Plan C Is For Combat

                                                                    

We humans have a tendency to make plans for our lives. These plans tend to cover most, if not every, aspect of our lives. 

When Plan A doesn't yield results, you have Plan B and if Plan B also falls short, you have Plan C... and so goes the saying and so is our approach to life. 

Many of you know that I've been on my 2nd lifetime since 2020. Clearly, my Plan A (pre-2020) didn't work out so I was out and about with my Plan B. As 2024 was at the edge of welcoming 2025 into our lives, it was an exciting time or so it seemed. Work was fulfilling, was living each day to my fullest, knew my tribe and it felt as if I didn't need anything more.

And then came the bang before the 'New Year'. In Dec '24, my biannual health screening picked up something that I was able to steer clear of for last 5 years. 

The 'Big C' was back, right next to its first appearance. Alas! It came back but blessed that it got picked up in early stage. With the grit that runs in my blood, I took it as 'Glass Half Full'. I was yet again given a chance to put every ounce of my focus, energy, resources and support to treat it. And I did!!

Recurrence made the treatment a tad bit (😉) arduous & grueling than last time. Became a gladiator with stitches, celebrated my birthday at the hospital, dealt with drains, came face to face with 6 cycles of chemo after successfully evading it for 5 years but the most unexpected thing was that every time, I looked myself in the mirror - I saw a stranger. So, I stopped looking into the mirror. 

I used to think that I was already past the tests that alter your life forever (2020 & Covid). But this was darker than that. I won't shy away from sharing that I broke down multiple times, my mind blanked out innumerable times, I had never experienced physical pain like I did and so much more. 

This was miles below my rock bottom....

BUT...

Every time I hit that nadir, I pulled myself up - "I have been given a chance to fight this and so I will. Come what may, I will overcome this. Every day, it is a battle of mind & body, and I will win over both." 

And so, I lead through each day of my treatment. Few heartfelt confessions - 

• Seeing my gorgeous strands fall in bunches, broke my heart more than anything else
• Shaving off my head was the most exhilarating & liberating experience of my life
• At my lowest, my eyelashes were down to just 1, eyebrows all gone, hair regrowing in patches - that was the time when I came face to face with true character of those I thought mattered to me
• A friend met me after almost 10 years and hugged me with immense happiness. She kept rubbing my bald head and with all genuineness kept assuring me that I was looking cute. She had seen her mother go through this ordeal several years back. She understood...
• A friend who mattered a lot, chose to not meet me, no video calls. Unexpected but welcomed because it made sense of a lot of things
• Family stood by me like fierce warriors. They shunned anybody who could potentially hurt me or bring down my spirits. They too went beyond their comfort zones to protect me
• Office colleagues truly turned out to be second family. Not a single day went by when they didn't check on me
• My darling Doc and Bandhu stood rock solid like true guardian angels
• A dear friend who calls herself my Hanuman, prayed for me every day and brightened my days with her wisdom & encouragement
• Prayers poured in from all corners of the world and I felt their power, every day
• Maitri X strengthened my healing
• Only this journey has helped me fathom the boundlessness of the Universal Powers. I bow before them with folded hands and gratitude

Once the treatment was over, on the surface I seemed fine, but I knew that I was breaking inside, floating in a deep abyss not knowing how to navigate past this. To the outside world - I was already a warrior....

And then, in July 2025, I expressed my desire to watch one of the most awaited movies of the year - F1: The Movie.

Sonny Hayes felt personal. He was out for comeback. He was out for redemption. And so was I. As I watched each frame of the movie with a childlike excitement, the winning moment of the race jolted me out of my abyss. With tears rolling down my eyes, somewhat shaking, I finally broke out of the darkness surrounding me. I was free.

I went on to watch the movie 2 more times and with each view, I felt redeemed, I felt alive. 

A lot went left in the last 17 months, and a lot went right too. From the deep abyss of abnormally mutating cells to an exhilarating journey full of gratitude and belief. 

So today, exactly 12 months after my last chemo, I am coming out to the world with my Plan C....

Plan C is for COMBAT, and I will WITHSTAND anything that will come my way....

My Time Travel From Forty To Two...

 

When I said goodbye to 2021 and ushered in 2022, I was full of gratitude for what life had taught me & what it had offered me in the form of my support system & my tribe.  Till now, 2022 has been one of the most remarkable years that I have ever witnessed and I hope that the journey would only get better with each passing day. 

The year started with me turning 40. Till a day before, I was out & about. However, the morning of my birthday, in the wake of surging third wave, I chose to celebrate at home to the dismay of friends & dear ones. Despite my decision, my tribe ensured that it turned out to be a day filled with lots of love, warmth & cherished moments. Gifts, flowers, cakes and greetings poured in through out the day. 

A week later, another moment arrived. I got promoted as a Vice President. While many of us aspire to hold that title, but for me it was special for a very different reason. After my run in with cancer in April 2020, I took a long medical break and it was only around August 2020 that I joined back work. I thought the worst was over but I was so wrong. I struggled to be my earlier high performing self in more ways than one and this realization hit me really hard. The thought that came to my mind was - "Sonal! This is the beginning to the end of a fulfilling career!"

This, I think was the lowest phase that I had ever experienced professionally. I mustered courage, asked for help and that is all I had to do. I got all the support that I could have asked for. During one of our conversations around March 2021, my supervisor told me - "Sonal! With time, you don't just have to get back to the level you were at but you have to get better than who you were before. I thought - he's got to be kidding me".

But later in the day and for many coming days, I kept thinking about what he had said to me. I then pledged to myself that if he had so much belief in me then let me really make an effort to prove him right. And I did. For the next several months, I rallied with determination, battled nervous moments - mostly medically, but I ensured that not just I continued to pay hawk eye attention to my health regime but also my professional goal. 

While I have been promoted several times in the past, but the journey outlined above made this one as the most special & cherished one. For me, it felt life altering.

I was still coming to terms with my promotion when the next moment arrived. During the weekend immediately after my promotion announcement, my mother & sister in law fell ill. After 2 years of rigorous precautions, they finally fell prey to the highly transmissible Omicron. While taking care of them, eventually my brother & I both got infected too and tested positive. This variant got to us, practically within our own home owing to asymptomatic maid. While everyone stated that Omicron was mild but it did break all of us in some way or the other. My immunocompromised state added to the symptoms. I will never forget those days of battling Covid - 19 out together as a family. By the way, I still haven't managed to get back to the pre Covid - 19 strength quotient but I will get there slowly. 

As I moved out of this phase, my next moment was waiting for me. This one is the most cherished one of 2022.  In April 2022, I completed my 2 years of being cancer free. This is one of the major milestones in cancer treatment. I was due for my scheduled tests and I must say that by the grace of God, all my tests got done in the most smooth manner in comparison to the last 3 set of tests that I took across past 18 months. While I read through the reports and I could make out that all seemed well, I finally met my Oncologist over this weekend to hear the final verdict from him.

He said - "Sonal! All your reports are good and since this is the 2 years mark, we will now move out your checkups from every 3 months to 6 months". The wave of relief that splashed over me is inexplicable. I danced a thousand dances while I drove back from the consultation and treated myself to some delicious pan Asian food. 

As I turned Two, this weekend I looked back to my journey of 2 years & it has been a humbling experience. I have lost a lot yet gained a lot. I have lived in fear, yet fought it with all my courage and strength. There were days I wanted to take it easy with a cheat day (food & fitness). Some days I did cheat but the other days, I pulled myself up to persevere. I said "No" to a lot of distractions. I had to put in more than 5 to 6 times of my usual effort to get better than who I was. I had to get away from situations that were toxic for me and from people who could not understand my struggle or my need to live life my way - because we only have limited time & we should make the most of it. This phase has taught me renewed respect & value for health, people, food & finances.    

This is my time travel from Forty to Two...

I am sure that there are many more milestones and moments that are waiting around various corners of this journey that I am traversing. I believe that I am geared up - not only to face challenges that may be lurking around  but also to celebrate life as it passes by. Cheers to many more such time travels!!

My message to you all :  "Stay safe, stay healthy and most importantly - live your life." 

Ushering 2022 With Gratitiude

What a journey it was!! The crests and troughs...the ebbs and flows...uncertain moments and times of celebrations...you brought it all - 2021. Thank you for being the year that made me stronger, brought my tribe closer to me, urged me to come out with my big C experience and taught me to keep forging forward no matter what the circumstance. 

As we all usher in 2022 with renewed hopes, dreams and aspirations...I want to take this moment to offer my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you out there who were a part of my journey.

Some of you were my pillars of strength, my sounding board, some were the voice of sanity and some simply my guardian angels. Some of you nudged me to continue to become a better version of myself,  helped me focus on what matters and what doesn't. You all stood with me and offered your unwavering support.

Be it the medical professionals, colleagues, mentors, nutritionist, yoga guru, family members or friends. It is thanks to all of you that I have come this far in the year gone by. 

A humble thank you to all of you. I hope to be blessed with your continued support as we all step into 2022. May you all and your families be blessed with safe, healthy, happy and prosperous 2022.  

God Bless....

Shine Bright Mahendra...

A vivacious and curious soul you were. Always the first one to come up with ideas and questions too. You were one of a kind kiddo and I would never forget the gala time we all had during our play acting session for the HR offsite. 

Wherever you are, my dear, may you make it a better place. 

Rest in peace...

Tera Mujhse Hai Pehley Ka Naata Koi...

This one is the first in series of stories that have touched my life and changed me as a person forever. 

This is not my personal experience but one that a doctor on my Twitter TL shared and I sought due permission from her to share this with you all. This story had to be told.

Around 5 days back, towards the end of her shift, Dr. DG video called the relatives of a Covid patient who is not going to make it. They usually do this at their hospital if it is something that the family requests for. 

The patient's son requested few minutes of the doctor's time and sang a song for his dying mother. He sang - 

"Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi..."

Dr. DG just stood there holding the phone, looking at him looking at his mother and singing. The nurses around also came over and stood in silence. 

He broke down in the middle but finished the verse. Her asked the doctor for his mother's vitals, thanked her and then hung up the phone. 

Doctor DG & the nurses just stood there - their eyes moist, heads shaking. One by one, the nurses went back to their allocated patients and attended to them or the alarms of vents/dialysis units.

The relevance of this song had changed for them, especially for the doctor. She said that "this song will always be theirs. The son, his voice, his quiet dignity are his mom's legacy."

After reading this tweet, it changed for me too. The doctor had tagged the son in her post. I went on to his TL and offered my condolences. 

No other words to share so I leave you all with the link for this song...

Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi

 

Thank You...

 

A storm was raging...

The past 60 days went by in a daze. While the pandemic was transforming into an enraged monster outside and permeating our lives deeper than it did in the past, I was facing a storm of my own. 

While I was prepping up for my half yearly medical checkup, my mind was awash with thoughts of what had transpired a year ago. It wasn't in my control and the flashbacks kept coming back. I was reliving all of it and I couldn't help it. To top it up, the thought of my impending tests was also unnerving me. 

60 days forward, as of today - my test reports are clean (did hit a temporary bump in between but thankfully we were able to rule out any new malignancies). The day my doctor said, after reviewing my reports, "Sonal! All's well and you go live your life king size!!", the relief that I experienced was simply out of this world. A weight had lifted off my shoulders. 

I wanted to write this post the very same day but could not. Here it is now. 

With folded hands, I want to send out umpteen wishes of thank you to all the people who have become my pillars of strength during my journey. 

1. The Medical Fraternity - a thank you to all the doctors across the globe who helped me with my diagnosis, guided me with the right course of treatment and are still helping me with my regular checkup and queries. This fraternity also comprises of some people who are family/ dear friends and I will thank them once again when I talk about them. I didn't even speak or meet some of the  doctors but my friends/family had reached out to them and sourced helpful information for me. Some only responded via emails/watsapp. But each one played a pivotal part. 

2. My Family & Extended Family - words fall short when I talk about them. My immediate family bore the brunt and stress of my accident and the Big C treatment last year. They stood like a cluster of stubborn, strong rocks that surrounded me and ensured that I never faced any challenge alone. They watched over me like a pack of wolves, their guards always up. My extended family, kept me in their prayers and did not leave any opportunity to tell me that all will be well and I will sail through. The medical experts, focused on getting me the right information at all stages of my treatment and prepped me for what's to come at each stage. 

3. My Friends & Dear Ones - they were and still are my back bone. Despite the stringent lockdown that was imposed last year, some of them managed to give me the much needed facetime, even if it meant that they stood like a hawk around an almost unconscious me when I was rolled out of my first operation or when I stood in my balcony & they on the road, waving like kids. They kept me in their prayers, performed special prayers for my safety, zonked me with some real bad jokes but most importantly, they kept in touch with me and made me smile every time they spoke with me.  They kept my spirits up and afloat. Here as well, the medical experts guided me at all times about what to do next and kept a close pulse check on my treatment. 

4. My Colleagues & Company - my company and colleagues stood firm with me during this entire journey. They supported me in every possible way. Frankly, I had never expected that they would collectively come together to help me in the way they did and still are doing and for that I am eternally grateful. They offered me to take as much time off as I required, my colleagues kept me in their prayers, kept in regular touch with me. They were always ready with any kind of help that I may have required. Even made my return to work as comfortable as possible. I truly feel lucky that I am a part of such an employee centric organization and work amongst this amazing group of colleagues. 

5. My Nutrition Experts - at a time, when gyms and parks were shut, I was still recuperating from my multiple surgeries, it was my nutrition experts who played a pivotal role in helping me transform into a fitter me. They guided me with the right diet plan. It wasn't an easy transition for a foodie like me but I still had to do what was the need of the hour. They stood firm with me in this journey and today, thanks to them, I am experiencing a different version of myself. 

6. My Yoga Guru - he was recommended by a colleague. A very patient and understanding guru who guided me at all steps and helped me become fitter and continues to support me. 

My journey is still on and I will continue to draw support and strength from each and everyone mentioned above. Every night, when I close my eyes, I send out a humble thank you to each of you. It is because of all of you that I am here. 

Thank You!!

The Reflections Of My Journey...

 

This past year has been no less than a teacher for me. In my last post, I finally mustered the courage to bare my soul and come out about my experience. This post is about what I learnt from that tumultuous journey of mine. I believe that my musings may be able to aid someone, somewhere, in their own journey of struggle and thus, here I go. 

Musing 1: It Won't Happen To me Syndrome

Most of us think that we are invincible. We tend to forget that we are mere mortals and it is very easy for us to fall prey to worldly vices, spices and malaise. Even when our bodies are giving us warning signals, we tend to ignore them thinking that it is immaterial. Please come out of this reverie. Prepare yourself for the unseen and unexpected to whatever extent possible. Listen to your body, discerningly. Go for that medical checkup that you have been postponing indefinitely.  Be absolutely cautious, if your family has a history of a particular ailment. 

Musing 2: Get Your Financial Planning Right

There is no greater pleasure than retail therapy. I guess all of us would agree to that with varying degrees. Some of us are possibly wise and thus invest in financial stability of our future. A lot of us also plan for medical emergencies but the count may be minimal. How much of insurance is enough to cover unforeseen medical expenses? Have you taken the right insurance? Maybe I should first ask, how many of you even have a medical insurance? Is your insurance protecting you for critical illnesses? There are umpteen such questions that each of you should proactively think about and then act accordingly. I won't insist that you buy insurance but what I am suggesting is that invest money that will help you tide over medical emergencies. Once again, if there are known ailment history in the family, all the more reason to guard against them.

Musing 3: Act Now To Get Fit

It's a matter of just 30 minutes. Invest these 30 minutes towards your fitness - brisk walk, yoga, meditation, circuit training, cardio or anything else that speaks to your body. I can assure you that in the times to come, your body will thank you. It is never too late to start. There is no defined age to start. Just do it!

Musing 4: Find Your Tribe

If and when the inevitable happens and you find yourself coping with a health predicament, turn to your tribe. Your circle of friends/family/colleagues/dear ones who strengthen you as a person and have got your back. They collectively act as the trampoline that sets you to bounce back after the nosedive. They help you resurrect and rebuild. Do not shy away from reaching out to them and asking for help. Be a part of someone else's tribe. The realization that you helped someone rebuild themselves has immense healing power in itself.

Musing 5: Be Proactive 

Take charge of your body and guide it towards being healthy. Depending on your age and family history, schedule quarterly/half yearly/annual checkups, whatever works right for you. Make it a habit and do not defer for any reason. 

Musing 6: Believe In Your Inner Strength

If testing times do surround you, DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT stop believing even for a minute that will you be able to sail through. The power of believing our inner strength is exponential. It can help us move mountains as well, in times of need. No day is same and time never stops. The spirit of us humans is such that it helps us endure. So believe...

Musing 7: Do Not Ignore Mental Health

A lot of us do not regard mental health as an essential part of our overall wellbeing. Stop doing that today itself. Invest time and effort in strengthening it. Embrace mindfulness and see how it does wonders with your well being. 

I will take a pause here, hoping that my musings may be of some help to you all. 

Stay healthy and take care of yourselves...