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Lakshmi R.
Mumbai
Contact Info
Education

Lakshmi R. was born in a conservative family. Though, it wasn't necessary for girls in her community to study beyond high school, as a young pupil, she enjoyed academics and was an above average student. She pursued matriculation and by the age of sixteen, started working as a stenographer. Although she had left studies early, she nurtured a burning desire to continue her education.

In the meanwhile, she bagged an employment opportunity with the Indian Railways. Along with her job, she pursued higher studies and earned a post-graduation in Law. In 2010, Lakshmi started falling sick frequently. Initial consultations suspected that it could be malaria. However, her family doctor having observed a sudden rise of WBC coupled with drop in platelets doubted Leukemia and thus referred her to a Hemato-oncologist who then confirmed it.

On hearing the news, her husband Manohar and children were initially in a state of shock and disbelief. While Lakshmi sought treatment at the hospital, Manohar assumed the responsibilities of the house, ensured his children were taken care of, and reiterated to them that nothing would happen to their mother. In addition to this, he made sure to support his wife at the hospital, reminiscing over fond memories from their days of courtship to how time flew while raising their children.

The middle class family tackled their financial hardships as they found monetary support from their family members and encashed long term investments. After four rounds of chemotherapy and multiple radiation therapy sessions later, Lakshmi was finally cancer free! Like most mothers, Lakshmi wanted to give her children everything she grew up wanting as they were her first priority. After leaving her job at the Indian Railways, she decided to volunteer with a community based organisation working against domestic violence.

Her legal background was put to good use as she represented the cases of extremely poor and battered women. Sailing through challenging situations with humor had always been Lakshmi's forte. She recounts back to her days of intensive chemotherapy which rendered her bald, resembling a Tollywood villain. She never wore wigs as she saw this as an opportunity to don the Persis Khambatta look.


Lakshmi found herself through her journey of defeating cancer and emerged a stronger person. She found her reason to live everyday to the fullest, instead of postponing happiness to another day in the future. The realisation of the fragility of life itself inculcated a more spiritual approach towards life, her loved ones and most importantly herself.


“I have learnt to treat myself like an individual first and a mother and wife later.”
Lakshmi had always been a fighter. Her spirit never let her fall into the abyss of hopelessness.  Her new mantra in life is, “If you believe it, you can achieve it”.

“I have learnt to treat myself like an individual first and a mother and wife later.”
Lakshmi had always been a fighter. Her spirit never let her fall into the abyss of hopelessness.  Her new mantra in life is, “If you believe it, you can achieve it”.