The Sadhu

In 1998, I was diagnosed as being infertile. I had suffered from Hodgkin's disease (a form of cancer) at 16 years and underwent a year of intensive chemotherapy which damaged my body. The doctors told me I'd never be a mom. But here I am a mother of a beautiful 2.5-year-old daughter.

When I got married, my husband and I decided that we would get fertility treatment as we both wanted to have children. When all else fails we always turn to God and I did too. I would pray every night and ask Mother Mary to help me. It was easier for me to reach out to HER as she is a woman and I simply thought that she would be able to understand me better.

One night I cried myself to sleep. It was almost a year into the treatment and I was losing hope. I had a very vivid "dream". I was in a forest surrounded by trees and sitting at a bonfire. On my right there was a woman. I did not know who she was, but I 'felt' she was there to support me. On the opposite side sat a 'Sadhu' (The Sanskrit terms sādhu ("good man") refer to renouncers who have chosen to live a life apart from or on the edges of society in order to focus on their own spiritual practice - Wikipedia) referred to in the Indian culture. He was wearing a white 'dhoti' (traditional garment worn by men in India) and a white shawl around his neck. His beard was overgrown ad reached his chest. The front portion of his hair was tied in a bun that sat right on top. He looked at me and said - "Your first child will arrive in Oct 04 and your second child will be born in Sri Lanka ". Sri Lanka? How odd! I woke up from that dream feeling refreshed and full of hope.

My daughter Nyra was conceived on the 28th of October 04 as for my second... Only time will tell. :)