At just 28, Rashi* was facing an unimaginable reality. Living with advanced carcinoma of the pancreas and raising two young children, aged eight and eleven, she was carrying not only the physical burden of a serious illness but also the overwhelming fear of what would happen to her children if she were no longer there. As a young widow, the uncertainty surrounding her future had become a constant source of emotional distress.
Rashi understood the diagnosis and the seriousness of her condition. Yet, during episodes of severe pain, the physical suffering often became inseparable from her fear of death. She would find herself worrying about how much time she had left and what the future held for her children. A recently advised PET scan added another layer of anxiety. While she grasped its importance, the cost placed an additional burden on a family already struggling financially.
Her in-laws remained supportive, but the family depended largely on a small grocery shop in their village. Limited financial resources meant that every medical expense carried significance. For Rashi, however, the deepest concern was not only about meeting the immediate costs of treatment. She grew increasingly stressed about ensuring that her children would be cared for and protected if her health deteriorated further.
The CanSupport team began by addressing the paint which was the immediate source of distress. The doctor reinforced the importance of taking her prescribed analgesics regularly, explaining that consistent pain control could improve not only her physical comfort but also her ability to think clearly and cope with the emotional challenges she was facing.
Alongside symptom management, the counsellor provided Rashi with a safe and non-judgmental space to speak about her fears. Her anxiety, grief and uncertainty were acknowledged rather than dismissed. Through empathetic counselling, she was gradually encouraged to shift her attention from an overwhelming and uncertain future towards manageable concerns in the present; one day and one need at a time.
The team also recognised that much of Rashi’s anxiety stemmed from uncertainty about her children’s future. With the support of counselling, structured family discussions were initiated with her in-laws. These conversations helped the family begin planning for the children’s long-term care and guardianship, creating a greater sense of security around their future. For Rashi, knowing that her children would have a protective support system brought some reassurance during an otherwise frightening period.
Practical support was equally important. A day-care volunteer helped navigate the financial challenges surrounding the PET scan and made efforts to ensure that the investigation could be undertaken. At the same time, the day-care programme extended nutritional and basic-needs support to the family, helping ease some of the socioeconomic pressures they were facing.
Through counselling sessions, Rashi was also encouraged to draw upon her spiritual strength and make space for self-care, no matter how small. These moments helped her reconnect with a sense of inner resilience that had been overshadowed by pain and fear.
With holistic medical, emotional, social and practical support, Rashi gradually began moving from acute despair towards a more grounded sense of acceptance. Her circumstances remained difficult, but she no longer felt that she had to face them alone. Most importantly, the conversations and support around her children’s future gave her something deeply valuable. It was the sense that even amid uncertainty, steps could be taken to protect the people she loved most.
Rashi’s journey continues and it reminds us that palliative care is about much more than managing symptoms. It is about listening to the fears behind the pain, supporting families through difficult conversations, addressing practical barriers and helping people find strength when the future feels uncertain. For Rashi, compassionate care became a way of holding on to hope. It was not through promising certainty, but by helping her and her family face each day with greater comfort, dignity and courage.
Disclaimer:
The patient’s name and identifying details have been changed/withheld to protect their privacy and safeguard the dignity, confidentiality and interests of the patient and their family. The story is shared solely to highlight the importance and impact of compassionate palliative care.
