Father’s Day Special: My father fought 2 cancers and is my biggest inspiration!

Our parents often teach us lessons that stay with us for an entire lifetime. Such is the story of Suresh Srinivasan whose father is not just the biggest inspiration for him but for everyone who knows him. He fought two cancers and the battle lasted 18 long years, before he finally gave in. This Father’s Day, Suresh recounts his father’s journey for us and how his optimism is the biggest motivator in Suresh’s life.
Way back on a fine weekend morning in 2001, we were completely devastated and shocked to hear that my father, Mr D. Srinivasan, had been diagnosed with bladder cancer, which was confirmed after a series of tests. However, we were lucky to get introduced to one of the finest doctors, Dr Mohanty, who treated my father for the last 18 years. My father never gave up and faced every surgery, every medical situation with confidence and positivity from 2001 to 2007. He was determined to fight cancer with his courage to live life.
Also, my father’s faith kept him going. He used to attend community prayers at Gobind Sadan and they helped him stay courageous and gave him strength to fight bladder cancer. A good treatment and an undying faith cured his cancer in 2007.

However, fate wasn’t easy on him. In the later part of 2007, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer! He underwent several surgeries, both minor and major, went through chemotherapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy from 2007 to 2015.
However, because he was heavily exposed to radiation, he had to undergo radiation therapy from 2016. Another major consequence of his cancer was a copious flow of blood coming out from the rectum. He had to get treatment for that in 2016 and 2017. He went for colonoscopy several times so the blood flow could be restricted or stopped. My father is the strongest fighter I have known as he never gave up.
As 2018 approached, he was eagerly waiting to celebrate his 80th birthday, which fell in March but unfortunately, he passed away on February 28 after a prolonged battle in the hospital for 40 days, fighting a respiratory ailment that started impacting his other organs.
However, the way we remember him is as a man who always had a smile on his face, was full of positivity, always over-cared for us and ensured that I was regular with my fitness routine and adopted a healthier way of living. There was not even a single day when my father missed his exercise. He was an ace professional, master of his field, despite his terminal illness. He never gave up on life and worked regularly without taking any leaves even during the days when he was put on a catheter. He was so strong that he would exercise consistently, eat healthy, worked and supported the family despite his illness.
“Exercise is a must for me. I will exercise whether it’s summer, winter or raining. I advise to all my friends to go for regular exercise because any ailment you have can get cured with it and you will feel happy. And, life is about keeping yourself happy,” he would often say.
My father’s life is my biggest inspiration story and a great source of strength for my entire family. There are many things in his routine that inspired us every day, such as:
First thing in the morning, he would have to pop his medicines empty stomach and despite that, he would not miss his exercise even a single day, except when he had his doctor appointments.
He was extremely independent in carrying out his own work, including visiting the doctor, getting procedures done, driving himself to the temple and for exercise and on many occasions, dropping me to the metro station. In fact, he would go to the hospital himself, get colonoscopy done and would pick me up from office on his way back.
He was very regular with his exercise and always used to motivate and encourage us to be healthy.
My father has been instrumental in my taking up running and was always keen that I learn and practice swimming.

He would prepare breakfast for me, prepare my morning coffee, prepare my lunch and dinner on most of the days, as he loved to indulge in cooking. He was a tremendous support during the time my mother got her leg fractured.
My father was always happy to see me traveling, exploring the world and being an outgoing person.
Even during the last 40 days of hospitalization when he was under tremendous pain and could not speak, he never lost his indomitable spirit to live. He fought and came out of the ventilator support just after seven days. Even under those circumstances, he was smiling and brimming with energy.
We are indebted to God and to my father for teaching us the meaning of life and we shall strive to live by his values and principles. May the beautiful memories and strength of my father always remain with us and help us go forward in this journey of life. There is no relation in this world that can be stronger and deeper than the one between a father and his son. Such has been my love and respect for my father, who had an extraordinary willpower, strength and courage to face any situation, including two cancers.