The people · 4 min read

My army that stood behind

The diagnosis was definitely devastating to start with - I was told I had 12-18 months to live. I'd gotten married less than a year ago, had gotten to a point in my career where all the years of working incredibly hard had finally started to pay off. I was absolutely unwilling to accept that fate - I was just 30, and I had so much more to do and see in life. I decided that I wouldn't let the statistics dictate my expiry date and would just focus on everything I could to live well every day. Of course there were times I would break down, and I allowed myself those moments of vulnerability, but with the unwavering support of my family & friends, I was able to pick myself right back up. In fact we all took turns having our rough days - whether it was my husband, parents or other family members - we had to process it in our own ways, but we gave each other strength in those overwhelming moments. I recall, right from the beginning, from the surgery day onwards, all through 6 weeks of radiation, I was kept busy by all my loved ones showing up for me. Whether it was board games or card game nights or video calls with friends & family. In fact, after I completed my radiation treatment, my closest school friends came down to spend a few days with me, filled with laughter and silliness.

Our lives underwent a complete overhaul. We were travelling across cities for different treatments but we were lucky to have a home almost everywhere we went. With my in laws in Bombay, my parents in Delhi, our friends in Bangalore, we were incredibly lucky to be comforted every step of the way. When we had to go to London to access my Optune treatment, and we had no idea how long it would take for me to get set up, my cousin sister and her family opened up their home to us and welcomed us with such warmth that I just started to feel things would work out.

After about 6 months of feeling a little all over the place, my husband and I decided we needed to make Bangalore our base again, so we could have some semblance of stability in our lives. While I'd been working remotely ever since 3 months of surgery, I started going to the office. I was incredibly lucky with just how flexible my work place had been. My boss and mentor had stood behind me since the day I'd been diagnosed and let me back at work with the only condition that I'd respect my own boundaries and not take undue stress.

We knew the multitude of treatments would continue, but just being back at home, in our own warm space, we felt incredibly reassured. In between chemo cycles and all the travel, we spent time with our friends, went for plays and music performances, explored new restaurants once in a while - basically doing everything that made us feel more like ourselves. My mother was a rock for me throughout, stretching herself and travelling with me for treatments and tagging my husband out to ensure he got some space for himself as well. My dad took days off from work, just to be around me. Gradually, we found our rhythm again. My husband was my calming centre, he kept things light even on the most draining and intense days. I realised only then just how lucky I was to have someone around who held the energy that I wanted to hold in my future and not have those who held fear and stress.