Yuvraj is 47 old and runs a shop that sells sweets. He was a cheerful, happy-go-lucky man who enjoyed running his shop until he got diagnosed with cancer that was terminal. When Yuvraj read the report that confirmed he had buccal mucosa, he was completely shattered and wanted to die. He even attempted suicide.

A loving wife and a young daughter. This was Yuvraj’s world. He altogether lost interest in everything–his work and family and further plunged into depression after his diagnosis.

To watch him in that state was taking its toll on his wife and daughter. They were at a loss about what to do to make him feel better. They both had to summon up their highest courage to put up a brave facade and focus on taking care of Yuvraj. The family is not very well off but the shop earned Yuvraj enough to provide for his family and save a little money for his daughter’s future.

CanSupport got Yuvraj’s referral through its helpline. Soon after, the home care team visited Yuvraj’s house to meet him and his family and to learn about his symptoms and other issues that were of concern to the family.

On its first visit, the team learnt that Yuvraj couldn’t speak because of a tracheostomy. This was really frustrating him and the family both. The team also learnt from Yuvraj’s wife about his failed suicide attempt. Unable to express himself verbally along with physical pain, the wound in the neck region was creating a lot of distress.

The home care team immediately provided Yuvraj medication to take care of the pain. The team nurse dressed his wound and educated the wife on how to dress the wound at home with ease and how important it was to change the dressing regularly. She also shared with her a diet plan that would be nourishing as well as give Yuvraj the much-required energy and strength.

Since Yuvraj was practically bedridden by now, the nurse also gave tips to his wife on how to take care of a bedridden patient. She also inserted a catheter, much to the relief of both Yuvraj and his wife.

The team counsellor focussed on understanding what was going on in Yuvraj’s mind and the reason he attempted suicide. The counsellor also tried to understand his sleep pattern and the things that made him feel supported and better.

Listening to him actively, helping him explore his emotions, and giving him a safe environment to vent with no judgements worked miraculously. While talking and sharing, Yuvraj’s eyes were filled with tears. He felt much lighter and comforted to know that there was someone who cared about how he was feeling and what were his concerns and fears. His biggest worry was who would run his shop and from where would the regular income come in.

His spiritual concerns were also addressed by listening to his views on God and faith. The counsellor encouraged him to keep up his faith and pray for the best for himself and his family.

The team counsellor shared Yuvraj’s concerns with his wife and encouraged his wife to take care of the shop so that Yuvraj’s worries about money coming in would be taken care of and suggested that the family keep a notebook and a pen next to Yuvraj so that he could write and express his needs and requirements, and this would help lessen his distress. They even suggested that the family put a bell near him that he could ring to call for help whenever he needed it. The most important advice the counsellor gave to the family was to stay around him as much as possible so that he never felt alone. Seeing his loved ones around him would lessen his anxieties. The team also suggested that the family needn’t rush him to the hospital but consult the team on what would be the best thing to do given any difficult situation.

With regular visits by the home care team from CanSupport, Yuvraj's quality of life is maintained and his and his family’s stress levels have gone down tremendously. Yuvraj’s wife now confidently goes to the shop and runs it, while the daughter stays at home so that Yuvraj doesn’t feel lonely. The family is also living in the comfort of knowing that the home care team is just a call away at any emergency and would visit them regularly.