Personal Voices

Facing Mortality To Seize Control of Living
Dr. Divya Parashar, head of the Department of Rehabilitation Psychology at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, New Delhi, weaves in her personal experience with that of a patient to emphasise the need to talk about quality of life choices and why…
Smriti wearing a black dress relaxing on a chair and looking at the camera as she talks about her abdominal cancer
I Had No Fear And Was Ready To Face What Came
Smriti, 50 from Mumbai was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. The hospital nurse referred to her as the most cheerful patient in the ward. PatientsEngage spoke to her to find out her mantra for a positive attitude. Please tell us a bit about…
Tanmay is a young adult on the autism spectrum and is wearing a black tshirt and a hat and sunglasses and sitting outdoors on a green chair
Managing the Double A - Autism and Adolescence
An autism dad’s honest story of managing adoloescence and puberty with a positive attitude. Journalist Bhanu Pande shares his experience of pro-actively preparing himself and his son for growth spurts and physical urges to raise him into a…
A couple, a woman on a wheel chair with a man standing attentively next to her, both looking into the woods with the sun streaming through
We Lost the Soul of Our Family to Cancer
It has been almost three years since his wife passed away, but the void is hard to reconcile. In an emotional piece, Mario recounts the day when his wife Cheryl was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and how family and friends rallied…
Image of Pavithra, a brain tumor survivor in a green dress with her husband in black and son
A Brain Tumor Need Not be Life-Threatening
Pavithra Sakthivel, who had severe headaches and a seizure, was diagnosed with Grade 3 malignant brain tumor. But she recovered quickly in six months. Find out about the treatment and surgical options that worked for her.    I am a 36 year…
Image of face of Yuna Angel, young singaporean woman looking at the camera, green design effect
Find Me a Job Right for my Mental Illness
It is often misconstrued that people with schizophrenia are being lazy when they find it hard to continue with a job. Yuna Angell, who has schizophrenia, writes about her work experience at a fast food restaurant and what happened to her there. If…
Image: A woman's left arm is visible, attached to a diagnostic machine in a hospital setting
I Cried Bitterly The Day I Lost My Hair
Dora Mukherjee went through the entire battery of tests and procedures after being detected with a Right Breast Carcinoma. She recalls her pain and anguish as well as the love she received during the critical period. The beginning with a diagnosis…
Stock pic of the bottom half of a woman's face smiling and breaking a cigarette as she tells her experience of how she quit smoking
How I Finally Quit Smoking
Anar Chaudhari, 40, who quit smoking after nearly 20 years, says it requires immense willpower and resolve to kick the smoking habit and shares her journey of quitting smoking and the benefits she has observed. Smoking on an Impulse I started…
Image of an older silver haired person thinking and a younger dark haired person in a blue shirt and white t-shirt sitting next to him and debating whether to share or not about Parkinson's Disease diagnosis
To Share or Not to Share - A Patient’s Dilemma
Rajeev, 56 has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease but is unsure of the reaction he will receive if he shares his diagnosis of Parkinson's with his social circle. What do you think he should do?  Living in Dread “Hey, WHAT happened to you?…