Childhood Cancer, affecting thousands of children globally, requires immense courage and determination to conquer. Today on International Childhood Cancer we bring to you the story of Samanwita Dey, our Patient Advocate of the month of February 2024.
Samanwita was diagnosed with CML in 2003 when she was just three years old. This is her story; how in her own words “the best thing that has happened to me so far in my life has been my CML diagnosis!”
The same cancer which otherwise isolates and brings with it a sense of stigma to most people upon its diagnosis, to this young twenty-four-year-old firebrand, has been a source of inspiration.
“It allows me to dream with my eyes open and makes me work harder to achieve all the goals that I set for myself.”
We are the Warriors Success Follows Us
Samanwita remembers her childhood to be one of the best phases of her life, spent in learning new things, exploring the world and seeing so many things for the first time. One memory which brings back an instant smile to her face is when as a five-year-old, she would catch a live fish in her tiny palms, from her father’s morning grocery shopping.
Samanwita born and brought up in Kharagpur, West Bengal, lives with her parents and younger brother who is studying in class eight. She completed her schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya and is currently busy with her final preparations for the MBA entrance exam to be held in March 2024.
While her mother is the “director” at home, her father is a business entrepreneur. In her free time, she is either reading books on history, The Bhagwita Gita or is happily dancing way, which also happens to be one of her favourite hobbies!
Samanwita came in contact with Friends of Max in 2004. Naturally it is difficult for her to remember that first meeting, but what she does recollect are the many three-hour train journeys which she has taken from Kharagpur with her parents to attend the FOM Patient Support Group Meetings in Kolkata. For us at FOM it is always a pleasure to meet Samanwita with her smiling face and bright twinkling eyes. She actively participates in all FOM workshops that are conducted during the patient support group meetings and continues to be an inspiration to all. She also makes sure she visits us at our office in Mumbai whenever she is down with her parents for her follow up visits with Dr. S.D Banavali, at Tata Memorial Hospital.
Her Advice to CML patients:
Do not be afraid and you don’t need to worry about CML. It’s a nice journey, enjoy it. Live your life the way you want to. And always remember one thing, “We are the warriors success follows us!”
