A family’s love is the best antidote to pain
When you are detected with a life-altering disease amid the ongoing pandemic, it takes great courage to come to terms with it. Adarsh Dham, 62, found out that she had High Grade Sarcoma Stage II in June. For this fiercely independent single mother who raised her two sons on a government teacher’s salary, accepting the implications of this disease wasn’t easy initially.
But instead of panicking, Adarsh decided to simply deal with destiny, as she puts it. Her first surgery was on June 24, followed by another one on July 27, which took eight hours to complete. “I went in peacefully and didn’t want to think about Covid-19. It wouldn’t have helped. The doctor had prepared me mentally for the surgery and its aftermath and there was no anxiety while going in,” she says.
Her family however, was having sleepless nights. “You know nothing about cancer till it hits you. Tests, medical opinions and running around to find the best treatment, plus the fear of the pandemic… this experience opened our eyes to those we considered close; only a few friends and relatives could come forward to help,” says her elder son, 33-year-old digital marketing professional Apar Dham.
Her daughter-in-law, Anchal Dham, quit her job when the first diagnosis came. “There was no option of hiring a nurse as we didn’t want any outsider to enter our house. My brother, Anupam, also took a sabbatical to share the workload,” says
Apar.
After the surgery, Adarsh was restricted to bed and had difficulty even sitting up. The unconditional love of her family helped tide over the challenges. “My babies look after me as if I am their child. They are around me all the time, so that I don’t overthink,” says this survivor, who rang in her birthday on September 1.
The family baked a cake at home to celebrate the day. “We want a break from this. I wish to travel once my body allows and the pandemic dies out,” says Adarsh, who used to often take cruises with her friends. With a loving family by your side, there’s no way you can let hope slip through your fingers.