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With a little help from people like you and I
by PRERANA MARASINI
| FROM ISSUE # 122 (February 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE | |||
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Eleven-year-old Swagat smiles as he selects a joke book from the little pile that Padam Maharjan is carrying. He lies in bed and starts reading, chuckling to himself, before dropping off to sleep, tired. His mother sits by his side stroking her son's bald head, quietly grateful for the little joys that Chiranjivi volunteers bring into their lives. 
Swagat is going through chemotherapy like the other children in the Oncology ward. These children termed 'terminally ill' lose their hair, strength and often, their lives. But Chiranjivi, a group of volunteers, does all it can to make sure that these children don't stop smiling and being happy.
Chiranajivi is made up of individuals who spend time with children living with cancer at Kanti Children's Hospital. They collect old books, crayons, and toys for these young patients to have fun with when intravenous pipes aren't attached to their bodies. Chiranjivi volunteers offer these children a respite from brooding over circumstances that they often don't understand.
The Chiranjivi campaign was started by Melodie Gage, an American who fought cancer, when she was in Nepal. The campaign didn't have a name then. Gage simply brought together volunteers from different walks of life to play with the children, helping them forget their pain for a while and bringing smiles to their young faces.
"For the little while that they play or read, they forget they are in a hospital," says Padam Maharjan, coordinator of Chiranjivi. He briefs the volunteers before they are allowed into the Oncology Department so that they understand the circumstances the children are in. "It is important that volunteers do not frighten the patients or do something that might harm them," he says, adding, "it is not a good idea to be emotionally involved with the patients either. The child that you read a book to today might not be there when you return."
The volunteers also listen patiently to the parents of the patients. "just having somebody listen to their stories to helps people feel better," says Padam. The hospital provides patients with a free bed, a glass of milk and an egg everyday. Padam brings a pack of 'lito' every week for all patients. Still, the medications cost a fortune.
"We sold our land for our son's medical treatment," says Sandesh's mother. Sandesh, eight, suffers from blood cancer and has been bed-ridden for the last seven months. "He used to come first in his class," she says softly, "I don't know if he'll go to school again." Chiranjivi volunteers help Sandesh and his mother and others like them when they visit, bringing cheer into their lives and the lives of those in the ward.
WILL YOU HELP?
Chiranjivi needs volunteers to spend an hour or two every week to play with children who have cancer. Donations of books, toys, and crayons are welcome. If you'd like to help or volunteer, email padam132@yahoo.com or call 4331236.