Srinagarr: A miscarriage, a stillborn baby, multiple tumours and fourth stage cancer in both breasts. Yet, 55-year-old Neerja Malik faced all that life threw at her and emerged smiling.
"My husband said I've got cancer. Till that point I was on auto-pilot. I turned to him and gave him a big punch on his arm. And then I started crying, because it hit me and I had time to deal with it," said Neerja.
In 1998, Neerja was diagnosed with cancer. Initially shell-shocked, Neerja decided she had to fight for her life for the sake of her twin children.
"The family was shattered. My children were seven. And I had to behave as if nothing had happened because I wanted to have a normal existence. But one thing - faith in god and facing it as a challenge saved me," Neerja added.
Neerja's story is one of courage and determination. In her fight against cancer, she has learnt one thing - live life to the hilt, and meaningfully.
Neerja turned her survival story into motivation for others. She began counselling other cancer patients, raised awareness about cancer by running the Pinkathon with Milind Soman, and even wrote a book.
"I wrote the book to convey my feelings and my strength to so many people. I counsel people everyday. So why don't I put together my thoughts. The treasures of my life so that people get to read and understand that cancer is conquerable," Neerja said.
And by conquering it, she gave hope to thousands of others who are fighting the disease.
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