Dear Cousin Alex,
I am afraid this might be the last time you will hear from me in a while. I went to the doctor a few days ago for some follow up testing and it confirmed my worst fears. It appears I am also dealing with cancer in my liver, similar to my recently passed father. I am not sure how much longer I have but I am going back into the city to be closer to the hospital. My mother wont come out of her room she is so upset. I am trying to be strong for her but even I am afraid.
It appears there is some hope for my family. If I die, a lawyer told me he would open a case on behalf of my family. Apparently given that I will have died due to work related causes, he believes he could set my mother and the rest of my family up for life. As scared as I am about leaving this world, I have some relief knowing I will leave my family with a path to survival. I have already made sure she knows to get as far away from London as possible. Go somewhere to the country side and just live. We as a family have experienced to much death and suffering in London's surrounding countryside. I hope that me and my father's sacrifices will not be in vain.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Post 8
Dear Cousin Alex,
I am sure you have heard by now from other members of the family that father passed away last week. I am sorry I haven't written you the past few months, I just have been grieving and trying to take care of mother. We missed you at the funeral. We went to the big cemetery in downtown London and you should have seen how many people came. It was a grand send off for him.
In terms of my condition things seem to be getting worse. I have all the same symptoms that I experienced before, but am now dealing with some sort of intense pain in my side and have even been vomiting. I am going to visit my doctor again next week to see what he thinks is going on. My mother is quite worried although I am still able to work so there is a bright side in all of this. I promise to write you again sooner than I did last. I appreciated your last letter and your heart warming comments about how life is going for you.
Hope all continues to be well cousin.
Sincerely, Conor
I am sure you have heard by now from other members of the family that father passed away last week. I am sorry I haven't written you the past few months, I just have been grieving and trying to take care of mother. We missed you at the funeral. We went to the big cemetery in downtown London and you should have seen how many people came. It was a grand send off for him.
In terms of my condition things seem to be getting worse. I have all the same symptoms that I experienced before, but am now dealing with some sort of intense pain in my side and have even been vomiting. I am going to visit my doctor again next week to see what he thinks is going on. My mother is quite worried although I am still able to work so there is a bright side in all of this. I promise to write you again sooner than I did last. I appreciated your last letter and your heart warming comments about how life is going for you.
Hope all continues to be well cousin.
Sincerely, Conor
Post 7
Dear Alex,
Things are not exactly great these days. I have been going through phases of intense pain in my muscles, followed by extreme Euphoria. Nothing has been quite as bad as the total paralysis I suffered a few weeks ago, although I have been trying to stay away from the nuts as much as possible. My father has taken a turn for the worse and it seems like the doctor believes he has some form of cancer, possibly liver. The doctor believes he only has a few months left to live.
My whole family is in a state of shock over my own initial diagnosis as well. To think that just working in the fields and trying to make a living could cause all of this is a complete shock to everyone, especially me. I had tried 3 times this past week to bring it up to the land lord, but he has always told me to come back later, and he never opens his door when I knock. I am the only one working right now and that has forced us to keep relying on these damn nuts that got me sick in the first place.
Hope things are going well for you cousin. I will keep you updated on my condition.
Sincerely, Conor
Things are not exactly great these days. I have been going through phases of intense pain in my muscles, followed by extreme Euphoria. Nothing has been quite as bad as the total paralysis I suffered a few weeks ago, although I have been trying to stay away from the nuts as much as possible. My father has taken a turn for the worse and it seems like the doctor believes he has some form of cancer, possibly liver. The doctor believes he only has a few months left to live.
My whole family is in a state of shock over my own initial diagnosis as well. To think that just working in the fields and trying to make a living could cause all of this is a complete shock to everyone, especially me. I had tried 3 times this past week to bring it up to the land lord, but he has always told me to come back later, and he never opens his door when I knock. I am the only one working right now and that has forced us to keep relying on these damn nuts that got me sick in the first place.
Hope things are going well for you cousin. I will keep you updated on my condition.
Sincerely, Conor
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Post 6
Dear Cousin Alex,
I think I may have just discovered the sources of all these weird feelings and occurrences these past weeks. I went to the doctor a few days ago to get a sore on my foot looked at. While speaking to the doctor, he asked about the kind of foods I work with in the fields and whether my foot was ever submerged in water. Given that I wake up very early before the sun comes up, the water used to irrigate the fields is generally still there. These past few months I have been working in nut fields including the Cycad nut. According to my doctor, Cycad nut poisoning can cause paralysis and helps explain the general moodiness and change in my behavior that I have been experiencing. I am in shock just thinking that doing my daily work could be causing this kind of harm to my body.
The doctor said I must let the owner of the fields know immediately that he has not been treating his Cycad nuts properly to avoid poisoning. I am worried however, that if I do so I will lose my job out of his anger and overall inability to show any mercy or remorse. I feel like I have no choice but to continue working the fields and eating the nuts as I have no other way to make a living or help sustain my family.
I've let my mother know to stay away from the fields. This means I might have to work double shifts as her loss of income (albeit less than what I make) is going to hurt our already dying family much more. I am still behind several weeks rent and John isn't exactly the type to forget these kinds of outstanding debts. I will write again in a few weeks depending on how things over here progress. Hope things are going well Alex.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
I think I may have just discovered the sources of all these weird feelings and occurrences these past weeks. I went to the doctor a few days ago to get a sore on my foot looked at. While speaking to the doctor, he asked about the kind of foods I work with in the fields and whether my foot was ever submerged in water. Given that I wake up very early before the sun comes up, the water used to irrigate the fields is generally still there. These past few months I have been working in nut fields including the Cycad nut. According to my doctor, Cycad nut poisoning can cause paralysis and helps explain the general moodiness and change in my behavior that I have been experiencing. I am in shock just thinking that doing my daily work could be causing this kind of harm to my body.
The doctor said I must let the owner of the fields know immediately that he has not been treating his Cycad nuts properly to avoid poisoning. I am worried however, that if I do so I will lose my job out of his anger and overall inability to show any mercy or remorse. I feel like I have no choice but to continue working the fields and eating the nuts as I have no other way to make a living or help sustain my family.
I've let my mother know to stay away from the fields. This means I might have to work double shifts as her loss of income (albeit less than what I make) is going to hurt our already dying family much more. I am still behind several weeks rent and John isn't exactly the type to forget these kinds of outstanding debts. I will write again in a few weeks depending on how things over here progress. Hope things are going well Alex.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
Post 5
Dear Alex,
You would not believe how great I have been feeling these past few weeks. I've woken up each day with such a sense of purpose and just overall happiness, it makes the last few weeks feel like years ago. My father even smiles every time he sees me, he is still not doing so hot but any sign of happiness is a marked improvement. John has been same as always, extremely demanding and showing almost no remorse. I am so happy these days that it dosen't even matter.
I went into London yesterday to go and try and find some new shoes. My current ones have been tattered from days in the fields and I was hoping I could find a reasonably priced replacement. I left after hours of searching only to realize I only had enough money to pay for a pair of shoes similar to the current state of my own. I only share this experience to let you know that money is still extremely tight and that mother is still working in the fields alongside me to try and keep our family afloat.
I hope things are going well for you in America. I heard in your letter last month that you had joined a prestigious up and coming law firm. I am so very proud of you. Your decision to go to school seems like a very prudent one and I am happy for your wisdom and strength in our family.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
You would not believe how great I have been feeling these past few weeks. I've woken up each day with such a sense of purpose and just overall happiness, it makes the last few weeks feel like years ago. My father even smiles every time he sees me, he is still not doing so hot but any sign of happiness is a marked improvement. John has been same as always, extremely demanding and showing almost no remorse. I am so happy these days that it dosen't even matter.
I went into London yesterday to go and try and find some new shoes. My current ones have been tattered from days in the fields and I was hoping I could find a reasonably priced replacement. I left after hours of searching only to realize I only had enough money to pay for a pair of shoes similar to the current state of my own. I only share this experience to let you know that money is still extremely tight and that mother is still working in the fields alongside me to try and keep our family afloat.
I hope things are going well for you in America. I heard in your letter last month that you had joined a prestigious up and coming law firm. I am so very proud of you. Your decision to go to school seems like a very prudent one and I am happy for your wisdom and strength in our family.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
Sunday, March 13, 2016
3/13 Post 4
Dear Alex,
It looks like my prayers have been answered because I woke up today with no signs or symptoms of any sort. Mother dropped a pan of eggs when she saw me watch into the kitchen. I think I even saw father crack a smile for the first time in ages. Even my landlord was happy to see me up, probably because he knows I am the best worker on the property. Things seem to be looking up but I wonder what the heck caused me to fall ill in the first place. I also don't know what to do about father still, he is quite ill.
It is becoming winter and I fear that this is going to be a rough one. With everything that has been happening I really hope I can save up enough money to buy some warmer clothes for father who I hope will not get any sicker. I haven't had contact with the rest of the family recently having been so absorbed in worrying about mother and father, I hope they are doing ok.
How are things in America? Your last letter made it sound like you are doing very well. I hope that whole being a lawyer thing works out for you. America sounds like a wonderful place. Sometimes I wish I had joined you in going. Alright well I have to get back out to the fields but I will write you again soon friend. So long.
Cousin Conor
It looks like my prayers have been answered because I woke up today with no signs or symptoms of any sort. Mother dropped a pan of eggs when she saw me watch into the kitchen. I think I even saw father crack a smile for the first time in ages. Even my landlord was happy to see me up, probably because he knows I am the best worker on the property. Things seem to be looking up but I wonder what the heck caused me to fall ill in the first place. I also don't know what to do about father still, he is quite ill.
It is becoming winter and I fear that this is going to be a rough one. With everything that has been happening I really hope I can save up enough money to buy some warmer clothes for father who I hope will not get any sicker. I haven't had contact with the rest of the family recently having been so absorbed in worrying about mother and father, I hope they are doing ok.
How are things in America? Your last letter made it sound like you are doing very well. I hope that whole being a lawyer thing works out for you. America sounds like a wonderful place. Sometimes I wish I had joined you in going. Alright well I have to get back out to the fields but I will write you again soon friend. So long.
Cousin Conor
3/5/16 Post 3
Dear Alex,
These past few weeks have been nightmarish as I have told you and naturally things have only gotten worse. Having been bed ridden the past few weeks unable to move I have begun to lose a ton of weight and I can see the muscles in my legs beginning to be eaten away by my own body. If I am ever able to leave this bed on my own I have no idea how I will be able to return to the fields to help my mother work. Father is doing the same as he was last time I wrote, but then again I have not really been able to check on him recently.
I am really worried what my next progression of my current illness will be. It is clear to me that this is not the end and I am extremely worried as to when I will be able to move again. I can see what the labor in the fields is doing to my mother's body and I know she cannot take much more of this manual labor. The landlord is asking for rent again and I know we do not have it. I'l have to sell some of our furniture to pay for this month.
Again cousin I really do ask that you find it in your heart to help me with my situation. I know we have not always gotten along but I ask that in this time of need you help us out and I will repay you double once I get back on my feet. So long for now.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
These past few weeks have been nightmarish as I have told you and naturally things have only gotten worse. Having been bed ridden the past few weeks unable to move I have begun to lose a ton of weight and I can see the muscles in my legs beginning to be eaten away by my own body. If I am ever able to leave this bed on my own I have no idea how I will be able to return to the fields to help my mother work. Father is doing the same as he was last time I wrote, but then again I have not really been able to check on him recently.
I am really worried what my next progression of my current illness will be. It is clear to me that this is not the end and I am extremely worried as to when I will be able to move again. I can see what the labor in the fields is doing to my mother's body and I know she cannot take much more of this manual labor. The landlord is asking for rent again and I know we do not have it. I'l have to sell some of our furniture to pay for this month.
Again cousin I really do ask that you find it in your heart to help me with my situation. I know we have not always gotten along but I ask that in this time of need you help us out and I will repay you double once I get back on my feet. So long for now.
Sincerely, Cousin Conor
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