse of the old me. In September 2023, halfway through my chemotherapy treatment, I signed up for Cancer Research UK’s Shine Walk and walked a half marathon — 21.1 km — with my husband. It was hard, but also kind of amazing. It wasn’t about speed or performance; it was about proving to myself that I was still strong, still capable. And in the hope that someday cancer treatments will be kinder, more effective, and a whole lot less brutal. Eating ...
Post a Comment
Read more