Helping cancer patients

"I am thankful to God for giving me cancer,” spry 68-year-old cancer survivor Hosi D. Daruwalla tells Parsiana. Admitting it sounds strange, he elaborates that because of his cancer he got a good doctor and an opportunity to help others. "I take strong medicines worth Rs 6,000 every day as oral chemotherapy, and I receive them absolutely free since 2003 thanks to the Max Foundation of the USA which has an arrangement with pharma giant Novartis to supply these medicines free of cost to chronic myeloid leukemia patients all over the world,” he says on a visit to the Parsiana office on August 8, 2011.

Hosi Daruwalla: easing others’ pain

Originally from Hyderabad, Daru­walla now resides in Bombay’s Fort area. A design engineer with ACC (The Associated Cement Companies Limited), he opted for voluntary retirement in 2000 to spend time with his grandson. A year later he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and lost 30 kg in one month. "It did not hit me immediately but the following two years were the worst of my life. I had lost all my body hair and was perpetually bleeding from my nose, mouth and rectum. Also, my nails had turned blue,” he informed The Indian Express (IE) on July 3, 2011. Daruwalla availed of both allopathic and natural remedies until he was declared cancer-free. Today he finds solace in helping others, especially the poor, to fight the dread disease.

"Uncle,” as he is fondly called in his neighborhood, began to educate himself. "I started reading a lot about cancer and I can call myself a qualified patient. In 2002, I read about the benefits of wheat grass to cure cancer. I then started growing wheat grass at home and drank its juice every day. Now, I give wheat grass to others patients too.” A homemade concoction of methi and garlic in oil is also distributed by him to patients for external application to relieve joint pain. He showed Parsiana a packet of dried raw ambaharad (white turmeric) rhizomes which he gives to patients to eat, as it takes the edge off the pain caused by chemotherapy. He also advocates the chewing of a betel leaf morning and evening and claims that this, along with wheat grass juice, can get rid of diabetes as well if a strict diet regimen is followed (Diabetes can be controlled not cured ­— editors).

Daruwalla displays a colorful patchwork quilt stitched by him fashioned out of leftover pieces of material which he collects from a local tailor. He has so far made and given away 850 such quilts and pillows to poor patients on the street outside the Tata Memorial Hospital and elsewhere. He concentrates on the poor as he finds them more receptive, while the better off tend to shrug off his suggestions, which he finds frustrating. The concerned citizen has even temporarily housed out-of-town cancer sufferers coming for treatment to Bombay from places as far as Kulu Manali at his own home.

Daruwalla ensures that poor patients go for regular check-ups, and claims that he has raised Rs 15 lakh over the years for their treatment from his own resources, from his well settled son and daughter, friends and former colleagues as well as charitable institutions like the Tata, Lotus and Neterwalla Trusts. He sends the money to organizations like V Care, a support group, and Jeevan Jyot Cancer Relief and Care Trust near the Tata Memorial Hospital which feeds and takes care of needy patients. "I take food and sweets to the Tata Memorial Hospital on a regular basis and buy spectacles for patients as their eyes get intensely affected.” On February 12, 2005 V Care awarded him a "certificate of recognition” as a cancer survivor. Another cancer patient care center for which he raises funds is the N. K. Dhabhar Cancer Foundation in Dadar run by Dr Boman Dhabhar and his wife Pouruchisti. He regards the doctor as "God” for he is often up until 3 a.m. attending to his patients.

Riding his scooter as he goes about handling tasks related to his chosen vocation, Daruwalla firmly believes in three mantras: remain positive, have will power and keep occupied.