My birth and life are nothing short of a miracle. My birth story doesn’t just echo the drama of a Bollywood movie; it also means my life journey would be marked with battlefields and victories.
My mother went into labour in a quiet, sleepy tea garden village called Binnaguri, in a rustic, quintessential Nepali house with a lychee tree, which still stands tall today. It welcomes us in the front yard as the history keeper of our family for generations gone and generations to come.
My mother had complications while trying to deliver me at this ancestral home under the care of a traditional birthing expert in the village. My youngest aunt narrates the story of my birth with angst and agony, recounting how all my dad could think of at that moment was getting my mother to a safe hospital. An army hospital, the only well-equipped in that area became our last resort.
We all have our unique stories of our ‘birth,’ our grand entry into the world, and mine is always a reminder that if my birth entry was so dramatic, if not grand, then surely I was destined to live a life of grandeur vision—not in terms of materialism, but in terms of lived experiences that would make me into who I am today—a resilient woman who never gives up!
Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
God knits us into our mother’s womb. Mothers conceive and carry us through the nine months, but it indeed takes a village and a community to raise a child.
In my life, especially now in this journey battling cancer and embracing the lessons that come with it, I cannot thank people enough for choosing kindness above all to stand by me when turning a blind eye to my agony and need is the easiest thing to do.
Battling cancer, I have experienced community compassion and carried the love of community care in my heart in the most surreal ways. This has further cemented my belief that miracles happen when kindness overflows. I have seen it manifest in my life in ways I cannot fathom.
I have so many of you to thank for your hearts of generosity—not merely for the finances many of you sent for my ongoing treatment but for the sheer spirit of how my life is saved and the difference you have made because of that one act of kindness and love.
Often, as children, we fancy a superhero who saves the world, and we want to emulate that superhero in real life too. The community of friends who have so relentlessly loved me and stood by me in this wilderness season are my ‘Superheroes’ today! They don’t wear capes but have hearts of gold. Because of them, because of you, today I can dream of the valley close by, believing that once I have finished climbing this mountain of cancer, I will be victorious!
It is worth mentioning here that for those of us going through an illness a crisis, it is not easy to ask for help. Life has hit me with cruel curveballs, so I had to put my pride aside and ask in humility and authenticity about what I needed.
The tenacity to keep fighting the good fight in making a difference isn’t simply to win accolades but to be human. Pursuing compassion in caring for those in need beyond our own is humanity. This is a miracle that ties humankind together. I do not know what else to call this spirit of community compassion—to care for others without any self-vested interest, with the sheer intent to see the one suffering heal and to see the other person beyond us win in life. My heart is filled with gratitude for experiencing this human kindness in the highest form.
From friends and family talking me through my struggles to strangers who reached out in support of my journey has been a real blessing. My favourite oncologist Dr. Ainy Quarantulane Chougle, rallied for my stay in Mumbai to not only get the right treatment but by being there through it all, always a text or call away. It is worth mentioning that I made it this far because of the relentless support and prayers of the following friends like family who continue to walk with us in this season Pastor Trevor and Sharon Baker, Pastor Anil Kant, Mr Amit Sadh, Pastor Bhaskar Lama, Mr Sonam Lepch Foning and John Lepcha Foning & Family, Mr Bharat Darnal , Kristen Lanning and family, Barb and Philip Lanning, Lakshmi Premnazir,Mallory Moench, Dr Rubina Chougle and family, Pastor Siji Jones, Mr Kumar and family, Mr Giftson selladurai and I’M Safe App team India , DW teams in Siliguri and Chennai, Mr Sam koshy and Esther Sam, Pastor James and family, Mr Issacc Thomas and TRACI team, Mrs Anju Sherpa, Mr Saji Philip, Mr Jacob George,Ms Irene James, Pastor Samuel Sengupta, Mr and Mrs Marimuthu, Ms Chandrika Pradhan, Mr Aloke Barua, Movement India friends, Siliguri prayer warrior friends and so many others.
A home-cooked meal, a drive to the hospital, a comforting text, a care package sent, the sound of good laughter over a call a song a meme—everything helped, everything saved my day!
When each of you cared for me in my worst to make me feel the best, God’s arms wrapped around me saying, “I care. You matter! You will live.”
I am breathing, writing, and able to afford cancer treatment today because of so many of YOU!
I hope one day when all this is over, I can continue doing what matters the most—to help someone in need too. I hope I will soon be financially secure and stable enough to give back to the community that gave me more than I could ask for—a community that gave me life.
THANK YOU!
P.S.- The photo below was taken a few days ago in Kalimpong a hill station near my hometown. A month back I wouldn’t have imagined that I could be better enough to travel back home but I did! Yayy! not just because of my faith but because of the firm faith of my family my husband especially my brother George who planned this special trip to the mountains. I continue to look at the brighter side of things and count my blessings because of so many of you!
