Rajendra Pangi (name changed), 40 year old man from Nabrangpur, visited Asha Kiran Hospital last month. He complained of abdominal pain and weight loss for three months. On investigation, an irregular mass was found in the lower bladder. A CT scan in Vizag and a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of non-resectable bladder carcinoma. Our palliative care is in its infancy but it was all we had to offer.
This man’s daughter had died due to ‘blood cancer’ and his older brother to a brain tumour. Rajendra had every right to be angry and bitter about his fate. But what Rajendra Pangi shared with us about his hope in eternity surprised us all. He was a Christian with a very real faith in the God he had chosen to follow. He wasn’t sad or angry about his condition. He exemplified Paul’s statement “to live is Christ, to die is gain”. He was not only cheerful but also brought hope and assurance to others. He left us with a challenge to to evaluate whether we are enjoying God’s presence here on earth and are ready to enjoy the fullness of His presence after death.