Hemal and Kashyap Dalal, a couple from Usmanpura, shared a passion for food and life. But their world turned upside down when Kashyap, an interior designer and decorator, was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2014. He had to undergo several surgeries, including the removal of his lower jaw, which affected his ability to eat normally. “He was fed a yellowish paste through a tube inserted in his nose. He hated it and would often vomit and refuse to eat. I felt helpless and decided to use my food and nutrition degree to make him happy. I searched online for recipes, but there was hardly anything for mouth cancer patients except some bland dishes. I started experimenting and created dishes like panipuri and pizza that he could eat,” says Hemal, 57. She now runs a YouTube channel where she shares her recipes and tips with other relatives of cancer patients.
She also won the ‘Silent Warriors Award’ from the Ahmedabad Cancer Foundation on the eve of World Cancer Day. The award ceremony at Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA) also honoured former MoS (home) Pradipsinh Jadeja, a cancer survivor. Dr Kaustubh Patel, director and head of surgical oncology at HCG Cancer Centre, praised the efforts of the spouses and family members of cancer patients. “They face many challenges and do everything to ensure the quality of life and treatment of their loved ones. Some of them have overcome their own health issues, while others have supported the patients throughout their recovery,” he said. Dr Dushyant Mandlik and Dr Purvi Patel, coordinators for the awards, said that the key message is to stay positive, have a goal and find a purpose.
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