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| Aradhana (Athavale) Chitnis |
Dear Stranger,
I need your help to mark a birthday. No, it’s not like
one with the big party, cake and fun. In a way it is a celebration as it is my
sister’s birthday. But she is no longer with us. Hence, I want your help to
mark it.
For this, I want you to convince the woman you are most close to, it may be your sister, or wife, mother, cousin or a friend, to get an examination for breast cancer. She should go for a physical examination by a doctor and get a sono mammogram. The idea is that by my sister’s 50th birthday on September 5, I want at least 50 women screened for breast cancer, and with good (negative) test results. You also have to write to me your relation to the woman and why you convinced her to go for it, and the results. Please also send me a picture (of yourself if you have gone for the examination) of the person you convinced and yourself, and where you hail from.
There’s nothing in it for me but the satisfaction that 50 women got themselves screened. And they thought about my sister, Aradhana. There’s only relief in it for you when your loved one gets negative results. But if at all it is positive, she stands a good chance at survival. Staying a step ahead of breast cancer is still the only way to survive it.
Why would you do this? Because I may not know you, but I do know the pain of losing my sister, and I don’t want you to go through it. Every person is loved and his or her absence makes a world of difference to someone. Don’t let that someone be you. It’s a small medical examination, but it will save more people than one. Most of all, it will save you.
For this, I want you to convince the woman you are most close to, it may be your sister, or wife, mother, cousin or a friend, to get an examination for breast cancer. She should go for a physical examination by a doctor and get a sono mammogram. The idea is that by my sister’s 50th birthday on September 5, I want at least 50 women screened for breast cancer, and with good (negative) test results. You also have to write to me your relation to the woman and why you convinced her to go for it, and the results. Please also send me a picture (of yourself if you have gone for the examination) of the person you convinced and yourself, and where you hail from.
There’s nothing in it for me but the satisfaction that 50 women got themselves screened. And they thought about my sister, Aradhana. There’s only relief in it for you when your loved one gets negative results. But if at all it is positive, she stands a good chance at survival. Staying a step ahead of breast cancer is still the only way to survive it.
Why would you do this? Because I may not know you, but I do know the pain of losing my sister, and I don’t want you to go through it. Every person is loved and his or her absence makes a world of difference to someone. Don’t let that someone be you. It’s a small medical examination, but it will save more people than one. Most of all, it will save you.
Love,
This campaign is over. But you can write to me.
5 comments:
This is beautiful. I will participate.
Memories of Aradhana come rushing back as I read your blog. I remember her telling me about her illness, sitting in my house, just the both of us, waiting for the rest of the gang to arrive for a happy drink-up. She was so strong about it that I did not realise the gravity of her illness till she left us.
While I wish you Aradhana on your 50th birthday, I hope more will read this blog and think about what her sister Ashlesha has posted. Its for you and your loved ones.
Kunal Vijayakar
I can perfectly understand the rationale behind this noble effort. Men need to assert themselves and convince the women they care about to get themselves screened.
I lost my beloved wife to breast cancer 7 years ago. She looked at screening with great trepidation, fearing the worst (what if....?).
As a husband I did not assert myself. I did not want to take away her free will.
But it doesnt work that way.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Kisan Karnad
The ever-smiling face of Bachchi...perfect tribute...wonderful initiative, Ashlesha. My best wishes!
The ever-smiling face of Bachchi...perfect tribute...wonderful initiative, Ashlesha. My best wishes!
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