Neetu, 26 is suffering from cancer at the base of her tongue. She is from Bihar and lives in Mamura village in Noida in a leased house. She has six children, four daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter is eight years and the youngest child (daughter) is one and a half years old and is also physically challenged from birth.

Prior to the diagnosis of the sickness, Neetu used to work as domestic help. Her husband, Raj, works as a labourer and paints people’s homes that help him provide for the family.

CanSupport got Neetu’s referral through its helpline in the month of June 2021 and the home care team visited her first on 1st July 2021, Neetu was in much distress, unable to express her fears, concerns and thoughts as she was facing speech difficulty after chemotherapy.

At the point of their initial visit, the home care team found Neetu’s children sitting next to her. The children were hoping the team would give them something to eat or financially support the family. It was heart ripping for the team to see the family’s unfortunate plight.

The children were waiting for their father to get back home, expecting that he would bring some foodstuff for them, or some money to procure food. That day was the first day of work for Raj. He had lost his preceding job because of the pandemic.

Before leaving for work, he had guided his children to look after their mother. When the team asked Neetu if she had eaten anything, she informed the team using gestures that neither she nor her children had eaten anything and that the children were hungry. Before even enrolling the patient, the home care team rushed to a neighbouring shop to buy some food, snacks and milk to feed the family. That’s how the team from CanSupport commenced their first day of palliative care for the patient and her family.

Thereafter, the team started visiting Neetu regularly to provide palliative care. The team doctor and nurse looked after Neetu’s medical and nursing care and the team counsellor regularly engaged each member of the family in a conversation to know their concerns and fears.

Soon the team learnt that the property owner of the house where Neetu and her family were living is a private contractor and undertakes painting jobs for people’s homes and buildings. The team decided to ask the landlord to give Neetu’s husband constant work so that the family could meet their basic day-to-day expenses. The team also requested the landlord to wave off the rent by informing him of their monetary situation and Neetu’s sickness and health condition. To the delight of the team and respite of Neetu and her husband, the landlord agreed to give a room to Neetu and her family for free, and further started providing Raj regular work. Now Raj has regular consistent work, and he can take Neetu for treatment and check-ups to the hospital.

The team from CanSupport also provided ration, food and warm clothes to Neetu and her family and trained the eldest of the siblings on how to take care of the mother and her other siblings while the father was away at work.

Even though Raj finally found consistent work, Neetu’s condition was worsening day by day and it was challenging for the young children to look after their mother at home. The team counsellor encouraged Raj to invite his mother, who lives in their native village, to come and stay with them to support his family and Neetu. Raj agreed with the counsellor’s suggestion and invited his mother to come down to stay with them.

Soon, Neetu’s mother-in-law joined them here in Delhi. That further helped the family. With her coming to Delhi, Neetu’s eldest daughter could resume school at the encouragement of the team counsellor.

Raj is much grateful to the team for the support and guidance he and his family are getting from the team from CanSupport. Prior to the intervention by the team, he was living a very stressful life, but with the care and support of the palliative care team, the family and their lives are moving on smoothly. When even the doctor had raised his hands and had told the family that he couldn’t do anything further or provide any further treatment, the palliative care at home really helped.

During their most painful journey, the CanSupport team became a part of the family and ensured that the family didn’t feel alone.

The home care team from CanSupport is committed to stand beside them at every step of the way. Neetu and her family are very grateful to the team for their incredible unconditional home care service.