Video: 'I wanted to come to Dubai before I die'

Dubai - What she loved about the UAE is the coexistence of so many different nationalities here.

It was a seven-day cruise to the mystical land of Arabia that brought 56-year-old terminally ill Jet to Dubai. Jet has Metastatic breast cancer (also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer) is breast cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other organs in the body (most often the bones, lungs, liver or brain). She has been told she has "very little time left".

Jet had got cancer 11 years ago but after treatment and surgery she got rid of it until 2015, when she had a fall and broke her bone. "That is when the doctors told me that it is back and this time it had spread all over my body," Jet told Khaleej Times.

Having learnt this extremely difficult truth - that she is dying - Jet's reaction was not the least dismal or sad.

"When they first told me, I wasn't afraid or didn't for a minute think about death. On the contrary, the only one thought that came to my mind was the time left with me is very precious now. And now I am going to enjoy every minute of my life with the people I love," Jet said.

Her husband of 35 years Jan, accompanying her on the trip, said: " Jet's reaction was very special. The first thing she said after the news was that ' It's okay and in two weeks we are going to Austria because I need to do is speed skating.'


Being her favourite sport, Jet and her family - a son, daughter and husband - travelled to Austria every year for speed skating. And this time, Jet did ice speed skating for 100km with a broken shoulder (due to the fall she had).

 Since the time she learnt about her illness, Jet believed in celebrating every moment - big or small - enjoying life and being together with her loved ones.
Acknowledge You Are Dying
Jet believes that acknowledging the fact that you are dying is the first step to living the rest of your life.
"It makes a big difference when you know that you are about to die and when you don't know when you will die. Now I know that my final moments are not far away and that has made me more focused on things that are important to me."
"The most important and beautiful thing that we fail to realize is that we are alive today and we are able to live today. Before the diagnosis I was busy worrying about tomorrow and the day after tomorrow and so on. And now I am able to live today and able to enjoy today to the fullest."
Unfazed in the face of adversity, Jet is now busy making memories. "I want to make good memories with my children and my husband, so that when I am not there anymore, then those memories could probably help them cope with my absence. At least they'll have good memories about the lovely things we have done together. That's what my mission is now."
Talking about what brought her to the UAE, Jet said she had two main reasons of coming to the UAE. " One reason for picking UAE was the weather because in Holland it's almost freezing and here it would be good to get some sunshine. And second reason for coming here was desert safari, dune bashing and Henna tattoo, which have been on my bucket list for quite some time and I knew that now was the time either do it or die without doing it."
Even when cancer has spread all over her body and new tumours are showing up in her scans, Jet loves and manages to travel with her husband. " It's not easy because sometimes the excruciating pain makes it difficult. But I believe our mind is very strong and can help overcome even the pain. You just have to think positive, learn to not worry for the future, breathe in today and enjoy it. That's how I manage. If I start thinking that will I get doctors or hospitals while travelling then these thoughts will never let me enjoy the cruise."
What she loved about the UAE is the coexistence of so many different nationalities here. She also was amazed at the coexistence of highrises and the perfectly preserved old part of the city, suchas Deira, creek, dhows souq and the people there. The dhows and I loved it. Different faces of Dubai.
How life changed:
I feel I actually started living after getting to know about my illness. "Life has become more exciting now as I do not let go off my days without enjoying. I enjoy big and small things. Not always its easy, at times you are in pain or less energy but I try to enjoy the day.
My message to the world is that two things every one must do always to live life to the fullest. One, enjoy life, do things that you think are important for you and the people around you, Follow your heart, and live a meaningful quality life."
- saman@khaleejtimes.com

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• Dubai