Jung Bahadur was a very active person. He was not the kind to sit still and was the happiest when he was busy.

CanSupport’s palliative care team enrolled Jung Bahadur as a home care case in February 2020. He called CanSupport’s helpline after learning about their home care service to cancer patients from a relative of his.

On their visit to Jung Bahadur’s house in February 2020, the palliative care team learnt that he was diagnosed with sarcoma and had just gone through an operation where his left leg had to be cut off. He was in a lot of pain.

The team doctor immediately began to focus on his physical symptoms and put him on a pain-relieving drug to relieve him of the physical pain. Nursing issues like dressing and all were taken care of by the team nurse.

Soon after the team’s first visit to Jung Bahadur’s house, the country was gripped by the pandemic, and a nationwide lockdown was placed. This made the situation even bleaker for Jung Bahadur since the OPDs in hospitals were shut and he couldn’t visit the hospital for a change of dressing. The entire country was gripped by the fear of contracting the coronavirus infection.

Jung Bahadur’s medical issues were multiplying. He is from a middle-class family and not financially stable. To afford a private hospital was out of question.

In the midst of the pandemic and lockdown, the home care team from CanSupport regularly visited Jung Bahadur to take care of his physical, nursing and emotional needs.

With time, his wound started to dry up. During one of his counselling sessions with the team counsellor, he shared that he was stressed about how he would get an artificial limb/leg so that he wouldn’t have to walk around with a crutch and be able to live normally for the rest of his life. He was genuinely concerned about his life and if he would be able to walk independently again. The team counsellor assured him that CanSupport would help him with an artificial limb. Soon the team took the measurements and supported him by arranging for an artificial limb/leg.

Jung Bahadur broke down on getting his freedom to walk again on his own with no one’s help or aid. He saw a glimmer of hope about his future. He has two children of marriageable age and he has to be up and about to look after his family and children. Gaining back his ability to walk restored his self-esteem and had a positive effect on his quality of life.

Jung Bahadur lives in a rented house and was disturbed about his financial situation as well. He asked the team about government schemes for handicapped people and if he was qualified for any disability allowance.

The team from CanSupport shared information on all government schemes for people with disabilities and also helped Jung Bahadur to get his disability certificate from Safdarjung Hospital.

“It all comes down to communication,” says the team doctor. We sit with the patient, talk to them constantly, and use those conversations to inform our next steps. It’s the only way to truly help the patient improve.”

Soon after obtaining his disability certificate, Jung Bahadur met his local MLA and three months on his disability pension started. In the meantime, the team also supported him with ration supply during his financially difficult chapter.

Jung Bahadur is now pain free and active and is deeply grateful to CanSupport and the home care team for regularly keeping a check on him and supporting him.

“Right from their first visit, the team from CanSupport took great care to find out what my expectations were in terms of activity and quality of life…,” shared Jung Bahadur.

He also said that he would have died if the team had not helped him with everything that they did. He is especially grateful for getting all the help right in his home and the fact that the team was always available to meet him, talk to him and support him.

Palliative care sees the person beyond their cancer treatment, and treats the patient as well as the disease. We are happy to see Jung Bahadur walk again and take control of his life and wish him the best for his future.