Here I am on the roller coaster that is life. I have just given birth to my second child not 4 weeks ago and was living off the high of that very experience when lo and behold the roller coaster takes a turn for the worst. It was one of those scary moments where you just want to close your eyes and wish the ride was over.

My husband's father had been notified a few months ago that, through his blood tests taken at a regular checkup, his red and white blood cell count was low. As a result, he was required to undergo further testing to determine the cause. Feeling fit as fiddle, my 71-year-old father-in-law complained of no other ailment than perhaps a bit of lethargy. A couple of weeks ago, they tested his bone marrow but unsuccessfully. So they tested him again. He was still awaiting the results when last Sunday he suddenly motioned over to my husband while they were working in his garden. He grabbed his chest and leaned up against the shed. My husband arrived in time to catch him as he blacked out and fainted. The paramedics were called and when they arrived, the only abnormality they found was low blood sugar. At the hospital, they prepared him for the possibility of a blood transfusion. A few days later, he received the results from the bone marrow test and found out he has myelodysplasia syndrome, previously known as preleukemia. The specialist approved the transfusion, after which my father-in-law was able to return home.

He is feeling much better now but still has to wait another couple of weeks to see another specialist to determine the severity of his case and the course of treatment. It has been very hard to see him and his family go through this difficult time. Both my husband and mother-in-law have shed many a tear, fearing the worst. I've tried to be strong for them but it's hard when you cannot find words encouraging enough to rid them of their fears. I still have hope, though, that my father-in-law is strong enough to face what the future holds.

In the meantime, I will hold on tight and continue on this roller coaster ride, patiently awaiting the next summit.