A cancer diagnosis can turn a family’s world upside down. Along with the emotional and physical challenges of battling the disease, many patients struggle with the overwhelming cost of treatment. For economically disadvantaged families, the burden of arranging funds for chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery can often become an obstacle to receiving timely medical care.
To help address this challenge, the Seth Bhojraj Hassomal Charitable Trust (SBHCT) has partnered with the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), one of India’s oldest and most respected charitable organizations dedicated to supporting cancer patients. Since its establishment in 1969, CPAA has worked tirelessly to provide financial assistance, promote cancer awareness, encourage early detection, and offer holistic support to patients and their families throughout their treatment journey.
Built on a shared commitment to ensuring that no patient is denied treatment because of financial hardship, the SBHCT–CPAA partnership provides assistance towards the cost of chemotherapy medicines, radiation therapy, and surgery for deserving patients. The initiative also supports patient engagement activities that help create a more positive and compassionate treatment environment.
Over the years, this collaboration has become a source of hope for countless families facing one of life’s toughest battles. Today, nearly 300 cancer patients receive treatment support every year through this initiative, enabling them to continue their fight against cancer with courage and dignity.
More than just a healthcare program, this partnership represents a shared belief that every individual deserves the opportunity to receive quality treatment and the chance to look forward to a healthier, brighter future.
Gauri Shinde is a 17-year-old girl who stays at Thane with her mother and her elder brother. Her mother works with a builder. Her father has recently expired. Gauri was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia two years back. She was taking treatment at Sion hospital where she underwent six cycles of chemotherapy along with 30 sittings of radio therapy. Her six courses of oral maintenance therapy also have been completed. As of now Gauri is leading a normal life and visiting the hospital only for her regular follow-ups once a month. She has completed her 10th class and secured 70%. She is now doing a beautician course and wants to open a Beauty Parlour after some years. She is very much thankful to CPAA & SBHCT for their support.
Mohit Gupta is an 11-year-old boy who stays at Goregaon with his parents and grandparents and two elder siblings. His father works in a small firm. Mohit was diagnosed three years back with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and was treated at Sion hospital. He is now on oral maintenance therapy and is on Tab Veenat. His parents are ever so grateful to CPAA and SBHCT for the help and support given to their son at the hour of need which gave him a new lease of life.
This is a real-life incident involving Anita who when she was 3 years old often used to fall in spite of being a healthy child. The parents got worried and subjected her to a detailed medical examination through local Doctors. They noticed that her right eye ball had turned white. More investigation and reports showed that she was suffering from Retinoblastoma- a type of eye cancer. Doctors then referred her to Mumbai for more care and treatment. In Bombay Hospital it was discovered that her right eye had got more infected and she needed to be operated. It was also revealed that her left eye had only 40 % vision. Anita was given radiation and prescribed expensive drugs. But due to paucity of money she was unable to buy such expensive drugs. Sadly, she was ignored by the Society as well. Though she felt bad initially, she got used to this and faced reality – spurned by the humans and ignored. But she had the will to live and courage to take on adversities.
In the year1991 she got married to Mr.Gupta. He was a very fine human being who accepted her with all her disability. After a year of conjugal bliss, she became a proud mother of a baby boy and after six years she gave birth to a baby girl and named her Akansha. This was a complete and happy family by the kindness of God Almighty.
Unfortunately, in the seventh year of Akansha, Anita found something different in her right eye. Akansha was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital where the case was investigated thoroughly. To Anita’s horror she learnt that Akansha was also suffering from the same ailment that she was afflicted with. She was then referred to Tata Hospital and she underwent 12 cycles of chemotherapy and radiation. In the year 2000 Akansha was operated but the implant was infected leading to two more operations. She had to undergo reconstruction of the eye socket.
Anita as an indefatigable mother wanted to give the best to Akansha so that she becomes independent and not dependent on any one. She admitted her in the Bombay Cambridge School.
While in School the teachers noticed that she was suffering from a medical problem of hearing. She was immediately shown to an ENT specialist who diagnosed this disability is due to ill effects of Radiation. The mother in Anita never wanted to give up and she wanted to give her daughter the best of the medical support available.
Anita is currently employed with the Tata Memorial Hospital with Cankids as a Parent support Group Coordinator. She is also a social worker attached to Tata, Sion and Wadia Hospitals. She not only works hard to support her family monetarily but also face challenges that come her way. She has developed the courage and fortitude and goes on with her work with a missionary zeal and commitment.
Akansha has completed her SSC examinations and joined SNDT University to pursue her studies in Home Science and wants to become a Dietician. A big salute to Anita and Akansha. Three cheers to such brave mothers and we need to doff our Hats to them.
Seth Bhojraj Hassomal charitable Trust through Cancer Patients Aid Association have been supporting Akansha for her Chemotherapy expenses.
It all started when Rohit was six months old- with high fever and some green patches on his hand. He also had a big stomach. When they took him to the doctor for an examination, it was reported that he was having JSML (Kidney Cancer).
After this, they took him to Wadia Hospital and put him on medication. This treatment continued for a period of three and half years. After this the Doctors advised them to get his Appendix (2 kg) removed.
After few years they came to know that Rohit was having a small kidney. They started the medication immediately thereafter. In the year 2009, they completed the recommended course of treatment. Thereafter they went every four months for regular check-ups. He was around 10 years then when he developed high fever and they admitted him into the ICCU and was put on ventilator for 5 to 6 days. He was discharged after 10 days.
When he was around 15 years, he developed similar symptoms and examinations revealed that he is having infection in urine. They admitted him in Wadia and Doctors reported that his infection in the kidney is due to his small kidney. He was advised that the affected kidney be removed as otherwise this could affect the other functioning one too. They decided to go for this and his affected kidney was removed on 15th July’15. He has now become normal and is alright with one functioning kidney.
Meanwhile he lost his father due to heart attack and this was a big blow to his mother. His elder brother is the sole bread winner of the house and is working as a badminton coach and takes good care of his mother and brother. Rohit is also very fine now and after completing his college studies he did a course on photography and is now working as a professional photographer. He goes out for video shooting for various programmes and weddings. He is a professional photographer for CPAA also and shoots all our programmes.
All this while Seth Bhojraj Hassomal Charitable Trust through Cancer Patients Aid Association have supported him with medicines and other treatment expenses.
While our sympathies lie with Rohit and trauma he has undergone, our heart goes out to the brave mother who has borne with fortitude and courage and ensured that her ward gets another fresh lease of life!!! Our salutations to such Mothers.
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