In the last two years, panic over the latest turn in the COVID-19 contagion has been spreading like a fire. Nonetheless, in today’s pandemic world, cancer holds a special place in the anxious imagination. Its advance is often clandestine, its prognosis potentially startling and its treatments damaging and life-altering. Also, expensive! But hats off to all the scientists and doctors in line. I remember one of my mum’s friends telling us, the shadow of cancer has fallen on me, I fear it will never go away—that there will always be another relapse and a return to harsh and expensive therapies that subsume our lives. I have described three stories that are closest to my heart and have a learning curve. Apparently, this COVID-19 pandemic was a blessing-in-disguise for ME.
Back in November 2020, I had been for my interview at TMC-ACTREC (Tata Memorial Centre Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer). I had to wait a bit as the doctor with whom I had an appointment was in the operation theatre. I was sitting outside his cabin. Scrolling through my phone and texting my mother: Mummy, pohochle ga (I reached). She asked if I had my lunch. I said, No! I will have it after the interview. Meanwhile, an old couple entered the corridor. They had some tests to be performed. The uncle who had cancer was sitting quietly right beside his wife. Did not speak a word. His wife: Jhala ho! Aata yeilch aapla number. (Just a few more minutes. They will call us inside soon) Just at that time, a little boy (6-8 years old) entered with his parents. He had so many IVs and Tubes on his body. I just couldn't see that. My heart was pumping hard. How he must be managing the pain? Why did this happen to him? In that pain, his mom was feeding him lunch. As it was during the pandemic, we were made to use alternate chairs to sit to maintain social distancing. He sat beside that old aunty. Very politely, she said, Beta, aap ek chair chodke baithoge please (Dear, will you please skip this chair and sit on the one beside this) Immediately, his father yelled. And, harshly made him change his seat. Here, no one is at fault. For parents also, it's difficult to digest the fact that their child is suffering from cancer. Not everyone is born to control anger and react mindfully. Though we must learn this art. All this is happening right beside me. I am just a spectator. My hands were cold. Eyes teary. My body was shivering. It was for the first time in my life I saw a kid going through physical pain. Got my interview done with Dr. Nair. Thought of taking a visit through the hospital alone. And, saw St. Jude's childcare centre. I immediately joined just to spend some time with the kids suffering from cancer. When I see them, with those stitches, no hair, no life outside the hospital, no school, less social interaction, I feel why God has done this to them. What wrong did they do? I don't know. I seriously don’t. All I wish is to find a cure and to treat. To be with these patients and make them smile, makes me happy.
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