Month: September 2025

To Live Even Through Death Patient: Vandana To leave clear instructions of how one’s death should be even whilst battling cancer, is not only being thoughtful to those left behind, but demonstrates a life fully lived. This is the story of Vandana*,who wanted her death to be as comprehensive as her life. Vandana’s husband passed away when their son and daughter were still very young. She did not marry again, she became an entrepreneur and started a tiffin service from home, all the while raising her children as a single mother in the…continue reading →

At Peace Patient: Sheila I have lived such a happy life, I want my death to resemble that, I am not scared of dying, I just want it to be peaceful. This is the story of Sheila*, a 72-year-old woman, who lived in Mumbai and had a big family that loved her and supported her till the very end. Through her interactions with her and her family, you could see the love she had for her family. Even when she felt particularly unwell, her main priority was the wellbeing of her family. She…continue reading →

Spirituality takes over, when medicine stops working! Patient: Mr. Madhukar Mr. Madhukar*, a 57-year-old man from the lower middle socioeconomic group, was employed with the Bombay Municipal Cooperation (BMC). He had two daughters and a son. Both the daughters were married and the son was single. He was a resident of the suburbs of Mumbai while his office was located near the CST station in South Mumbai. His job required a lot of travelling. In April 2021, he was diagnosed with metastatic papillary adenocarcinoma of the D4 and D5 vertebrae. Since then, he…continue reading →

A Daughter’s Plea Patient: Jyotiben “Hi, I know you are here for my mother, but is it possible for you to speak to my father? He can’t see my mother in this condition, he cries all day and doesn’t eat, and I don’t know what to do.” This was a plea from a daughter’s heart, who couldn’t bear to see her father broken and distraught at seeing his wife dying of cancer. More often than not, we as palliative care providers, are reminded of the work we are actually doing, the lives we…continue reading →