Sunil’s Fight Against Cancer: A Second Chance At Life

The Soondra Foundation proudly partners with the best institutions around India. Just take it from grantee, Sunil, when he woke up one day with his gums bleeding. “I roamed everywhere, went to hospitals, and was told that there’s no doctor who can help me,” Sunil says.

Eventually, a doctor fearing cancer sent him to Mumbai for treatment. Sunil and his brother Keshav took the three-day journey to our partner hospital in Mumbai. He quit his painting job and left his wife and toddler at home, in rural eastern India. For six months, the doctors patiently guided the brothers through treatment.

Keshav was particularly impressed by their dedication. “I saw that (the doctor) would stay until 2 AM, 3 AM, by his side,” Keshav says. “They would do protocols and new medicines for him… to try something that worked for him.” The efforts paid off—Sunil has finished the first round of his treatment and returned home in time to celebrate the annual Durgapuja festival with his wife and son.

The brothers are extremely happy with the care Sunil received. “I could not have hoped for this at home,” Sunil says. “I didn’t even think that I would’ve gotten this kind of treatment.”
“Just the word chemo frightened us,” Keshav recalls of starting out. “But now, when the word chemo is said, we don’t feel there’s anything to be frightened about.”