Odia women support cancer patient in Ireland through her treatment

Bhubaneswar: More than 30 Odia women living in Dublin joined forces to help one Odia woman suffering from breast cancer tide over difficult times, thus providing her a family to fall back upon far from home.

These women were drawn from different professions and some homemakers didn’t allow their hectic life abroad to become a hindrance in helping one of their own. They provided homecooked nutritious food to the patient and her family after her operation and chemotherapy. “We used to rotate among ourselves the responsibility of providing her and her family food,” said Pallabika Das, a homemaker.


And they made sure the patient had food of her choice with her tastebuds ruined by the treatment. “I cooked the food that she wanted to eat. This gave her an ample amount of rest which she needed,” Swosti Simantini, a clerical officer in Dublin city council.

Besides, the women helped her with shopping, driving her to appointments or assisting her in the daily tasks when she felt drained out by the treatment. “She herself is a very helpful person and a very active member of the Odia community. When she told us about her disease, we decided to come to her aid. In the past, she nurtured me when I sustained a head injury due to a fall,” said Subhashree Khadanga, a healthcare adviser. “Coordinating with others in the community to make sure she had whatever she needed. I tried to make sure she never felt alone. And, that’s what our community stands for. She helped us when my husband had a kidney stone,” Swarnalata Sahoo, a health service executive with the audit department.

Visiting the cancer patient was a strict no-no as with compromised immunity it could lead to infection. So, the women stayed connected with her by calling and messaging so that she never felt isolated. The women were a huge emotional support to the cancer patient. “I listened to her fears, frustrations and hopes, keeping her company during lonely and anxious moments. Offering reassurance or simply being someone she could talk to,” said Rashmi Sahoo, a software engineer. “We live far away from our families in Odisha, and in Ireland, we’ve become like family. When she was going through a difficult time, it felt natural to support her the way loved ones would — being there for each other in need and making sure neither of us felt alone,” said Rashmi Sahoo.

Keeping her spirits up with conversation, humour or small gestures, helping her understand information, reminding her of appointments, or supporting her in conversations with doctors or family. “Some friends, who are staying nearby also helped in school pick up and drop off for her children. I wanted to reduce her physical and mental burden so that she could focus on her recovery,” said Nivedita Nayak, an IT professional.

The help kept the patient’s spirits up. “I felt it was not my journey alone. My physical pain and emotional state were shared,” shared the cancer patient.