Cancer survivors have something way bigger than their Treatments, Medications, and Care to get back to their feet – and that is their SUPER POWER!
This is the story of Shabbir Tinwala from Mumbai, India who showed indomitable courage, hope, faith, mental toughness, and positivity, and saw the CAN in the CANCER saying ‘we can beat it’. When he saw that the tide was against him, he chose to live and thrive and not just exist and survive.
51yrs old Shabbir, a busy man, living happily with his wife and 2 daughters, suddenly found a lump behind his ears. This was initially thought of as inflammation due to a cold and was later diagnosed as malignant. It was Follicular Lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) – a slow-growing blood cancer.
What was his immediate reaction when he heard this?
It was like a streak of lightning out of the blow and he had never ever thought that this could happen to him. Though he had gone alone to the doc, fully prepared for the worst, and ready to fight it out, his first thought was of his wife and 2 daughters at that time. He did not want his family to have to live their lives without him, and that became his biggest motivating factor.
Diagnosing was just the beginning, post that came, a flurry of appointments, diagnostic tests, and various treatment options. He was scheduled for 6 cycles of chemos. Along with every cycle of the aggressive treatment came nasty side effects, like nausea and severe fatigue, hair fall all over the body, constipation, severe stomach aches, and stiffening of jaws. This sounds like a war, but he was prepared for it. He was aware that the wind of change has started blowing and if he wants to live and thrive he will have to build windmills and not a wall. He had decided in his mind that after each cycle of chemo, within 10 days the side effects would subside and then he has to carry on with his life. He exactly did that.
As soon as his 6 cycles of chemo were done (with PET scans in between), within a month he took permission from the doc and the whole family went on a pilgrimage to Karbala and Umrah for 3 weeks. His body was still weak, but he believed that tenacity is vital to blossom in life, and he maintained that to fulfill his goal and his responsibility of keeping his family happy.
After a year, he was diagnosed with hip arthritis. De compression operation was done, rest for 2 months and he gained back only 25% of his mobility back. He started walking with a stick.
Cancer relapsed after 4 years and 4 cycles of chemo were scheduled. He kept listening to his body and kept fighting. It relapsed 2 more times after that and he was treated with chemo and immunotherapy. In the year 2020, his whole family suffered COVID and a year back he had undergone a cystoscopy.
It sounds like 13 years of war, but he had taken a stand to not give in and kept believing that every tomorrow is better than today.
He faced all his obstacles head-on.
Prayed consistently(for 2.5 hours every day) and had supreme faith in the Almighty. After every namaz, his only prayer would be to grant him strength.
He recommends listening to the doctor’s advice and completing the prescribed treatments – he is thankful to his doctor, Dr.Tapan Saikia who combined treatment with an excellent interpersonal relationship.
What helped him?
His wife was his pillar of strength and dedicated her life to him.
His late mother’s love and his 2 daughters took up the responsibilities of his shop and his factory.
His brother, his sister, and his group of school and college friends who he says were amazing and kept up the flame of hope burning in him that kept pushing him.
His attitude of finding rainbows after every alleged darkness – during these 13 years he defied all odds and traveled the length and breadth of the world to countries like – Austria, the UK, Italy, Hongkong, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Serbia, and Yamen.
His superpower of filling his days with micro joys – learned cross-stitch embroidery during his days at home from his wife and this was his way to mental fitness.
His belief is that in giving we receive – the cross stitch panels were sold and the money was used for charity.
His habit of reading and diligently attending to his shop and factory responsibilities against all odds.
His attitude of practicing gratitude – always thankful to the almighty for the successful treatments, for the financial affordability, for a loving and caring family, and finally for giving him time to streamline his work, assets, and finance to make it easy for his family in the future.
His advice and learnings:
Keep your work streamlined and maintain financial and investment planning transparency with your spouse and children.
Practice mental toughness, i.e. whenever you find yourself standing in a storm, change the direction of the sails and move on.
Life is short and therefore, do not carry a baggage of negative emotions like hate, anger, and jealousy.
Do not escape from your individual responsibilities in life and make that your true purpose of life.
He is now 63 years old, physically fragile, walks with a stick, is still swarming with positivity, is filled with unshaken faith and hope, and is 3 years NED (no evidence of disease).
We salute him, pray and wish him a healthy and smooth life.
Shehrebanu K
allyourtomorrows 