Chaguanas sisters Rima and Renuka Seemungal were quite an adventurous pair. Trampling forests, they took "terite" (a locally grown plant similar to the bamboo), and made about 39 products, including briefcases, pocket pads, albums, corsages and plaques. In 1995, such innovation and industry earned the siblings the small business and handicraft category youth awards hosted by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs. Rima moved to British Colombia, Canada, and married Paul Andre. She even graduated with an honours double diploma in computer business concepts and business administration from the Sprott-Shaw Community College of British Columbia, with 16 distinctions.
She worked as a finance manager for an international logistics company, while Andre found work as an aircraft mechanic. The couple's lives appeared golden. T&T familial bonds remained intact. In a twist of fate, Renuka (Sanskrit for "mother of the universe") had to rush to BC to mother her beloved sister, Rima. Reason being: Seemungal was diagnosed with metastatic (multiple tumours) stage four cancer of the liver and breast on September 16, 2009. She was given six months or less to live. To compound it, her spouse committed suicide as she lay "dying." But she was able to overcome cancer via therapy and prayer. Seemungal is celebrating the fact she's alive two years after the diagnosis.
Interviewed on Thursday, Seemungal, 37, said: "I could not accept the fact I was 35 and going to die. I refused to surrender. I refused to believe I would die so young. Without treatment, they said my survival rate was six months-or less." She remembers the heart-rending news from oncologist Dr Conrad Oja.
Seemungal said: "I showed no emotion. From that moment, I became resilient." Before the diagnosis, Seemungal watched her health deteriorating. She said: "I was losing weight drastically. I was in constant pain. It was excruciating. I couldn't sleep. My rib cage was jutting out. The liver was pushing outwards. I underwent a series of scans."
A visit to the doctor revealed she needed biopsies and two lumpectomies. She added: "When they went in there, they removed two lumpectomies. What they thought were benign tumours was the dreaded cancer." She credited Dr Rhonda Jansen as "the best breast specialist" for finding the elusive cancer.
As the news sunk in, Seemungal confessed she still went ahead and prepared her will within the first couple of months. "I started giving away everything. I said I wanted to be cremated. I made sure I had all my documents in order." On the flip side, she never lost her will to live. She knew the road ahead was fraught with challenges.
Mounting medical bills
Quizzed on her medical expenditures, Seemungal said: "Holy smokes! It took about $1 million to keep me alive. My blood count was so low. They were giving me about six to seven needles a day. It cost about Can$1,500 ($10,000 per needle). "I had about three or four CT scans and X-rays." She received top-class treatment at Fraser Valley Hospital, British Columbia. The intervention of loved ones, especially her sister Renuka, proved priceless.
Seemungal said: "Renuka came up. She stayed at my side. I got my inspirational empowerment from her. She is extremely strong. She was giving me shots of morphine to ease the pain. I took shots of morphine every two hours. She has seen me at my best and worst. I know I'm alive because of Renuka, my friends and prayer. I believe in God." Everything was not smooth sailing. As she winced in pain, her parents Girlie and Ramkissoon Pariagh, felt powerless. She thanked her other sisters, Renata and Ruhanna, who stood by her side.
Trying times
The treatment consisted of six months of chemotherapy, two lumpectomy surgeries and two rounds of pericarditis. She had six major infections, hospitalisation and hormonal treatment. Seemungal said: "My cancer is hormone receptive (positive). People are oblivious to what they have until they lose it all. Your health is your wealth."
Reflecting on the ordeal, Seemungal said: "My body deteriorated. I went down to 70 pounds. I lost my hair on my head. I lost my self-esteem and confidence. I wondered whether I would lose my sexuality and sensuality. I could no longer set long-term goals. "After the fourth round of treatment, my body became paralysed. Seemungal said: "I lay in a comatose state. They immediately pulled me off the treatment."
Paul Andre commits suicide
While she lay in her atrophic state, her spouse committed suicide. Andre had been an overachiever, too. He graduated in aircraft gas turbine overhaul from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). He received the third highest grade point average in his programme from the Aerospace and Technology Campus in Richmond, British Columbia. "He died while I was having the third round of treatment. "The sac around my heart enlarged. They had to rush me to the hospital. It was too much for him to bear," said Seemungal.
Her world came crashing. "I wanted to stop the treatment. I stopped my fight. I wanted to die. He was my whole life. Andre had spiralled into a terrible depression. I had spiralled into a depression. I could not take care of him because I was fighting for my life. He could not bear to see me dying before his eyes. I lost my soulmate of 12 years." Again, Renuka appeared as an "angel of light." She pleaded with me to continue to fight. She delivered a blend of gentleness moulded by encouraging words. Wiping away tears, Seemungal said: "I think about Paul Andre every day. It's a cross I've been carrying for two years."
Seemungal had more issues. The possibility of cuddling her biological newborn or taking a naughty toddler to Montessori school vanished. She can never experience the joys of motherhood. Seemungal said: "I can never have children. I have been in induced menopause to suppress the estrogen. It's the treatment that's keeping me alive and giving me more time. It can prolong my life." Asked whether she was still staring death in the face, Seemungal said: "It's at a dormant stage."
Christmas Eve present
"'Twas the night before Christmas when the oncologist said he noticed some positive signs-a small bit of shrinkage on the tumours ravaging the liver. Seemungal said: "I sent out an e-mail to all my friends and family. Everybody was pretty ecstatic and happy. They said it was the best Christmas present they ever received. "I believe there is a God. So many people were praying for me." Seemungal confessed a nagging fear remains. She said: "I have that fear it is not going to go away completely. It could be a month, a day or ten days later. I have that fear."
Now that she's been given a "clean" bill of health, Seemungal educates, inspires and encourages people diagnosed with cancer or living with it. She works with Young Adult Cancer Canada, Young Adult Cancer Network, BC Cancer Foundation, The Callanish Society, Vancouver Friends for Life and Canadian Breast Cancer Network. She said: "I joined six organisations. I work with them as an aggregate and as a peer counsellor. I provide a shoulder for someone to lean on in their hour of need. It helps them to keep fighting and find purpose and fulfilment."
Life after cancer
Despite walking through the valley of the shadow of darkness, Seemungal said: "I live life and squeeze every drip of delicious juice from my blessed and extraordinary life. I'm a giving person. I have had so many wonderful things happen to me. I have met beautiful people. I know what it is to live and enjoy my life..." She can now laugh loudly and unashamedly.