Yesterday evening I had the privilege of spending time with 8 angels. These
angels have come from different corners of India in search of hope. I am
talking about the 8-9 children who live at the Accesslife centre for kids
suffering from cancer. The big C doesn’t differentiate... you could be living
in Antilla or you could be from Dharavi… this disease doesn’t need to call your
secretary and take an appointment. This disease doesn’t give a warning like our
erstwhile weather bureau. It’s like the unwelcome guest who thinks it’s his
prerogative to invade your privacy and alter your comfort zones to suit his
needs. Accesslife is a venture by a group of people who believe that if the big
C cannot differentiate then neither should we. They have set up a care center,
in a quaint little neighbourhood of Chembur, providing a roof over the heads of those whom
destiny has challenged. I mean, what was Lady Destiny thinking?!? “Hmm, let me
see, the floor they are sleeping on is too smooth; the roti too hard; the
labour too menial… here let me add some tadka to their life… how about a life
threatening disease!?? Let’s see how they cope with it!” Well, Madam Destiny,
have I got news for you! Give it your best shot, we at Accesslife, will match
you every step of the way.
Yesterday, a Charlie Chaplin show was organized for them along with a
demonstration on sand art. Now you’ve got to understand… these kids wouldn’t
know Charlie’s talent even if he were to wave his stick like a lunatic at them.
The best thing about Charlie was no language barrier, just pure fun. It didn’t
matter whether you were from a remote village in Bihar or West Bengal… comedy
is the universal language and these kids got a taste of it. To see their faces light
up like a Christmas tree was enough to calm the storm that awaits them every
Monday when they go for chemo. The parents who live with them at the centre,
too, forgot for a brief moment that tomorrow a high dose of poison will be
administered to their babies. They forgot to think, “Will he vomit? Will the
nurse find his vein easily? Will a piece of my heart break when he cries in
pain?” My own boys who had accompanied me, remarked, “They don’t look like they
are suffering from anything!” Yesterday they learnt a lesson on how to be
dignified when you have a face-off with Death. Yesterday they learnt to
appreciate the chocolates, cakes and cookies that they can eat while these 8
are on a restricted diet. Yesterday they learnt to share their precious phone
and play a game of angry birds with this happy lot.
I can go on and on, but I want to put this blog to use. I don’t want
only your ‘likes’ and comments. This is not a piece like the thousands you find
on FB claiming 1 like=1 less day of chemo! That’s as ridiculous as saying… 1
like will automatically transfuse blood into the veins of a kid suffering from
aplasty anemia. This is not a Bollywood blockbuster with one brother directly
transfusing his marrow into the other brother’s body while a Nirupa Roy type
mother cries and rings the temple bells in the rain. This team at Accesslife
has to work hard, chalk out plans, schedules, provisions, consult nutrionists,
buy clothes, toys, and put food on the table for these 8 families. No
Bollywood-esque drama for them, only deadlines to meet, in case it gets too
late for even one of the angels. To achieve their targets they have even come
out with 2015 diaries, with details and pictures of all these families. You can
order the same through me. It costs 350 per piece. I know I have spent 350+,
blindly at multiplexes and beauty parlours… and not that there is anything
wrong with that. I am not telling you to give up your lifestyle. I know I will
continue with mine too. But if you really sit to count the pennies that these
kids need then the rupees wont pinch so much.
I know I should end now because our attention span is constantly competing
with the next Whats’App notification. But it needs to be said, there is hope
after all. If a pessimistic person like
me can see a glimmer of light at the end of a tunnel then definitely the
Accesslife team is on the right path. There is hope not only for those 8
families, but also for my generation. I thought that all was lost with this
wave of materialism taking over our lives; that we cannot escape it. But
yesterday when I saw photos being clicked on iphones and ipads, it made me
realize that, not all is lost. If these guys don’t give a second thought while
spending on their own luxuries then they don’t spare a second to make the lives
of these angels comfortable. Whether its time or money, it flows freely. There
is only one goal, the smiles should not stop. So Lady Destiny… our gloves are
on… we are ready for Round 1. Are you?!
you can connect with them directly http://www.accesslife.org/ 