I am Shalini, working for The Max Foundation from my home office at Madurai, India. Through my work, I come across a lot of incidents that make me feel satisfied and fulfilled in our work. Allow me to share one such incident.
It was windy evening and I was with a friend going to a nearby vegetable market on a local bus. My friend asked, “What kind of service do you do at The Max Foundation?” So I started sharing in a very loud voice as I rarely get a chance to express my happiness for the work we do!
Suddenly, I noticed a man sitting just opposite to me staring at me. I thought he was annoyed at my loud voice. so I reduced my volume and kept on talking with my friend. While explaining, my eyes went towards the man. Again I noticed he was keenly listening to our conversation.
Finally the stop came! I got down with my friend and took 10 steps.
I heard a voice behind me calling “Madam, madam!” When I turned back I saw the same man calling me. My mind started thinking many things like “Did I miss my purse or mobile on the bus?” He moved towards me. I addressed him, ‘Anna’ means Brother in Tamil. He said “Dear madam! I just got down to thank you for the service you do. I was listening to the conversation and I know The Max Foundation very well. My friend gets medicine with your help.”
He shared his own story of The Max Foundation’s work:
It was 8 years ago, when this stranger was working with Tamilnadu Electricity Board and befriended a work colleague in Madurai.
One day his friend came with a sad news that he had chronic myeloid leukemia.
His friend lost all hope and was very depressed. But after consulting with a physician at Adayar Cancer Center, Chennai, and with the help of The Max Foundation, he was able to access his life-saving treatment. Now, this patient is still in our program and works with his physician to adhere to his medication. It was great to hear that the patient is doing well and is regular in his checkups.
I must say, after the conversation with this stranger, I had goosebumps. I was feeling very proud to be a member of the Max team!
I must mention my special gratitude towards the patient’s friend for getting down from the bus just to thanks us. His story made my day – a day to remember and cherish all my life.
Shalini Subramanian is a Local Program Coordinator in India.
Understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the globe underpins the 2022-24 World Cancer Day theme to Close the Care Gap. The needs are urgent, and the opportunity exists to make progress toward equitable cancer care for all. We must listen to the perspectives of people living with cancer and let those lived….
One of the things I observed at Maputo Central Hospital was the level of comfort and trust between the physician and the patient. It is remarkable because until today the doctors had no effective treatment to give. And yet the patients came back, time after time, for regular check-ups, never losing hope.
Being a patient or I better call myself and others as a Spartan, someone who is fighting for something each and every day.” –Thilip Kumar Ragavan
We first met Thilip Kumar Ragavan in May 2014. He was a young chronic myeloid leukemia Spartan in the patient workshop at Hospital Ampang and was newly diagnosed with CML at that time, but the smile never left his face. Bright, vibrant, energetic, and positive – that’s Thilip.
