Help 24-year-old Annette Fight Cancer！幫助24歲的Annette對抗癌症！

(Scroll down for Chinese version. 下方為中文版本）

Hi, my name is Annette, aged 24, diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. I have been a teacher since I graduated. In the past few years, I realize I do love teaching and I am passionate about teaching young kids. They are my motivation to work, indeed.

Eariler this year, I went for a random body check-up and the doctor discovered there was something wrong with my ovary. An operation was then scheduled after two days in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, after the surgery, the doctor told me that there was an aggressively invasive development of cancer tumours, and a malignant colorectal cancer tumour was found. I was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer. It was truly a huge huge blow to me, given I was at a young age of 24 (while all those advertisements are all urging those aged 50 or above for a colon check-up) - with a pleasant job, supportive family and boyfriend, lovable friends and churchmates ... What shall I do?

However heartbroken I felt at that moment, I was quick to receive chemotherapy one month after my surgery. So far the treatment has ended and I managed to survive (yay!). The process was not as devastating as I imagined before (feeling nauseous, loss of appetite, weight loss, occasional emotion breakdown... yea that's all); but still, it is quite an unforgettably unimaginable experience. As I do not have an insurance plan yet (thought it is still too young for me to receive that but obviously, well...), my retired parents are paying for my full medical bills. I am gratefully thankful for my parents being fully supportive; yet feeling incredibly sorrowful for not being able to work and support the family (I believe I can in the near future though！) Viewing those statistical data like "survival rate" and "mortality rate" of colorectal cancer from Google is like my regular practice every day. Those "x%" data often leave me a spine-shivering thought of death. For me, dying at such a young age while achieving nothing is indeed a shame. So, I started to think about what I could do to colour the world with joy and peace - as a little achievement of my life.

During the chemo period, I began discovering my new hobbies: watercolour painting and modern calligraphy. I started to spend my time (apart from regular exercise) painting artworks and designing cards for my beloved ones. The art exploration helps me to meditate a lot and showers me with new hopes and grace. World does not seem so grim to me now (at least I have left my colourful footprint here:D) and I am now fully geared to welcome a new world of art creation, and gradually developed my own brand: Floralosophy (follow me on Instagram!), which sells florally designed artworks to give blessings to others. In return for your understanding and support, I feel more than delighted to offer you my hand-painted artworks as a sign of appreciation and gratitude.

Thank you so much for reading this and getting to understand my situation. Your kind donation can enable me to receive proper follow-up treatment and sponsor my way to create more inspiring artworks to help spread the message of love. Your kind act is much appreciated and I really thank wholeheartedly for your consideration and understanding. May God bless us all. Thank you so much.

Welcome to leave me a comment to show your kind support! I will stay bright and upright as always - as an act to thank the people who have poured their love upon me ：）

With lots of love and thanks,
Annette

＊Apologize in advance for some flaws may be present in hand-painted works.

================================中文版本=========================================

你好。我是Annette，24歲，被確診患有第四期大腸癌。從畢業到現在，我一直在擔任教師一職。在任教生涯中，我愈來愈喜歡教學，我亦非常熱心教導小孩。學生們，事實上，就是我每天上班的動力。

在今年頭，我心血來潮到了一間診所作身體檢查，無意中發現卵巢有異樣。然後兩天後就被迅速安排了手術。手術順利，但醫生竟告知我卵巢的異樣是因為惡性細胞的侵入，在大腸發現惡性癌細胞，而我亦被「裁定」得了第四期大腸癌。那時世界就像倒下了，我是那麼的年輕（不是說50歲後才是高危人物嗎？！），有穩定的職業和工作環境、支持著我的家人、男朋友、朋友、教會兄弟姊妹...... 我是要怎麼辦才好？

雖然感到十分氣餒，但在手術的一個月後我也接受了化療，亦成功捱過了（鼓掌）！過程也沒有想像中那麼難熬，就是有噁心的感覺、沒有胃口、體重下降、有時候心情糟透了...... 但是，也算是人生中的一個難忘的經歷吧。由於我並沒有購買任何保險，所有的醫療支出都是由我已退休的父母支付的。我真的很感恩有這麼支持我的父母親；但同時也覺得很難過，因為我現在完全不能投入工作，作為家中的經濟支柱（但我相信在不久的將來，我也是可以捲土重來的！！！）閒時也會在Google搜尋大腸癌的「生存機率」、「死亡率」。每次看到x％的數據時都有令人寒心的感覺，像是死神要靠近了。於我而言，若在如此年輕之時離開世界，但沒有在世上留下什麼足跡，是件很可悲的事。所以，我開始在想我可以為世界做點什麼呢？是傳播愛和快樂的訊息吧，也算是我人生中的小小成就！

在化療期間，我發現了新的興趣：水彩繪畫和英文現代書法。除了運動的時間外，我亦會花心思和時間於繪製畫作和心意卡給我生命中重要的每一位。這條發掘藝術的美麗道路從此展開，在繪畫的期間我能放鬆心情，畫作更能帶給我新的盼望。世界不再看似灰暗，有了繪畫，至少我也在世上留下彩色的足印！我現在亦準備好進入藝術的新領域，更開創了自家品牌，名為Floralosophy（如有興趣也follow一下我喔），在創作畫作之餘也為身邊的人帶來祝福。為答謝捐款者的支持，我亦很高興能贈予親手繪製的作品以表謝意。

謝謝你這樣有耐心看我長篇大論的文字和了解我的狀況！籌得的善款將會有助我在未來接受更好的跟進治療，也能有肋我開拓日後的Floralosophy之作的道路！我真的衷心感謝捐款的你們！謝謝你們的理解和幫助！

歡迎留言，為我留下鼓勵的字句！我也會繼續積極和樂觀地面對生活，絕不辜負身邊的人對我的厚愛！

謝謝你們！
Annette

* 作品若有瘕疵，敬請見諒。