(Picture in display is representation of CanSupport Home care Services)
Story by Mausumi Bhansali
Durga Rani, a 66 year-old lady had advanced cancer of the brain. When she was referred to the CanSupport team, she was in the terminal stage. The hospital had asked the family to take the patient at home as no curative treatment was working on her. The CanSupport team knew Durga Rani’s family as they had cared for her daughter some years earlier, and she had also died due to cancer.
With an aged husband and a son who suffered from epilepsy, the family was in a desperate state. Moreover, the lockdown during the pandemic had affected their work and they had suffered financial losses.
When the team visited Rani’s house, she was wailing and crying and her husband was unable to manage her condition. He couldn’t take her to any hospital because very few OPDs were operating during the lockdown. The CanSupport team doctor reviewed her records, evaluated her symptoms, finding Rani in almost a semiconscious state. The team gave her husband medicines to ease the pain and manage her symptoms.
On the next visit, the team spent some time talking to her husband, trying to find out how much he knew about her serious condition. This is an important task performed by the counsellor to ensure that both the caregiver and patient are aware of the prognosis of the disease. They also trained the son on how to deal with Rani’s bedsores.
After this discussion, the counsellor was able to gently and candidly break the bad news in order to help the family and the patient accept the reality of her condition. This discussion with the family helped the team to understand that the family were worried not only about Rani’s health but also how they would deal with the cremation and rituals in case she did not survive.
After assuring the family of the team’s availability they also provided them with the phone numbers of a free hearse service.
The team were able to make a few emergency visits to check on Rani’s condition and provide emotional support to the family. On 15 April, Rani died peacefully and the family was able to perform all the cremation rituals with ease with the help of the team. The father and son both thanked the team for the support.
They are many people like Durga who need palliative care but they don’t know where to go. While CanSupport is doing its best the reach out to people informing them about their services, we request you to spread the word. Share our Helpline Number 011-41010539 with to all the needy people. Though all CanSupport services are free of charge for patients, the cost of reaching out to patients and caring for them cost Rs. 1400/- per visit per patient.
If you would like to support our cause, please donate at https://cansupport.org/donate
Patient names have been changed to protect their identity.