A story of persistence, hope and a mother’s quiet strength.
When 4-year-old Devika arrived at our partner Hospital in Indore, her body was already showing the strain of treatment. Diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, she had entered the third protocol of the Interim-maintenance treatment phase, and the road ahead was far from smooth. Her nutritional status revealed moderate acute malnutrition, and her small frame carried the weight of a fight that had only just begun.
Devika lives in Indore with her parents and two elder sisters. Her father works as a labourer, and her mother, Alka Suryawanshi, manages the home and stays by her daughter’s side through every hospital visit. Like many families facing childhood cancer, they were navigating two fears at once: their child’s survival and how they would manage everything that came with it.
“When we first heard the diagnosis, we felt anxious and overwhelmed,” Alka recalls. “We didn’t know how to handle what was coming.”
During the interim-maintenance phase, Devika developed Grade 2 mucositis, a painful inflammation that made swallowing difficult and reduced her oral intake significantly. For a child already struggling with malnutrition, this was a serious setback. Her mother’s worry deepened as she watched other children in the ward experience severe weight loss, complications, and some even requiring ICU care.
“I kept thinking, what if my child goes through the same thing?” Alka says. “When her mucositis started, and she couldn’t eat, I was terrified.”
Cuddles nutritionist Chanchal Prajapati stepped in with a clear intervention plan. Glutamine supplementation was initiated to help heal the mucositis, along with careful oral nutritional support tailored to what Devika could tolerate. Her intake was monitored closely, and her mother was counselled on feeding strategies that would help her daughter through this difficult phase.
Slowly, the mucositis began to heal. Devika started eating better. Her energy improved. Her body responded. Over time, her nutritional status shifted from moderate acute malnutrition to a well-nourished state, a transformation that reflected steady intervention, consistent monitoring, and a family that followed every instruction carefully.
The nutrition program provided Devika’s family with monthly ration support, milk, and supplements, easing the daily burden of arranging adequate meals during treatment. For Alka, the counselling and regular follow-ups were just as important as the food itself. “It helped me understand how to feed her properly, even when things were difficult,” she says. “I felt supported.”
One moment stays with Chanchal. It was during the mucositis phase, when Alka’s anxiety was at its peak. She had seen too many children deteriorate, and the fear that her daughter might follow the same path was consuming her. Chanchal reassured her, explained the management plan, and stayed close. When Devika finally began eating better and becoming more active again, Alka’s relief was visible. “That moment, when I saw her improve, gave me the strength to keep going,” she says.
Over time, Devika became more comfortable with Chanchal. Today, when she visits for follow-ups, she feels at ease. Sometimes, she even shares her diet history on her own, a small sign of the trust she has built.
Devika is still in the maintenance phase of treatment. When asked what she looks forward to after treatment is over, her answer is simple. She wants to play with her toys, spend time with her family, and go back to school like other children. She wants to eat her favourite foods without discomfort and play freely outdoors.
Her parents’ message to other families is grounded in their own experience. “Stay strong. Do not lose hope after the diagnosis,” they say. “Timely treatment, proper nutrition and regular follow-ups are very important for recovery. Trust the healthcare team and stay positive, even during difficult phases.”
Devika’s story reminds us that recovery does not always come in dramatic leaps. Sometimes it happens one bite at a time. In small improvements. In a child who slowly finds her appetite again. In a mother who learns to breathe a little easier.
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