How Palliative Care Saved a Child with Cancer - A True Story

A five-year-old child with Cancer (Brain) was in coma, had fits, and was losing weight. The multiple metastasis surgery was not successful. Every time he had fits, pain and struggled, his mother cried. Every hospital gave 10 days for him to live but they gave no answer for his pain. Mother and Father lived alone with the child, had no income, and are in isolation and distress. The grandparents are scared to be with them as they think Cancer is contagious.

The parents visited 18 centers, rarely slept for eight months, had very little food and were waiting for the death of their child. In this helpless state the couple ran to TV media (Tamil) who redirected them to a NGO called Sri Matha Trust. Sri Matha works in cancer care and were aware of palliative care, and so redirected them to RMD Palliative Care and Pain Relief Trust.

RMD Palliative care team gave pain relief, free medicines, stay in hospice for the child and counselled the family. Now the father has decided to go for work. The parents are lot more reassured that they have support now.

The distress and confusion of the parents had driven them to TV media to look for help. The above problem of the child with cancer clearly shows lack of awareness of palliative care, suffering, and no dignity of life.

Work at Chennai Wellington Trust

Dr. Republica Sridhar Speaks about Palliative Care

Free Medical Counselling by RMD Trust

Karuna Sagar of RMD Pain and Palliative Care Trust

                   

Chennai Sindhi Ladies Chapter Meeting RMD Patients

Palliative Unit at Periyapalayam Government Hospital

RMD Treatment Appreciation by One of Patients' Children

One of the children of a patient appreciates that their mother became healthy after three days of treatment in RMD Pain and Palliative Care Trust.

Palliative Care in India

Only 2% of terminally ill patients in India have access to quality palliative care. So, community participation in palliative care and volunteers creating awareness and networking is the need of the hour.

World Health Organisation defines palliative care as the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment.

Christmas Celebrations at RMD Trust

Various Services of RMD Trust

Palliative Care - Certificate and Diploma Courses

Palliative care (from Latin palliare, to cloak) is an area of healthcare that focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Unlike hospice care, palliative medicine is appropriate for patients in all disease stages, including those undergoing treatment for curable illnesses and those living with chronic diseases, as well as patients who are nearing the end of life.

A Visit to RMD Trust in T.Nagar, Chennai

Yesterday, I ( Anitha.S, Blogger) walked into the RMD palliative care centre to chat with the patients. There are 12 beds in the home. And the staff were busy executing their early morning duties. 

The patients have varied diseases and also mindsets. There were quite a few patients recovering from cancer. One such patient was a carnatic singer who sang in sabhas along with her daughter and grand daughter. She was very happy to sing a "Keerthanai" for me. All her children were busy with their professions and so they have admitted their sick mother at RMD palliative care.

There were few people with fractures and one inmate had lived in London. But the challenge for the staff is to adjust with old patients who may be very demanding. Some inmates want to join their families at the earliest. 

"Be Good, and Do Good" was the philosophy of one of the patients. So, it was a happy day and meeting patients with varied mindsets was an eyeopener. Good luck to Dr. Republica Sridhar and her staff in continuing their service for the old and other patients who are in pain.

To know more about RMD pain and palliative care centre, click here.