A four letter word and with a million different meanings: life is everything you make of it. It’s fighting over the TV remote with your brother; it’s a midnight drive with the windows down; it’s loving the person you love and having them love you back; it’s a change of plans at the last possible moment. It’s everything you wish for but can’t control and it’s beautiful in its own unpredictable way.

For Ommi, life was everything and everyone within the four walls of his home. It was the happiness he found in waking up his kids and kissing them good night. It was always the little things that made him the happiest.

All was going well, but like they say, the alphabet has 25 other letters than just ‘plan A.’

Ommi was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx which resulted in a surgical tracheostomy. He was 50, and he knew that tough times lay ahead. But having loved every part of his life, and being grateful for everything, Ommi decided to walk through with grace.

In March of 2020, a lockdown was imposed all over India due to COVID 19. Business became uncertain, and Ommi had to give up his job as a delivery person for LPG household cylinders. His support system consisted of his kids and his wife but with the restrictions that were imposed due to the virus and the financial constraints, Ommi could not see much of his family. His wife lived in the state of Bihar and the journey to his home meant taking an overnight train. As a result, Ommi found himself spending much of his time alone, and this isolation increased his feeling of anxiety. Complications from his tracheostomy also made it difficult for him to breathe and he often found himself worrying more each day. He was fearful that he might soon succumb to his illness.

They say, when things look dark, look for the silver lining. Ommi had promised that he’d walk with grace, and so he did. He got himself enrolled in CanSupport’s home care programme and that’s when things started getting better. There were weekly visits by the palliative care team who made Ommi their priority. They made sure that the bandage covering his tracheostomy did not lead to any infection and that his dressing was changed daily to promote respiratory hygiene. The nurse, the doctor and the counsellor regularly checked up on him, and helped him video call his family whenever possible. With his physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health taken care of, Ommi no longer felt alone or anxious.

In these tough times, the CanSupport team became his family and when words failed, his smile conveyed his gratitude for the entire team.

The battle is not over, and Ommi fights for his life every day.

His Life.

Life. Just a four letter word. But sprinkle some care, love and support into it, and it doesn’t remain a four letter word anymore.