Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) It has been a year since Shalu left school, and all that the 13-year-old cancer patient can think about these days is going back and joining her friends.

“I am hopeful of getting well soon,” says Shalu, who has been admitted at the Delhi State Cancer Institute for the last six months.

Unlike most people at the hospital, including the staff and families of patients, Shalu never stops smiling even under the unending array of pills, syrups and injections.

This New Year’s day bought some more joy to Shalu and her fellow patients when a small celebration was organised at the hospital.

Another cancer patient Babli, in her 30s, has found new inspiration here.

Hailing from Bihar and abandoned by her family after she was diagnosed with cancer, Babli says: “This celebration is giving me a new strength to live with happiness as long as I live. I want to get better as soon as possible so that I can meet my children.”

Life has been an emotional roller-coaster ride for Rafiq-Ul-Ansari, a native of Assam, whose younger sister Dilruba Begum has been diagnosed with brain tumour.

“My sister has brain tumour. We have not gone home for the last eight months, but I hope the coming year would bring in happiness and good health for her,” said Ansari, whose sister could not attend the celebration due to her critical condition.

Bringing a streak of happiness into the patients’ lives, the celebration was organised by NGO Delhites’ National Initiative in Palliative Care (DNipCare), which also distributed blankets to the patients and their families.

“The event will be used as an occasion to create awareness on palliation for all volunteers and well-wishers and also to begin the year by providing some solace to the lives of the patients,” DNipCare’s general secretary K.V. Hamza said.