<p>When a young Sister Joan D’Souza lost her favourite aunt to cancer, her resolve was set. She wanted to help those suffering with cancer, she wanted to warn others around her about the disease. Since then for over two decades she is at war with the disease. <br /><br /></p>.<p>With others who were marked by cancer, she started a foundation, ‘Cancercare’ in 1993. Cancercare, comprising of lay persons brought together by Sister Joan, chiefly provides financial assistance to cancer patients. Choosing to be anonymous, the foundation works behind curtains with welfare officials at the hospitals to pave the way for a needy patient’s treatment. Sister D Souza with other members of the organisation visit Kidwai monthly to drop in donations. At the end of the month, they get to meet the patients they helped on paper, via a report.<br /><br />Reducing pain<br />Sister Joan and a medley of dedicated members from the foundation also visit Kapur Ward, the pediatric ward at Kidwai weekly. She is a source of delight to the children, bearing many gifts and sweets. “The Sister is a great source of strength to the worried mothers,” says Dr Janet Prameshwara, the Social Welfare Officer and Head of the Social Welfare Department at Kidwai.<br /><br />Fondly looking at photographs of the children at Kapur Ward, Sister Joan named every child she had ever cared for. “There are some children who will never make it out of the disease. My heart goes out to them. They are all so bright and spirited, taking things in stride. Children from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and even West Bengal come to Kidwai for treatment. See here is Noor, my lovely child,” sighed Sister Joan.<br /><br />“My department has worked with Sister Joan since 1993, when Cancercare was just founded. It is quite impressive to see this soft spoken Sister bring together so many lay persons. She is here every Tuesday, with fruits and sweets for the children. She has not missed a single week in the two decades. Her foundation makes monthly donations to Kidwai Cancer Drug Foundation (KCDF),” she said.<br /><br />Spreading cheer<br />The Kidwai Director M Vijaykumar and the Head of Pediatric Department Dr Appaji have been working hand in hand with Sister Joan and her foundation. At the pediatric ward, the foundation organises counselling sessions for the mothers. Several recreational programmes like magic shows, music and dance sessions are conducted to lighten the mood of the children. “They also celebrate birthdays, festivals and for Christmas they brings gifts for every child in the ward,” says Dr Janet.<br /><br />A bigger part of the foundation is the impressive panel of doctors and oncologists Sister Joan has brought together over the years. Doctors from Kidwai, St. Johns Hospital and HCG all readily answered Sister Joan’s call for awareness.<br /><br />The foundation conducts various talks and awareness programmes across the town. With their panel of doctors they visit various colleges and schools. They have talked to students at Christ School and PU College, St. Josephs College and several girl’s schools. Their main focus is to spread the word to students from the lower economic backgrounds. <br />Dr Parameshwara a member of the panel says “Sister Joan is a source of motivation. When a woman in her seventies is struggling to raise awareness against a deadly disease, cautioning the young to spot the signs of cancer in its early stages, one can hardly find reasons to say no to her call.”<br /><br />Stanita Pasangha, a member of Cancercare for a decade now and Shailamathias, another member since four years say that working for the foundation has been a source of satisfaction. Just after an awareness session at the BBMP PU Girls’ College in Jogupalya, Shaila Mathias said “All these children come from broken homes. Their fathers drink and their mothers chew tobacco. These talks are an attempt to help them take something home. Nobody else is there to talk to these young women about breast cancer or cervical cancer. They might have doubts but no one to talk to.”<br /><br />Till now Sister Joan has worked with the members of the foundation, organising visits, accounting the donations and conducting many awareness programmes. Now as the imminence of the disease is greater than ever, Sister Joan calls out for volunteers. “The young can spread the word better through newer ways. We need journalists, artists and people with technical and computer skills. It only takes a couple of hours every month. The retired who have time on their hands and want to do good are also welcome,” said Sister Joan.<br /><br />To volunteer with Cancercare, call members Shaila Mathias at 9844090868 and Nirmala at 9900160597.</p>
<p>When a young Sister Joan D’Souza lost her favourite aunt to cancer, her resolve was set. She wanted to help those suffering with cancer, she wanted to warn others around her about the disease. Since then for over two decades she is at war with the disease. <br /><br /></p>.<p>With others who were marked by cancer, she started a foundation, ‘Cancercare’ in 1993. Cancercare, comprising of lay persons brought together by Sister Joan, chiefly provides financial assistance to cancer patients. Choosing to be anonymous, the foundation works behind curtains with welfare officials at the hospitals to pave the way for a needy patient’s treatment. Sister D Souza with other members of the organisation visit Kidwai monthly to drop in donations. At the end of the month, they get to meet the patients they helped on paper, via a report.<br /><br />Reducing pain<br />Sister Joan and a medley of dedicated members from the foundation also visit Kapur Ward, the pediatric ward at Kidwai weekly. She is a source of delight to the children, bearing many gifts and sweets. “The Sister is a great source of strength to the worried mothers,” says Dr Janet Prameshwara, the Social Welfare Officer and Head of the Social Welfare Department at Kidwai.<br /><br />Fondly looking at photographs of the children at Kapur Ward, Sister Joan named every child she had ever cared for. “There are some children who will never make it out of the disease. My heart goes out to them. They are all so bright and spirited, taking things in stride. Children from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and even West Bengal come to Kidwai for treatment. See here is Noor, my lovely child,” sighed Sister Joan.<br /><br />“My department has worked with Sister Joan since 1993, when Cancercare was just founded. It is quite impressive to see this soft spoken Sister bring together so many lay persons. She is here every Tuesday, with fruits and sweets for the children. She has not missed a single week in the two decades. Her foundation makes monthly donations to Kidwai Cancer Drug Foundation (KCDF),” she said.<br /><br />Spreading cheer<br />The Kidwai Director M Vijaykumar and the Head of Pediatric Department Dr Appaji have been working hand in hand with Sister Joan and her foundation. At the pediatric ward, the foundation organises counselling sessions for the mothers. Several recreational programmes like magic shows, music and dance sessions are conducted to lighten the mood of the children. “They also celebrate birthdays, festivals and for Christmas they brings gifts for every child in the ward,” says Dr Janet.<br /><br />A bigger part of the foundation is the impressive panel of doctors and oncologists Sister Joan has brought together over the years. Doctors from Kidwai, St. Johns Hospital and HCG all readily answered Sister Joan’s call for awareness.<br /><br />The foundation conducts various talks and awareness programmes across the town. With their panel of doctors they visit various colleges and schools. They have talked to students at Christ School and PU College, St. Josephs College and several girl’s schools. Their main focus is to spread the word to students from the lower economic backgrounds. <br />Dr Parameshwara a member of the panel says “Sister Joan is a source of motivation. When a woman in her seventies is struggling to raise awareness against a deadly disease, cautioning the young to spot the signs of cancer in its early stages, one can hardly find reasons to say no to her call.”<br /><br />Stanita Pasangha, a member of Cancercare for a decade now and Shailamathias, another member since four years say that working for the foundation has been a source of satisfaction. Just after an awareness session at the BBMP PU Girls’ College in Jogupalya, Shaila Mathias said “All these children come from broken homes. Their fathers drink and their mothers chew tobacco. These talks are an attempt to help them take something home. Nobody else is there to talk to these young women about breast cancer or cervical cancer. They might have doubts but no one to talk to.”<br /><br />Till now Sister Joan has worked with the members of the foundation, organising visits, accounting the donations and conducting many awareness programmes. Now as the imminence of the disease is greater than ever, Sister Joan calls out for volunteers. “The young can spread the word better through newer ways. We need journalists, artists and people with technical and computer skills. It only takes a couple of hours every month. The retired who have time on their hands and want to do good are also welcome,” said Sister Joan.<br /><br />To volunteer with Cancercare, call members Shaila Mathias at 9844090868 and Nirmala at 9900160597.</p>
