“She is everything to us. She took care of the entire family – our daughter’s studies, my elderly mother’s needs, and everything at home. Now, cancer has taken all her energy. She’s in pain, and I’m trying my best to take care of her, our daughter, and the house, but I feel like I’m failing. I can’t imagine life without her. It scares me, and I feel guilty that I can’t do more.”- Thiagarajan, husband 

Life for Thiagarajan and his family changed in the blink of an eye. In November last year, Maheshwari, a 45-year-old homemaker, discovered a lump in her breast. After weeks of tests, scans, and sleepless nights, the diagnosis came in December: Stage-2 breast cancer. The news shattered their world. Maheshwari, the pillar of their small family, suddenly became a patient fighting a life-threatening illness. Since then, their once-happy home has grown quiet, filled with an overwhelming sense of fear and sadness.

“Though I am crumbling inside, I am choosing to hide my pain because I know that my family depends on me to stay strong. So I am putting on an act.”- Thiagarajan

‘Our daughter is not able to see her mother in so much pain. It is affecting her deeply’

Their 12-year-old daughter, who is in the eighth standard, has been deeply affected by her mother’s illness. She dreams of becoming a doctor someday, but her life has been thrown into turmoil. Though she tries to go to school, she often has to stay home because her father is stretched thin, caring for her mother and grandmother while managing the household. Her schoolwork has suffered, and so has her spirit. She misses her mother’s presence in her life – her gentle guidance with studies, the cheerful moments they shared, and the love that made their house a home.

“Our daughter doesn’t smile as much anymore, and she’s always worried about her mother. She should be focusing on her future, but all she thinks about is if her mother will be okay. I dream of seeing my daughter become a doctor one day. But I don’t know if my wife will be there to see it. She should be enjoying her childhood, but all she sees is pain and struggle around her.”- Thiagarajan, tearfully

‘Without a job and limited savings, I am struggling to save my wife before it is too late’

Thiagarajan lost his job six months ago, just before Maheshwari’s diagnosis. The savings they had carefully set aside for their daughter’s education have been drained to cover the cost of her treatment. They’ve already spent ₹3 lakhs on her first chemotherapy session and related expenses, but six more chemotherapy cycles remain. The bills keep piling up, and Thiagarajan is running out of options. 

“I don’t know how we’ll manage. But I can’t give up. She’s my strength, my happiness, and without her, this family will fall apart. Help me save her.” - Thiagarajan

Even simple joys like celebrating Pongal or their daughter’s birthday have become impossible now. Instead of festivals, their home is filled with anxiety and fear. Thiagarajan recalls the long drives he and Maheshwari loved and how they celebrated every small occasion as a family. Now, those happy times feel like a distant memory.

This family needs urgent help to give Maheshwari the treatment she needs and restore some sense of normalcy to their lives.

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