Jannette A Stewart

Jannette A Stewart smiles from her hospital bed

Jannette Stewart is an Aboriginal woman of the Yuin Clan from Wallaga Lake. She is a descendant of King Goodbar Merriman & So Many Great Nellie. Her totem is the Umbara or Black Duck. Jannette was born in Petersham and now lives in Carlingford, Sydney.

Jannette’s cancer journey started with ovarian cancer in 1999. She has since been treated for cancer in her thyroid, arm, ribs, spine and brain. Throughout her cancer journey, Jannette has written poetry about her treatment and experiences that she has generously shared with us.

Below are some of her poems.

Do Not Weep

Do not weep for me
For I am where I want to be
My journey has been a major goal
Now I am where all Mysteries unfold

I could have not made it this far
Without the support and love from
Beaming Stars

Family and Friends have been by my side
My life has been a ball
Now I say to GoodNight to all

What Does The Future Hold

When you to reach the middle years of your life and your thoughts they start to roam
Of long ago of what you did and the future what does it hold

Not realizing what you are saying
What hurt you express but don’t know
What the next person is thinking
You assume their thoughts are bold

When you try to live someone else’s life
to tell them of your thoughts and doings
To rectify yourself through someone else’s eyes and waysknowing that you’re growing old
Not wanting to be pushed aside
Discarded like an old toad

Your thoughts are again in front of you
What does the Future Hold

We Rise

Today we rise to another day
Leaving our pain from our previous days
A new lease of life to set the tone
Leaving behind the daily groans
Embrace the joys that lie ahead
You are still here far from dead
Pick yourself up from the doom and gloom
Look out the window
What a beautiful room
Gods mysterious world
Filled with love
Still in bloom

A New Day

A new day a new morn
Waking up we have a lot to be thankful for
If you have worries put them on hold and Don’t think about a thing
As This is the season
This is Spring
The flowers of love in your garden
A carpet in bloom
Not only in your garden
Life also blooms
Embrace your day whatever comes along
Remembering this season won’t last long
The drifting in and out of our four seasons that come our way
Hoping some will not reflect our day
If our seasons are raining miserable or cold
Remember Our God is with us
As our day unfolds

Down Time

We all seem to take a little
Down Time
Every now and then
You feel you are not coping
Cause your day is non event
Your mind is fully focused
On senseless thoughts of the day
Then you snap back into reality
Knowing its only a game

Oh. Brother Yes. Cancer

You mention the word Cancer
I’m buried yes dead
These are the thoughts that go round in their head

For me it’s a Journey all blissful it seems
When I’m off having Chemo
I’m off in a Dream

The five year Remission is a thing of the past
You have it again their heads go off in a blast
Why me you say how can that be
I say why not me I’m as happy as can be
Put your faith and praise the Lord
He helped me once He helped before
So don’t give up work with you plight
Remember that Cancer is a word
Not a burial night

Brain Tumor

Its taken fifteen years to travel from the Belly to the Brain
Yes it was a slow process with different rules taking place in the game

Radiotherapy is my option
As I think it through
With new procedures there in place
I’d like to try it too

If the main local area zap
Doesn’t seem to work
Then look out head
The whole brain will be done
Now won’t that be fun

Whatever happens its worth a try
To help prolong my life
So bring it on and help me in my plight
Then maybe not an early goodnight

My Legs

My legs are not performing as they should
I get disappointed as one would
Keep on trying is my cry
It will happen in good time
Brace yourself for the long haul ahead
Every day is different
Can be slow
Never give up. Never say no
I’ll keep doing as I’m told
I know I’ll get there as my time unfolds

A Little Big Step

Today I took a little step to see if I could do
It didn’t seem as if I thought
But in actual fact I moved
My eyes welled up with joy and pride
To take this step My first stride
This has kept me so inspired
Too!! Try Try Try

Another Journey

Another journey I will take
This will be the one to seal my fate
Every course has been Blest
Only pits stops to take a rest

The Challenge that I will face
Will be tested from my Faith
Believe That You Can
There are always Helping Hands

Don’t hold back
Always ask
Then you will complete your
Journey Task

Strength

Strength down my spine
Now are the words I pine
To keep me upright
Is a challenge of delight

My steps in life may have altered
But I for one have tried not to falter
From what might lie ahead for me
Keeping positive I can see
Small steps taken will be sheer glee

To Accept

I have learned to Accept Change
Change has learned to Accept Me
Now what lies before me
I will do my best
I know from past years
I have succeeded in my tests

I accept what is in my plan
Everyday I have learned to understand
Keep one self on the right path
Then you will accept any aftermath

I Inspire ME

To inspire me I write nonsensical
Words to oneself
They may mean not anything to anyone else

I jot down and express what might come my way and how I will address
My time in day

What will lie ahead of me
To strive to do my best
Keeps My mind to focus and to stay at rest

Another Journey

Another journey I will take
This will be the one to seal my fate
Every course has been Blest
Only pits stops to take a rest

The Challenge that I will face
Will be tested from my Faith
Believe That You Can
There are always Helping Hands

Don’t hold back
Always ask
Then you will complete your
Journey Task

Specialist

The Specialist can predict when my time will come
The One who really knows my
Expiry date is the One from up above
To speculate not really knowing for sure
It is comforting to have them at hand
Appointments or phone calls whatever your choice

It is soothing to hear their voice
All is good as they keep me informed
What the next stage is
None after stage four
Be prepared you might not wake up
I might not be there
My spirit has flown the coup
I know to where

Reflections

Reflections on your face I see
Smiling and beaming across at me
A frown will take away my smile
My eyes well up no I won’t cry

We mirror one and others mood
We hope that all is good
The joy that’s given with one look
Makes me think of a rippling brook
Never ending running carefree
Your Reflection only reminds me
There is more to life than I can see

Life

Life can be long or short
It’s what’s in between that counts the most
We ponder over what use to be
Going forward now sets us free

Live in the moment day by day
Never being scared or afraid
You have the power within
To rid yourself of mindless things
When your time is near you’ll heed the call
Where we will be together with our heavenly family one and all

We Pray

We pray to Our Lord when in need
Knowing He is listening makes me feel
Uplifted knowing He cares

I ask Him to help those both here and abroad
The helpless, displaced the tormented in soul
Hoping they can be helped in any way
Keeping their belief so they won’t stray

It’s hard to maintain what you have been taught
So trust in the Lord you won’t feel distraught
He is listening
He does care
Look up to the sky
You will feel Him there

Our Lord

Our Lord is in our corner in each and every way
Place your hands together and start your day to pray
For things that are meaningful
That comes straight from your heart
Something that is special
You want to share With Our Maker
For peace with one another
A mention for the sick
I know He is listening
You may think His response may not be quick
At times you may question
How long will this take
Remember you are not the only one
With problems still at stake
Keep beaming your prayers upstairs
Our Lord hears all of our requests
Trust in the Lord and remember to keep your faith
As we are all Blessed
However long it takes

The Challenge

It’s only a little challenge
To put us to the test
To find out what we’re made of
To make us do our best

Sometimes it’s hard to fathom
Why the challenge exists
It’s what God has put before us
Oh yes I’m on the list

I listen and look for answers
They are always there to hear and see
Don’t close your eyes for a second
For the signs you will miss them
But to me they seem so clear

Everywhere I travel
The places and people I meet
Sometimes they look familiar so comforting to me

And when the signs are before me
I rise above the rest
For God and his Disciples
Keep me safe and blessed

Hope

Hope is a word that is bandied around some days
Hoping that some good may eventually come your way

I hope your feeling better or hope your getting through
Whatever is a disturbance that seems to worry you

I try not to ponder on such trivial things
That will cloud your mind
That will put you in a spin

Hope is a word
That we all can relate to
God has put us on this earth
Who is there to always help you

Down Time

A New Day

Joy

The joy that is brought into my day
Expressions displayed in many ways
To embrace this feeling is hard to express
As the labour of love is never at rest

The doings that unfold on request
Makes me feel to interact and to do my best

To say Thank You rolls off my tongue
Never seems enough as the work is done
Oh what Joy You bring into my life
Whether it is day or night
I thank you