When little Shiv from Jharkhand fell sick, his family’s world changed overnight. At just 5 years old, he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a kind of cancer that needed fast and intensive treatment as it is an aggressive cancer. His family moved far from home to Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore for care.

Shiv’s father, who has a heart condition, couldn’t stay in Vellore for long because he needed to manage his own health and continue working to support the family. That’s when his grandmother, Kunthi Devi, stepped in and became his biggest strength.

At first, she didn’t understand medicines or hospital routines. She was hesitant and held on to beliefs like avoiding milk during fever. But with hand-holding, guidance and knowledge from Cuddles nutritionist Monisha, she learned everything over time, even picking up a few English words. She was so involved in taking care of Shiv that whenever Shiv couldn’t eat, she wouldn’t eat either. And no matter how tired she was, she always greeted everyone with a bright smile.

Through the Supplement, Ration and In-Meals Programmes of Cuddles Foundation, Shiv received the nutrition support that helped him stay strong through his toughest days. The ration kits ensured the family always had enough to eat, and the in-meals became something he looked forward to every day.

When Shiv first came to the hospital, he was well-nourished for his age. But as treatment began, he started experiencing side effects and loss of appetite, which led him to lose weight and become thin. There were days in the ICU, when his grandmother sat beside him, worried yet hopeful. However, with continuous nutritional care and support from Cuddles Nutritionist, Shiv gradually regained his health and became well-nourished again.

Now in the maintenance phase of his treatment, Shiv is active, smiling, and full of energy. He hasn’t started school yet, but he already knows what he wants to be when he grows up; a race car driver!!. We are excited to see him speeding past every obstacle just as he has done in his fight with cancer.

His grandmother says softly,

“Believe in the doctors, trust in God, and never lose hope.”

Together, they’ve shown that love, care, and good food can help a child heal…one smile at a time.