My father was a simple man with a habit of smoking. In 2006, he suddenly developed a severe and persistent cough. At that time, quality medical care was scarce in rural areas. An NGO supported by UKAID learned of his condition and arranged for tests, which confirmed that he had Tuberculosis (TB). By then, his health had deteriorated significantly.
The treatment provided by the NGO was helpful but limited. As his condition worsened, he was transferred to the National Institute of Chest Diseases & Hospital. The doctors provided him with primary care and after assessing his situation, declared that he might not live much longer. Desperate, we pleaded with the doctors to admit him. Eventually, they informed us that a major operation on his lungs was necessary as they were swollen and filled with pus. Despite being told the risks, we made the decision to proceed with the surgery, hoping for a miracle.
The operation was a success, and after three months of intensive treatment, my father recovered and returned to a normal life. Against all odds, he went on to live another 17–18 years without major health issues.
I was my father’s second child, and he loved me deeply. I loved him just as much. In March 2024, my father’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse. One day, I found him reclining on the sofa in obvious discomfort. Terrified, I rushed to his side, and he whispered that he needed to go to the hospital immediately. My heart froze with fear, but I acted quickly, taking him to the hospital without delay.
After running urgent tests, the doctors diagnosed serious heart complications and referred us to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Once there, the doctors held an emergency meeting, during which they reviewed his medical history. After three days of extensive testing, they called me in to deliver the heartbreaking news—my father had advanced-stage lung cancer. It was in the third stage, and they recommended transferring him to the National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital (NICRH) for specialised treatment.
Two days later, Eid-Al-Fitr arrived, and most hospitals were understaffed due to the holidays. The doctors advised us to discharge my father temporarily, as treatment would not be possible until after April 15. We brought him home, where he expressed his wish to stay with his family and avoid further hospital visits. He was in severe respiratory distress, and we decided that palliative care would be the best approach to honor his comfort and dignity in his final days.
On April 14, I completed his registration at NICRH and coordinated with the Palliative Care Unit to prepare for his care. But on the following morning, my father’s entire body was trembling, and as he rested his head on my mother’s lap, he took his last breath. My younger brother and I wheeled him to the emergency department where a doctor confirmed his passing. The moment felt surreal as if the sky had collapsed on me. My father’s departure was a devastating loss, but I took solace in knowing he left us peacefully, surrounded by the family he cherished.
Despite working in community-based palliative care for six years and knowing its importance, I couldn’t provide my father with the full extent of its benefits. Yet, he got his final wish—to pass away at home, free from unnecessary suffering, with his loved ones by his side.
His strength, love, and resilience will forever inspire me. In his memory, I am more determined than ever to bring comfort and dignity to others in their final days. May his soul rest in peace, and may all those dedicated to palliative care continue to touch lives with compassion and care. I wish good health and strength to everyone working in this noble field.
From March 2018 to June 2021, the Department of Palliative Medicine of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) ran “Compassionate Narayanganj,” a community palliative care initiative in partnership with the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) and Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC). After a 9-month interim period with fundraising, in March 2022, the project received a 3-year grant for the second phase. AYAT Education, a Bangladeshi social enterprise, and St Christopher’s Hospice, one of the UK’s pioneer hospices, have joined as partners. The second phase focuses on developing an integrated age-attuned model of supportive palliative care in Bangladesh and integrating PC into the government’s primary healthcare system.
Leave a Reply