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Sheeba Ameer’s life came to a standstill when she found out that her 13-year-old daughter had cancer. She spent several years in hospitals, consulting doctors and getting the best possible treatment for her beloved daughter. Sheeba Ameer saw her daughter suffering through the pain of cancer and eventually losing her life to the dreaded disease. This grieving mother is now providing affordable cancer care to other patients through her organization, Solace.
“She was a fighter. She faced the situation bravely. But, despite our best efforts, she did not survive.
I still remember everything that we went through during that period. Nothing is worse than seeing your own flesh and blood suffer such pain while you stand by helpless,” Sheeba recalls with a heavy heart.
While we were going through my daughter's treatment I saw many other helpless mothers whose kids were dying. I wanted to do something for them.
In 2007, while her daughter was undergoing treatment for her cancer, Sheeba started Solace, an organization that she steers to this day.
Solace is based in Thrissur, Kerala. It has three centres and a team of 30 to 40 people who take care of the smallest needs of cancer patients. From counselling family members to extending financial aid for treatment like chemotherapy and paying for their life saving drugs, Solace is like a ray of hope for hundreds of people suffering from cancer.
Sheeba, through her organization, provides financial aid of at least Rs. 15 lakh every month to the many beneficiaries she works with. Solace helps over 2000 families every month.
Solace has been able to intervene successfully in the lives of many cancer patients. Srihari, a school going kid, is one example. His family did not have the means to get him treated when he got cancer and approached Solace for help. The organization engaged with Srihari and his family completely for the three years it took to help the boy get rid of the disease. Srihari now, once again, goes to school regularly.
Since many of the families helped by Solace are poor, Sheeba also works to make the mothers of the patients independent by finding them livelihood options.
Sheeba now wants to expand the scope of her work with cancer patients.
The ambit of her work has also increased. Though she started by supporting cancer patients and their families; she now supports families and patients affected by Thalassemia and Cerebral palsy too.
The ambit of her work has also increased. Though she started by supporting cancer patients and their families; she now supports families and patients affected by Thalassemia and Cerebral palsy too.
Every day more children families and children are coming to us for help, we now continously support more than 2000 families every month. We need financial help from all of you to support these families in need.
