Two by the name Siti Aida

Received news from Zaidah, an office colleague, who is also half-sister to Siti Aida Hj Kedah, that her family is having Yassin recital today, as a last ikhtiar for her.  Siti Aida, 44, is suffering from breast cancer.  The cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and she now carries a big bulge under her right armpit.

For the uninitiated, Siti Aida Hj Kedah was MrM's school mate in STJ, and sister to my junior in MRSM Hedzir Hj Kedah, as well as Cikgu Suri Hj Kedah, one of the teachers that for the life of me I can't remember what she taught.  Siti Aida, to my recollection, has 7 children, with her eldest about the same age as Munirah.

Zaidah tells me that the bulge is oozing liquid and she cries perhaps due to the pain.

Siti Aida Hj Salleh, is my mother, adopted daughter to Hj Salleh or Cikgu Mahat as my grandfather was known and Wan Bedah, my grandmother.  My mother has 7 children, too.  Suffering from the last stages of liver cancer.

Same name, similar disease, same fate?  Only God knows.