My visit to the Cancer Hospital

Last Saturday, I visited the Cancer Hospital in Adyar, as part of a social initiative in my company. The office where I work is now one year old and the company as such is 25 years old. So the HR folks in my office came up with this novel idea of executing 25 community projects in 1 day.

Since the bosses in my division had better work to do, I was nominated on their behalf to attend the first meeting. This was nearly a month ago and for all subsequent meetings, I continued to get nominated. Seeing no alternative, I decided to involve myself fully in organising it for my unit. The collection drive went well. And with the small bonus that my company announced last week, I even double my meager contribution.

26th was the D-day. Our task was made much easier thanks to an NGO or NGO kinda group. All we had to do was to bring the materials. They did all the interactions with the Cancer Hospital folks, since they have been doing similar things for quite some time now.

We distributed small plastic containers (250 numbers) and also a snack box (250 numbers) containing a veg puff and a cake. We also arranged for a small 45 minute variety entertainment programme by a group of mime artists. After their show was over, we huddled all the little ones and got them to play interesting games like passing the parcel, throwing rings at objects to collect, mini bowling with plastic pieces etc. All went very well and after 2.5 hours of some frantic running around, we all dispersed for the day.

While I was going from one building to another, I did notice something really ironical. There was this painted signboard on a tree in the campus of the Cancer Institute. It said "No smoking inside the campus". What state of mental atrophy are we in, that one has to read that sign inside a hospital, that too one exclusively for treating cancer. I wanted to capture it on camera, but somehow couldn't get myself to shoot the photo.

Before Saturday arrived, I was wondering - almost fantasizing - that the visit to this place would wake up the good guy inside me. I have seen my fair share of blood and illness, but wasn't sure how I would react to seeing Cancer patients. Would I break down? But that was not to be.

I mean, the sight of seeing very young children - hardly 5 or 6 years old - being called patients, seeing these children always wearing a surgeon's mask to prevent infection and some with the ubiquitous indigo mark for radiation... Its quite disheartening. But none of my fears really came true. I was able to handle myself in a commendable manner. I think, not having to visit the wards also helped a little!

And one other thing - like Superthumby told me this 'noon - seeing kids with cancer, does give one some perspective in life and makes us think - Do I really need a Mercedes so desperately? Unfortunately, we are left with this thought for just a minute or so.