Cure, care and kindness in Chennai

Dr. Shantha’s day for rounds was Wednesday. She would ask for complete details of the patients, including his/her mental status. She would look at the protocol of medical treatment, dosage of medicines, reactions. She had control over the treatment in the hospital. She was an extremely strong person, with a steel frame. This gave us a lot of confidence,’’ said Achiayah, who had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1987.

Relaxing with a cup of coffee in his comfortable apartment in the heart of the city after returning from a hard day’s work, he said: ‘‘She has seen so much suffering. But she goes on and on’’. for 50 years. This shows she has a lot of God given potential.’’

Achiayah is a busy man these days. When he is not working as a Chartered Accountant, he devotes much ofhis time to ‘Sanctuary,’ an organisation started about 15 years ago to provide moral and emotional support to cancer patients. The Institute closely coordinates with the Sanctuary-sponsored programmes in the children’s ward on craft, music, painting, group therapies, film shows and festival celebrations. ‘‘That’s because Dr. Shantha feels that no patient should feel that they are in a place where they are not wanted or in a place where things go wrong.’’

Describing the Institute as ‘‘a holy place…more of a temple,’’ he said: ‘‘It has solutions…even for emotional problems.’’ He recalled how he had to go through a high dosage treatment when he had a relapse in 1990. ‘‘I went through severe depressions because of the continuous treatment and hospitalization. But the doctors were so supportive. They take so much interest. The follow-up treatment is very strict. The doctors remind you through post-cards. The treatment is so personalized. It is all because of Dr. Shantha. She is a gigantic person and this is the kind of dedication she inspires.’’

Most of the doctors have remained with Dr Shantha at the Institute. ‘‘She is quietly building a strong second line of doctors. They may not reach her stature, but each one of them stands up to their individual capabilities. They are not paid fancy salaries, but they are all highly motivated by her. Even the paramedical staff, which looks after the patients, treat them like they are related to them,’’ said Achiayah.

The Cancer Institute had grown primarily through donations and some small amounts of Government aid. Achiayah explained how on one occasion when some representatives of the Rajasthan Youth Association had come to meet her to make some financial donations, Dr Shantha promptly told them: ‘Give me five dedicated volunteers.’ ‘‘She was confident that the Institute could grow with dedicated people more than money,’’ pointed out Achiayah.

‘‘Cancer Institute has divine vibrations…’’ V. S. Ravi had worked for ITC as a marketing personnel for 14 years. Since he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphomas (cancer of the Lymph nodes) in 2003 his association with the Institute has been a revelation. ‘‘Dr. Shantha and her Institute transmits divine vibrations.’’ According to him, the Institute did not discriminate between the rich and the poor. ‘‘I needed no reference to get myself admitted or for the treatment.’’ Now, doctors have told him that he could lead a normal life.

While the Institute categorized the different class of people into four levels, more than 60 per cent of the patients enjoyed free treatment, said Ravi. ‘‘It will not demand proof of your economic status. It doesn’t police. It works on the basis of urgency levels. That is why its kitty is empty.’’ According to him, the Institute is ‘‘good at heart, extremely good at treatment and not at all financially savvy.’’

Inspired by the commitment of Dr. Shantha and her Institute, Ravi began to devise schemes to draw in the donations. He even organized a get-together of relatives and friends and launched a donation drive, collecting about Rs. 70,000 for the Institute. Now he sells donation tickets, with permission from the Institute and entertains patients during the Institute’s get-togethers.

Ravi had the occasion to meet Dr. Shantha finally during the ‘Survivor’s Day (observed annually world over)’ celebrations in 2004. He introduced himself as a relative of her old family friend, ‘‘I could see her greatness right away.’’ He met her three more times after that. ‘‘It is so obvious that she is absolutely involved in the Institute. She knows nothing but medicine. She has grace and her inner beauty is her knowledge. She is a person whose nature inspires reverence