Ghanshyam was 52 and had two adolescent children. He and his wife, Savita, had always struck the perfect balance. His wife, a dreamer and an eternal optimist and Ghyamshyam, always guided by practicality and a strict adherence to facts and numbers. “We are very different people but it has always just worked for us,” said Savita. “My husband is the calm and patient one,” is how she described her husband.

Ghamshyam was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Despite knowing the prognosis that there was no chance of recovery, the family left no stone unturned in bringing Ghanshyam the best treatment. But the cancer had already advanced and spread considerably.

Fortunately, Ghamshyam’s oncologist at the hospital referred him to CanSupport for palliative care.

When the home care team from CanSupport first visited Ghanshyam, he was experiencing several symptoms, like severe pain, fatigue, as well as stress and anxiety.

Apart from pain and other symptom management, the palliative care team spent a lot of time talking to both Ghanshyam and Savita. Heart-to-heart conversation helped the family bond with the home care team.

Savita had always been her family’s rock. Whether raising two highly talented children or supporting her husband deal with cancer, she had consistently been there standing strong. Seeing her husband suffer, she needed to learn how best she could help her husband as his primary caregiver while dealing with her own inner turmoil. The team counsellor was a big help to Savita, giving her both emotional and moral support. The family always looked forward to the team’s visit.

Ghamshyam’s two younger brothers, along with their respective families, live in another city and run a joint business. On receiving word about Ghamshyam’s sickness and prognosis, both the brothers were keen to put their business on the back burner and to visit and stay with Ghanshyam to support him during his sickness and treatment.

When the palliative care team from CanSupport learnt about the brothers’ decision to visit and stay with Ghanshyam, the team counsellor advised them to instead take turns to visit. This would help them take care of both, their business and their desire to spend time with Ghanshyam. They happily embraced this suggestion and were glad at getting this highly practical and sensible advice.

Ghanshyam was very lucky to have such a caring, loving, and supportive family. It was a pleasure for the team to witness how the family was so coordinated in taking care of Ghanshyam. The medicines were kept in a very organized way and the timings of the dosages were penned down in a diary; the adherence was outstanding. Though Ghamshyam was edgy in the beginning as he was not able to digest anything, but the medicines along with care by the home care team worked wonders. He became calm and felt very comforted.

His wife regularly attended their family guru’s religious sessions to make her husband happy. Ghanshyam wanted to go peacefully, as he didn’t want his family to remember him as a coward. His last words were, “Let me go peacefully and you all live harmoniously once I’m gone. Keep all my sweet memories in your heart.”

The team counsellor remarked, “I still remember the day the team visited him last. He was gasping and his wife asked him to say RAM, RAM again and again; he repeated it with her. It was really a heartening sight. We took off from their residence and after some time received a call from his brother that he was no more.”

In times of crisis, when everyone comes together to love, respect, and organize support; all of this nourishes the spirit of the sick person and cultivates peace. This case is a classic example of this.

Love, empathy and supportive care were the basic attributes rendered to the family by the home care team. The hard work of the team nurse was exceptional. The doctor was always ready to manage symptoms. The team’s combined support showed magical results. Even after losing their loved one, the family is not shattered, they only remember and talk about his good deeds and express their love for him.

This is a story about the power of love and care!