Meet Punnya, Friends of Max (FOM) City Chapter Leader from Kerala and FOM’s Patient Advocate of The Month for September 2025
How Cancer Changed Everything—for the Better
Punnya’s story is a powerful reminder that love, family support and timely access to the right treatment can give extraordinary strength while facing the challenges of childhood cancer. It is a story not just about surviving a diagnosis, but about living well — showing how life’s toughest battles can awaken our deepest strengths.
Born into a close-knit family of four, Punnya grew up surrounded by love and encouragement. Yet, as a quiet child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), she often felt introverted and was uncertain about her future. Little did she know that a diagnosis of cancer at the age of 12 would change her life forever — a diagnosis as feared as it was unexpected.
In 2009, Punnya was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). Despite the shock, she remained determined to live fully. After completing school she went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and later pursued a postgraduate degree in Library Science.
Her journey with FOM began during her treatment at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore. Though she was too young to grasp the full impact of the organization’s work then, she vividly remembers the relief her family felt when Beena Narayanan from The Max Foundation reached out to help them access life-saving medication at no cost through the GIPAP program and introduced her to the support group members of FOM. That, she says, came as lifeline during one of the most challenging times in her life.
Nearly 16 years later, Punnya is now an active and trusted member of the FOM Kerala City Chapter. For her, FOM feels like an extended family. She plays a key role in organizing and participating in Patient Support Group Meetings, which she describes as “spaces of shared strength.” Each meeting, she says, leaves her inspired — seeing how patients and caregivers arrive burdened with worry but leave with renewed hope and courage. As an integral member of the Kerala City Chapter, she proudly represented her region at the FOM Leadership Summit held in Kolkata in March 2025, contributing to shaping the future Roadmap for FOM.
Punnya’s advocacy extends well beyond FOM. She volunteers with iLab, an NGO providing education to children from coastal communities facing difficult life circumstances. As a teacher, she finds joy in her students’ curiosity and resilience. She is also an executive member of Pratheeksha, a non-profit guided by Dr. Narayanankutty Warrier, that supports cancer patients and their families across Kerala — offering comfort, guidance, and hope.
Punnya calls her family (parents and brother) her greatest pillars of strength — their unwavering support gave her the courage to live fully, even during illness.
She fondly recalls her college days, especially a 15-day trip across North India — a dream she fulfilled with her parents’ encouragement despite concerns about her health. “Their faith in me gave me the courage to step forward,” she says.
Today, as she runs her own startup, that same belief continues to be the foundation of her journey.
Her advice to CML patients:
“No great journey is ever easy. Fighting cancer is important, but what’s even more powerful is learning to befriend it. Understand your cancer, understand your body and keep moving forward. The only direction we can go is forward — and that’s what I chose to do. I hope everyone finds within themselves the strength to turn their struggles into stories of hope.”
