In an age when my father should've been at home, free of all the responsibilities of family and kids, life has found an another way to torcher him. At the age of 61, my father Narendra Nath is suffering from cancer of voice box.
My father has always had a difficult life. Despite breaking his back all through his adult life -- sometimes working multiple low wage jobs to give his kids a life far different than the one he and my mother had, he couldn't take us out from the pangs of abject poverty. My father has been always ashamed of the fact that he couldn't give us a life that he felt we deserved. And now that he is suffering from cancer, he feels the pain is his punishment for letting his family down.
I am his son Pintu and I know how entirely unnecessary his regret is. Being a protective father that he is, he has always looked after the comforts of his family and made sure that no matter what, his kids are never in any sort of pain. But it shames me to accept that now that the time has come to return the favour, I cannot do anything to help him.
Due to his condition, my father has been having difficulty in breathing since past 6 months. His condition keeps worsening and he had to undergo tracheostomy in a bid to make him breathe. The doctors say if we want to save our father, he needs to undergo a procedure known as hemilaryngectomy . As of now, he can't speak or swallow. The doctors are waiting for reports post which they are urgently planning to carry out the surgery.
The estimated cost of the procedure is Rs. 1.8 Lakhs. I and my brother are both drivers and make upto Rs. 8000 per month. With our humbles means, it's nearly impossible to arrange the entire amount on such an urgent basis.
A life full of trials and tribulations
My father has always had a difficult life. Despite breaking his back all through his adult life -- sometimes working multiple low wage jobs to give his kids a life far different than the one he and my mother had, he couldn't take us out from the pangs of abject poverty. My father has been always ashamed of the fact that he couldn't give us a life that he felt we deserved. And now that he is suffering from cancer, he feels the pain is his punishment for letting his family down.I am his son Pintu and I know how entirely unnecessary his regret is. Being a protective father that he is, he has always looked after the comforts of his family and made sure that no matter what, his kids are never in any sort of pain. But it shames me to accept that now that the time has come to return the favour, I cannot do anything to help him.
Due to his condition, my father has been having difficulty in breathing since past 6 months. His condition keeps worsening and he had to undergo tracheostomy in a bid to make him breathe. The doctors say if we want to save our father, he needs to undergo a procedure known as hemilaryngectomy . As of now, he can't speak or swallow. The doctors are waiting for reports post which they are urgently planning to carry out the surgery.
The estimated cost of the procedure is Rs. 1.8 Lakhs. I and my brother are both drivers and make upto Rs. 8000 per month. With our humbles means, it's nearly impossible to arrange the entire amount on such an urgent basis.