By Hema Shyam | Fund Raiser
It is almost three months since this project got underway and generous donors have contributed over US$2500/- towards this cause.
At Karunashraya, in the last three months we have admitted 375 patients, all of whom were in the last stages of cancer. The same period saw 179 deaths and a few patients discharged when they were feeling better. These patients come back later when the disease progresses further. The patients and their families are happy to see the patient get a clean bed, food and medicines in time and all this without a financial burden. It is not only these things that comfort the patient. He is under so much of stress along with his immediate family members. The counselors we have at the Hospice do a tremendous job releiving them of this stress. Many times we find them not accepting the situation and hoping to find a cure. It is a tough job convincing them and getting them to come out of the denial stage and then the acceptance.
Joseph's was one such case. He was just 22 years old, had obtained his Masters in Business Administration and about to start working.His father was a daily wage earner just managing to support his family's basic requirements. Joseph used to load sugarcane bundles onto lorries in the night for which he used to be paid Rs.3000/- per month i.e say 60 to 70 US dollars. He was elated when he finished as he could now earn well and look after his parents who had toiled so hard all these years. Then the dreaded disease struck and Joseph was diagnosed with lung cancer which was already in the last stage. They spent around Rs.3 lakhs(US$6000) on treatment taking loans from various sources. Both patient and family were in denial until the counselor did a few sessions with them.After the acceptance, the mother was always in tears so much so the father did not have any family member he could talk and share his sorrows with. He never spoke about his thoughts and no one saw him crying at any time. The counselor took him aside and when she asked him why he was holding all his feelings inside, he said he had no one to talk to. After a few minutes with the counselor, he broke down and cried his heart out. Joseph was their only son and their only hope for their twilight years. In less than a fortnight Joseph passed away but his father keeps in touch with the counselor and she is able to comfort him and his wife whenever they feel the need and call her.
We sincerely appreciate the thought behind the donations all of you have made which helps us look after these suffering patients giving them much needed solace in their last days.
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