Friday, February 06, 2009

Pragati's brave fight with Cancer

I met Pragati in late 2003. Life really sucked back then. Though I was doing some freelancing software jobs, I didn't have a stable revenue source. I was not sure what will I do in my life. I didn't have many friends to talk to and used to feel lonely and depressed at times. Life was dull and boring. But then Pragati changed all that and very quickly as well.

All of a sudden my life started looking up, everything started looking rosy and bright. I was still not sure about what will I pursue as a profession, but I had a very strong support in Pragati. She became my close friend and soul-mate. After sometime professional life started looking up as well and we together founded our company. We got married in Feb 2006 and everything seemed to be perfect for us. We were blessed with a lovely baby girl in Nov. 2007 and everybody was happy. But my life was soon going to change forever again.

In early 2008, we found out that Pragati's cancer came back and in her lungs this time. She had a long history with this very rare form of cancer called Epithelioid Sarcoma, which started from her left toe. She was successfully operated for it in 2005 and we decided to forget about it and bury it in our past. Ofcourse we now realise that we were too childish and too optimistic about ourselves. Cancer does not leave you that easily. In hindsight I think it was good that we didn't think too much about it as it allowed us to get on with our lives and live happily with each other.

Year 2008 was spent in fighting with cancer and what a fight Pragati gave to that bloody cancer. It couldn't diminish her spirit in any way and that's why she so courageously planned secret B'day party for me with a chest drain hanging onto her and first chemo just over. She played and laughed a lot with our baby girl. When she had nothing else to do at home, she started reading and painting. 3 of her beautiful paintings hung on walls of our house will always remind of her. That was probably her way of giving a parting gift.

She was her usual charming and smiling self till her last day. Greeted everybody with her sweet smile whenever somebody visited her. She was unbelievably brave, positive and incredibly sweet and fun-loving even when cancer became really harsh for her. I can't probably sum-up in words her true spirit. I will always remain proud of her. She passed away on 1st of Jan 09 and I became a widower and a single father at the age of 30.

It was only due to Pragati, I understood what Love, Happiness, Success and birth really meant. Ironically now I have understood true meaning of sorrow, grief, failure and death due to her as well.

There is a tradition in my family where when you meet somebody for the first time after getting married or whenever there is an important function, you introduce your spouse using a couplet, which should contain his/her name in it. There are many popular and overused types, so when I got married I created an original myself. I thought it summed up what I really felt for Pragati. I will be not using that couplet anymore, so I am penning it down here on my blog for one last time. "सिसक रही थी जिन्दगी, उसको गति मिल गई, किस्मत मुस्कुराई और प्रगति मिल गई."


PS: You can add your name to my dedication to Pragati at Lanse Armstrong Foundation website.

8 comments:

Shriram_ProjectHarvesters said...

Didi has always looked your interests and dreams as hers. Now that she left Chibu with us, we want to you to carry out the same spirit and bravery further.

Keep going jiju .....

Shriram.

Unknown said...

May God give you strength to tide over the unfortunate thing. I don't really have words...sorry yaar

But, be brave like her and shoulder the responsibilities...

Ajay Brahme

Nitin Palewar said...

"Chibu bahot shetan ho gayee hai aur subki nakal kerne bhi lag gayee hai" Still don't believe these were her last words to me...jst 48 hours passed and she was not there to continue our conversation which I left to let her rest and sleep.but....

Unknown said...

It is very hard to believe that this happened to one of our good friends Pragati.May God bless her soul in peace.Deep condolences.

Eshwar Chawda & Apali Mohod

Unknown said...

I pray for you, I think of you, and I weep for you and your child. May God comfort you, keep you in his divine mercy, and always honor her life by looking up [to heaven and to her]and moving forward; never look down again.....
May God Bless You and the Holy Spirit dwell inside you, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Mary Ann Filipowicz

Anonymous said...

Deep condolences for this untimely act.
I pray to god to give you strength to come out of this unfortunate incident. I have realised (after reading this post) that you have understood how to face tough situations, so i wish, you gather all your strength in the upbringing of Chibu.

Good luck Sachin!

Supa Dupa Fresh said...

I saw you visited my blog and I'm so sorry for your terrible loss. I hope you have good family support. Drop a line sometime and let me know how things are going.

You may be interested in Matt Logelin if you have not met him yet. He is an American widower with an infant daughter and he is currently on a long trip to India. I bet you would enjoy the meeting. Look up his blog for details and contact info. He is VERY popular and you may have to write a few times.

Best wishes,

X

Supa

Karthik Ragubathy said...

I don't have words to write

Losing someone who has been there with you all the time through your Ups and Downs is very tragic.

May Her Soul rest in peace always and May you have all the strength in the World to move forward

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