Dear Courageous Cancer fighters!
Never lose hope. You are a warrior, spread your wings and shine your way!
World Rose Day is observed on September 22 every year. The day aims to spread a message to all cancer patients that they can fight the disease with strong willpower and spirit. It is also commemorated as the day to raise awareness regarding early detection and prevention, which can not just cure many cancers, but also save lives.
World Rose Day is celebrated in the memory of a 12-year-old girl Melinda Rose. The Canadian girl had a rare blood cancer Askin’s Tumor. Doctors predicted that Melinda will not survive more than a couple of weeks, but she lived six months more. Within that period, she met other cancer patients and filled their life with happiness.
She, till her last breath, did not give up hope of survival. In the last six months of her life, she continued to fight and made each day count by touching the lives of those around her in a positive way. She tried to please them by sending letters, poems, and emails. World Rose Day is dedicated to her and many cancer patients like her who fight the disease bravely.
A rose is a symbol of tenderness, love and care. On World Rose Day, the flower is given to cancer patients to tell them how much we care for them.
Psychosocial effects of treatment to cancer patients:
Beating Cancer is a hard task. Cancer patients spend endless days in the hospital receiving a multitude of tolling treatments (like Chemotherapy) that we understand are necessary to save our lives. As the chemo kills bad cancer cells, it also kills good cells in your body, which causes various unpleasant side effects. One of those side effects is losing your hair. This is usually the most visible of the effects which is why it is strongly associated with being sick. Visibly, it sets you apart from those who aren’t cancer patients. And unfortunately, there can be quite a stigma that comes along with this, which is why many feel ashamed of their bald head.
Being an artist and storyteller, I have decided to raise awareness and encourage cancer fighters in every possible way. For this, I have created India’s first chemo dolls in 2017 with the motive to convey the psychosocial effects of treatment to cancer patients. I have created these Chemo Dolls with an extremely rare condition where they do not have hair, they went through all their cancer treatments with their chemo, radiation and surgery. These Chemo Dolls with the ‘Fighting Spirit’ were designed to encourage Cancer fighters who have to go through chemo therapy and will likely lose their hair. These Chemo Dolls are simply beautiful and bald! each with their own removable colorful hat adjoining with the doll’s hand representing the power to fight against the terrible disease Cancer, conveying the message to be proud of your bald head & wear it like a badge of honor. After all, it’s a sign that you’re fighting to stay alive. And that’s beautiful.
My mission was to provide emotional support to children and adults in treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses through these chemo dolls.
I am playing my part by spreading awareness and boosting the morale of Cancer fighters with my creativity and artistic skills.
World Rose Day is celebrated to instil hope, confidence and joy in the minds of people who fight with cancer and we all should celebrate the day by setting up awareness campaigns in our society and educating people about cancer and ways to prevent it.
Today, let’s spend some quality time with them, bring happiness into their lives, cheer them up by gifting roses/artistic card/gift with a message to show them love, support, care and concern.
