Srishti (Ewing’s Sarcoma): The Only Option Is Not to Give Up

A Loved One's Battle:

I am someone who has seen a loved one fighting cancer, my 18-year-old sister- Sameeksha. She fought it with courage; to everyone's surprise, she was strong enough to radiate positivity.

She was diagnosed with cancer when she turned 18, ready to pursue her dreams and ambitions.

An Epitome of Compassion:

Sameeksha never wanted anyone to endure the same suffering she had to face. Though she never shed a tear when she was diagnosed with cancer and the harsh treatment she went through, I could see her pain for cancer patients. It reflected in her eyes. Sameeksha welcomed adversaries with a reassuring smile. She stood out from the pack and was from a different league altogether. Will they also have to undergo the same treatment that I have taken? Will they have to bear the same pain? I wish they didn't have to face what I had to. I want to do something for cancer patients so they don't have to bear the same Pain.

Smiling through her Pain:

She was someone who took this challenge thrown at her head-on with a soothing and pleasant smile on her face. She lived bravely, not caring about what society might think of, and loved to challenge and change it whenever she got an opportunity, and when she didn't get one, she used to make one.

My Warrior Sister:

She fought like a warrior, as a Fauzi(soldier)- always had it in her. She has such a vibrant personality, and I consider myself fortunate to have such a person as my younger sister, my close friend, and immense support, and someone who told me the natural way of living life- bravely- fighting with the odds.

Lost Hugs and Kisses:

Today, it's been a year since I talked to her; I have hugged her and have just been around her. It's been a year since she has made fun of me, sharing a burst of heartfelt laughter with me. It's been a year since she has rested in peace, giving the world around her a more meaningful reason to live, a way to a purposeful life.

What she continues to teach us:

Seeing her smile through the immense pain she had to bear gave me the courage not to get disheartened over minor life problems, which earlier used to bother me now and then. It taught me to stay strong and fight with all I have, come what may. I try to implement it in my daily life. The problems I face are nothing in front of her plight; thus, I endure the pain with a glowing face. I always feel her absence; I wish she could teach me this.

The Never-Ending Void:

I miss her every day and moment, and I will have to live the rest of my life with that never-ending void. It isn't easy to move on with life without her smiling face. Nobody knows what it will end with, but even if the end is not pleasant, there must not be a reason to stop trying because, in that case, we have already dimmed and killed our chances of winning. If deterministic attempts are taken to defeat the disease against all odds, things will be brighter, and we may win. In any case, the only option is not to give up.

I want to end it with a few lines:

Everything can be taken from a man, BUT one thing: the last of the human freedom to choose one's attitude in any given circumstance. So no matter how dire your circumstances may seem now, dealing with life's blows is a 'spiritual freedom' that makes life meaningful and purposeful. Everybody dies, but not everybody lives, and I am glad my sister lived her life to the fullest. She inspired everyone around her to cherish life as it is and make the most of our time on this planet.