She left study to care for her cancer-diagnosed mother. 3 years later, she kept her silent promise in Tirupati

Time of India

19-05-2025

The Struggle Behind Closed Doors: Holding On Through Chemotherapy
Fighting Through the Storm: Strength Found in Each Other
A Sacred Bond Beyond Words: Love That Never Faltered
Few things are as powerful as a daughter's love for her mother. Recently, a daughter shared the inspiring journey of her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. Her story, which was shared by the positivity portal Humans Of Bombay on Instagram. In the post, the young woman described how her world came to a halt in September 2022, just three days before she was set to pursue her master's degree. At 22, with excitement for her future brimming, she received news that shattered her heart — her mother had been diagnosed with cancer."My mom has always been my everything. She always went out of her way to make sure I had everything I needed. So when she was diagnosed with cancer, my entire world came crashing down…" she wrote.Everything she had prepared for — a new city, new dreams — was suddenly meaningless. She made the decision in a heartbeat: she would not leave. Abandoning her plans, she remained home to become her mother's full-time caregiver. Her life collapsed into a routine between sterile hospital corridors and the quiet struggle at home. For nearly seven months, she did not step beyond these two places. Youth faded into responsibility as she watched the strongest woman she knew battle the darkest days of her life.As treatment began, the daughter witnessed cancer strip away parts of her mother's identity. The worst moment came when her mother's hair started falling out. Not wanting her to suffer through the painful sight day after day, they decided to take control. She called a barber home. As the clippers buzzed and the strands fell, the daughter sat motionless, eyes full of unshed tears. Her mother, shattered, avoided mirrors for days.But in that vulnerable moment, a silent vow was born — one whispered to herself, her mother, and a higher power. She promised, 'When you're better, I'll cut my hair too.' It was a personal pledge — her mannat — that would one day symbolize not just solidarity, but survival.Her mother faced relentless rounds of chemotherapy and underwent critical surgeries. Despite the pain, weakness, and emotional toll, she fought back with quiet resilience. There was one ride home after chemo that remains etched in the daughter's memory. Her mother, fatigued and broken, lay her head on her daughter's lap and whispered, 'You gave up so much because of me... I don't even know if I'll be okay.' Blinking back tears, the daughter replied, 'If you're still with me, that's all I need.'Over two years, the mother clawed her way back to health. And as the final treatments concluded, the daughter prepared to fulfill her vow. Around her 25th birthday, she traveled to Tirupati — head held high, heart full — and shaved her head as an offering of gratitude and love. Her mother tried to dissuade her, saying she didn't need to do it. But for the daughter, it was never optional. It was the most sacred moment of her life.Now, a year later, the mother often says, 'I wouldn't have survived without her.' But the daughter knows — the strength was mutual. Through every tear, sleepless night, and aching silence, they carried each other. For her, the words 'My mom is my whole world' have never been just a phrase. They are her truth — lived, breathed, and honored in every step she took from the cancer ward to the temple steps of Tirupati.