Wendy Stuart was leading a blessed and healthy life; she had a wonderful family, a bunch of good and supportive friends gathered over her entire lifetime. She’s had a successful and long career in major corporations. But life cannot be so smooth and free of twist and turns right? When cancer treatment ends it’s a new life that has been gifted to you and every survivor begins a new chapter in their lives. There are two kinds of people, one who brings happiness and hope and the other brings worries and fear. As it is said no two people are alike. Everyone has his or her own way of tackling the situations and emotions.
So yes, this is my story, I am Wendy and I am not writing someone’s blog but my own journey through Kaposi sarcoma. You have not heard of it right? Nor did I when a doctor told me these words, “I am afraid you might have Kaposi sarcoma”. At that time all I could speak was, “What’s that?”. But I was not really shocked at that time, I was relieved in a way that thank god it got diagnosed.
Everything was going good, my kidneys were highly functional and I didn’t notice any symptoms. I wasn’t going to worry until I needed to. In 2011, my kidney function started declining slowly and this diagnosis was a surprise because this was not in my family. Doctor advised me Kidney transplant; this is what shook up my world. Getting a kidney from a donor and finding a donor is not less than a task at that time. At that time I have become a bit selfish and started thinking that people don’t realize that kidney transplant can double the life expectancy. Finally a month later I got a donor and somehow the process of transplantation was done successfully. Doctor prescribed me some immunosuppressant that will prevent my body from rejecting the transplanted organ. I thought this was the end but no the road was long, I will tell you how?
Now I have not been seeing my doctor that much and now I have to visit once in a month or two. But I was happy that I am still alive, I don't care for how long; but at least I am breathing.
In 2012, in mid-summers when I was planning family vacations to Connecticut. I was excited as I was going out after a long time after my recovery. My all cousins, friends and family would be there; I was overwhelmed. We visited the resorts we have booked there for our accommodation. This is a mystic location and we were having a great time. Bill, my second cousin noticed and told me, “What is that purple mark on your neck, is it an insect bite?” I ignored it and replied, “I don’t know, it will be fine!” I have spent my best days and it's time to go back. I was tired but overwhelmed at the same time and started planning the next vacations too.
All of these feelings make sense but now the time is to focus on work and responsibilities. After one week I was back on the track all refreshed, one day when I got back home after work I noticed more purple marks on my body. Something was not right with my body, I have this strong gut feeling. I immediately made an appointment with my doctor for consultation. I told him all the symptoms I was going through i.e. purple, red or brown lesions, bumps and plaques.
He also confirmed if these are available on the whole body and if I could feel the pain in my legs and feet. At that moment I realized that yes, I have been all these signs and symptoms. He finally assured me after all the clinical manifestations that I have Acquired Kaposi sarcoma which means the kidney transplant I had a year back has left me some effects.
As per the treatment procedure I had to get chemotherapy sessions each month. I was full of fear but had to make up my mind. You can’t always sit back and cry over spilt milk, sometimes you have to get up and fight through it. My personal and professional life both get affected with this, my career was on a break. We are not aware of the effects that diseases might have on our family, career and relationships. You might have to take a new look at your terms with people around you. These all changes might make you anxious. Months passed, one year passed; I have survived a whole year.
Don’t beat yourself up or don’t give others the liberty to make you feel guilty about your emotional distress. Every day I had to pull up my socks to fight back for life. I could do everything meditation, yoga, whatever is possible for me to do to keep myself motivated. You may feel like a sitting duck and with constant thoughts in your mind like “What if it comes back”, “What are the chances it will attack me again?” “What if the chemo sessions have affected my body and after a year or two something again happens?” But you have to crystal clear that it is not going to happen at all. You need to relax your mind and body, be physically active as much as you can.
Whenever I used to visit my doctor he extended the duration chemotherapy sessions, I started getting hopeless about my condition. Then one day miraculously while one of the patient's guardians I came to know about Planet Ayurveda. I was not aware about Ayurveda or you can say I didn’t have faith in it. I started researching about this treatment and got into the depth. During this research I had developed a faith in this and decided to go for it.
Next day, I called at Planet Ayurveda for online consultation and told them about my medical history. I have sent them all my lab reports and talked to Dr. Vikram Chauhan who is not less than a god for me now. He listened to my story very patiently and like a friend. Doctor prescribed me a Crab care pack in which there were a few herbal supplements like Ashwagandha capsules, Curcumin capsules, Kachnaar guggul, Tulsi capsules, guggul capsules and Chanderprabha Vati. Though I am not able to pronounce these medicines properly initially but now it’s been four long years I can say these names fluently.
You will be probably thinking that this will come back and you will find yourself thinking about dying, which sometimes can intensely hit you. Some people become more prepared for life after disease recovery. I have been using Crab Care Pack from all these years and have said adieu to chemo-sessions. I am leading a normal and a much better life. Everyone who is looking for the way out should definitely give Ayurveda an attempt for living a quality life. This will not have any side effects or after effects. All you have to do is to adapt to a healthy lifestyle and a holistic mode of treatment.
Remembering that you are going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of overthinking and fear of losing; Follow your heart. Cancer cannot cripple love, shatter hope, corrode faith, eat away peace and quench the spirit”
THANKS TO PLANET AYURVEDA!!!
I champion initiatives that build a culture supporting Diversity and Inclusion and teamwork. My background is in Online Advertising and made the switch to the fascinating Localization Industry in 2018, where I hear, one never leaves.