This International Women’s Day, we are all looking up to people who #choosetochallenge the status quo and are striving to create a gender-balanced world. While we’re at it, I’d like all of us to give a new meaning to the word #choosetochallenge itself and fearlessly rise to the challenges that life throws at us.
I would like to share with you all, my story of despair, grit, and hopefulness – on how I survived a deadly illness.
Cancer. A devastating disease that is known to cause mayhem in one’s life. Thousands? No…. millions of lives have succumbed to this so-called ‘vitamin deficiency.’ And this particular ‘Grim Reaper’ did exactly what it wanted. It took away the lives of many of my loved ones – my aunts, a few of my friends, and even my mother at the tender age of 16. After it was done with many women of our family, it finally came to me, to do what it did with the others; to destroy and devour me from the inside!
It started all in December 2018 where I visited the hospital for my annual routine check-up. Since cancer became an uninvited guest and never left our family, it was a mandatory task for me to get my regular check-ups done on time. This day, however, was different. The weather was chilly, and I was edgy. Little did I know that the lump detected in my breast was malignant. Cancer did make its way into my very being, initiating its short-term, but long-run stay. I had to meet an oncologist, and then a specialty surgeon for my treatment. After a successful operation, I was relieved (relieved that insurance covered it, of course).
Relieved that I was finally going to be able to get back to work, do all my tasks with ease, or so I thought. However, things just got tough inside out. Chemotherapy and radiation drained me of the little energy I had. And then, there was this fear of losing out on my only source of income!! I thought I was done.
But I knew better than to give up. My managers and colleagues kept me going. They helped me with my work – making sure the deliverables had zero impact, let me take leaves whenever I needed to, and also let me work from home through the entire treatment. At home, I got the little extra help I needed. I did what my doctors told me to do and worked when I could. All the while fighting one of the most revolting diseases out there. I loathed it, and the feeling became mutual in some time – for the disease had now started to leave my bodily abode. It faded slowly and vanished for good.
But alas, I missed my daughter’s valedictory when she got the ‘Best Out Going Student’ award. I missed quite a lot when fighting head-on with cancer, but I guess the gratitude that comes with getting your life back transforms you. And in the nick of time, I was finally back onto my feet, just like any other working woman.
I am a survivor, and I am proud to call myself a woman due to the very fact that I am a fighter. If you’d ask what made me fight the worst days of my life? It’s simple and plain as day. My mind.
I thought about stuff that made me feel joyful and tried to keep myself occupied by doing the things that made me happy. So, my biggest takeaway from this deadly disease? If you can think of it, you can do it!
I am a proud survivor who knows and believes in the power of a simple idea like #choosetochallenge. How about you? What are you #choosingtochallenge this Women’s Day?
This article was authored by Shashi Mahendarkar
