Page 9 - TB: The Ticking Time Bomb
P. 9
STORIES OF LOSS
“
I lost my mom in January 2014. She suffered very badly. I started her TB
medicines before her death but she left midway of the treatment.
”
- Arish
“ Last year, I lost my brother to TB. He used to work in a photo lab in
Delhi. Many years ago, he suddenly started feeling unwell and since
the pain was unbearable he went to our village to get treatment. That’s when he
learnt that he had TB and was given medications. Once he felt better, he
resumed work.
Seven years later, he had a relapse of TB - it was MDR TB. After 2 to 3 months
of taking medication he felt better and thought that he was okay so he stopped
the medication even though the doctor said that he had to continue the
medication for 6 months.
My brother got so many side effects because of the medicines that he felt he
was going to go mad. He used to tell me that instead of going mad because of
the medicines he would rather not have them and die. He would sweat the
whole night and couldn’t get out of bed on some mornings.
The DOTS centre staff called us 2-3 times to check why he has stopped
coming to take the medicines. We told them the reasons. There was no call or
visit from them after that.
”
- Kasi
“ I have survived TB in 2009. I came to know I have TB in the 6th month of my
pregnancy. My daughter was born in the 7th month. My treatment went on for 3
years, from 2009 to 2012. My daughter Sarika got TB meningitis after 6 months of
birth.
She became paralysed on her left side of the body, could not see from her left eye,
could not walk, talk. She suffered for 2.5 years and underwent 5 surgeries. We then
got her treated at AIIMS Hospital for 1 year and 8 months but in 2012 she passed
away. She will always be my inspiration. I love her and miss her a lot.
”
- Sunita
Mumbai, Maharashtra
7
“
I lost my mom in January 2014. She suffered very badly. I started her TB
medicines before her death but she left midway of the treatment.
”
- Arish
“ Last year, I lost my brother to TB. He used to work in a photo lab in
Delhi. Many years ago, he suddenly started feeling unwell and since
the pain was unbearable he went to our village to get treatment. That’s when he
learnt that he had TB and was given medications. Once he felt better, he
resumed work.
Seven years later, he had a relapse of TB - it was MDR TB. After 2 to 3 months
of taking medication he felt better and thought that he was okay so he stopped
the medication even though the doctor said that he had to continue the
medication for 6 months.
My brother got so many side effects because of the medicines that he felt he
was going to go mad. He used to tell me that instead of going mad because of
the medicines he would rather not have them and die. He would sweat the
whole night and couldn’t get out of bed on some mornings.
The DOTS centre staff called us 2-3 times to check why he has stopped
coming to take the medicines. We told them the reasons. There was no call or
visit from them after that.
”
- Kasi
“ I have survived TB in 2009. I came to know I have TB in the 6th month of my
pregnancy. My daughter was born in the 7th month. My treatment went on for 3
years, from 2009 to 2012. My daughter Sarika got TB meningitis after 6 months of
birth.
She became paralysed on her left side of the body, could not see from her left eye,
could not walk, talk. She suffered for 2.5 years and underwent 5 surgeries. We then
got her treated at AIIMS Hospital for 1 year and 8 months but in 2012 she passed
away. She will always be my inspiration. I love her and miss her a lot.
”
- Sunita
Mumbai, Maharashtra
7
