Grandma had a beard.

She bit her tongue. Literally. Accidentally. The ulcers came. Antibiotics didn't help. Neither did Bonjela and a host of other medication.  They gave her hell so she consulted a specialist at Gleneagles. A biopsy confirmed the dreadful diagnosis.  Cancer.

"How serious is it?" asked Madam Grandma. (Not her real name.)

"Oh, this is only the initial stages. Nothing to worry about. We'll just take you through the treatment," said the good doctor.  "We can't operate on your tongue for two reasons. First, there's too many blood vessels in the tongue so it's high risk. Second, you have a heart condition and at your age, an operation is out of the question.  As far as treatment goes, I'll recommend radiotherapy. 35 sessions."

"How much will that cost?"

"In the region of $17000."

"If that's the case, can you please write me a reference letter addressed to a public hospital?  I am a retired civil servant so I'll get free treatment there."

"Public Hospital? They'll put you on a two months waiting list. You mustn't wait that long. This thing could kill you."

"You just told me that mine is only at the initial stages, that I have nothing to worry about. You mean, I can't wait two months?"

The long and short of this story is that a reference letter was finally written.  Madam Grandma went for the radiotherapy at the public hospital.  She was asked to wear a mask before the machine fired its ray into her tongue/neck region.  The affected area turned black so she had a black chin and neck.

Her grandchildren laughed at her.  "Grandma had a beard! Grandma had a beard!"

After the 30th treatment, the skin on her neck started to degenerate.  Red angry patches appeared and the prescribed cream did not help.  In desperation, she applied "Bao Fu Ling".  (China's sensational compound camphor cream)  It eased her pain.

"I will advise you not to use Bao Fu Ling," said Madam Know-It-all. (not her real name) Madam Know-It-all is a Chinese physician wannabe so she knows stuff.  She's 56.  Her mother is seeking treatment for ovarian cancer.  Her brother to whom she donated one of her kidneys, is on the kidney dialysis list. Her sister had an issue with her hip bone. With so many of her family members in trouble, she started studying Chinese medicine.

"Why? What's wrong with Bao Fu Ling?" asked Madam Grandma.

"It contains steroid," answered Madam Know-It-All.

After this sensational news died down, Madam Know-It-All, bless her soul, taught me a few basic exercises to reduce the numbness in my finger tips.  I'll share them with you, bless my soul, for what use is this knowledge if I kept it to myself?

You begin by locking all the fingers  in both hands together and holding them in a tight grip just under your chin.  Count to ten.  Release.  Grip it tight again. Extend the clasped hands forward until it's straight at the elbow.  Slowly move the clasped hands to your left.  Then move it to your right.  Back to the centre.  Slowly lift it up above your head. Release your fingers.

I tried it yesterday.  My finger tips started to throb.  It felt good.