Nikunj Parmar – A story of ‘HOPE’

While Nikunj’s father was in distress and wondering how to pay for Nikunj’s treatment, his father got in touch with the HOPE project team of Mumbai Smiles, through the Holy Spirit Hospital. His father also got in touch with the Holy Spirit Hospital’s social worker, and was able to mobilize funds for Nikunj’s treatment through Mumbai Smiles. We crossed the first hurdle.

To live with Lymphoma at such an age is certainly not an easy task. Nikunj is a teenager and like other teenagers, he should rather be enjoying his life. However, living with cancer everyday makes his life more arduous. Mumbai Smiles & the HOPE project team made it their mission to bring Nikunj’s life back to him so as to allow him to live like other teenagers. We provided psychological and social support to Nikunj during his treatment.

Mumbai Smiles made the process easier for Nikunj and his family by providing him with Nutrition Support, Conveyance and Diagnostic support for treatment. This was a mental as well as economical relief for Nikunj’s father.

Nikunj likes drawing and playing computer games. He aspires to be an architect. It was important for us to help him achieve his dream. To ensure continuity in his education, Nikunj was also awarded a scholarship for completing a Computer course. Recently, he was taken under the Future Smiles project of Mumbai smiles, where he was awarded a scholarship for completing an Interior Design course so that he can pursue his dream to become an architect. Moreover, he is currently learning English from one of the volunteers, Shanelle, at Mumbai Smiles.

This is the story of how a HOPE project beneficiary was taken care of and transitioned seamlessly into Future Smiles project, where Nikunj is receiving education support, counseling and guidance to fulfill his dream.

We, at Mumbai Smiles and the HOPE project are glad that we were able to provide HOPE to Nikunj and his family and wish him good luck for his endeavors.