Suparna, a 59-year-old professor from Pune, was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2022. From the moment of diagnosis, she pursued every possible curative treatment at a private hospital, drawing on her life savings and insurance to do so. When the disease progressed and treatment options became limited, she was referred to our Palliative Care Centre in May 2024.
For nearly five months, Suparna received care through our inpatient services and home care programme. But palliative care, for her, was never only about managing symptoms—it was about reclaiming control, finding peace, and preparing herself and her family for what lay ahead.
Suparna's life had been shaped by courage long before her illness. After giving birth to her daughter, Sumedha, she was pressured by her husband and in-laws to terminate the pregnancy because the child was a girl. Suparna refused. Choosing her daughter over social acceptance, she left her marital home and raised Sumedha on her own. Her siblings stood by her through every stage of life, offering steadfast emotional and practical support—support that continued throughout her illness.
From the start of palliative care, Suparna actively participated in advance care planning. Through ongoing counselling and open conversations with the care team, she developed a clear understanding of her condition and prognosis. With quiet strength and clarity, she expressed her wish to avoid aggressive interventions at the end of life. She chose comfort over cure, dignity over prolongation—declining ICU admission, ventilation, and CPR. Her family, especially Sumedha, respected and supported these decisions fully.
One of the most delicate aspects of Suparna's care involved supporting her daughter. Having already lost her father at a young age, Sumedha found herself overwhelmed by the thought of losing her mother—the anchor of her life. As a young adult just beginning her career, the impending loss felt unbearable.
Through regular counselling, we helped Sumedha navigate her anticipatory grief. She was encouraged to speak openly with her mother—to share fears, love, and unfinished emotions. These conversations became deeply meaningful moments of connection. Sumedha made promises about how she would live her life going forward, reassurances that eased Suparna's anxieties and allowed her to let go with greater peace.
Together, mother and daughter were guided through conversations about forgiveness, gratitude, and closure—acknowledging past struggles while affirming the depth of their bond. In one particularly moving moment, Sumedha suggested creating a plaster-of-Paris mould of their hands holding each other. This simple, creative act became a powerful ritual—an enduring symbol of connection, love, and continuity. For Suparna, it offered comfort. For Sumedha, it became a tangible memory to hold on to.
Suparna also carried a final, deeply personal wish: to see her beloved dog, Rusky, one last time. Understanding how much this bond meant to her emotional well-being, our team made an exception to Centre policy and arranged the visit. When Rusky arrived, Suparna's face lit up with joy. As she held her pet close, the room filled with quiet tears—from family and staff alike. In that moment, words were unnecessary. Love, familiarity, and peace filled the space.
In October 2025, Suparna passed away peacefully at the Centre, surrounded by her daughter and family. She left this world as she had lived her final months—on her own terms, with clarity, comfort, and dignity.
For her family, the grief was profound, but it was softened by the knowledge that Suparna's wishes had been honoured, her pain had been eased, and her emotional world had been held with care.
Suparna's story is a testament to what palliative care can truly offer: not the end of hope, but a shift in its meaning—from cure to comfort, from fear to acceptance, and from suffering to compassionate presence.
