A Kerala man has written a poignant Facebook post as a tribute to his wife who passed away of cancer, shortly after fulfilling her last wish of seeing cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar in person.
But N Ramesh Kumar has turned a very personal experience into a message of hope and courage for people afflicted with the disease.
A native of Palakkad district, Kumar said his wife, Achu, expressed her desire during her last days when she was undergoing a rigorous course of chemotherapy after the disease relapsed for the second time.
“I would like to see my hero Sachin Tendulkar,” he wrote in Malayalam, quoting Ashu’s wish. The Facebook post was made on Tuesday.
Kumar said she read in a newspaper that Sachin will be in Kochi to watch an Indian Soccer League (ISL) match involving Kerala Blasters, a team the cricketing great co-owns. The match was played on October 6 last year at the Kaloor international stadium.
“I am not afraid of my death. Will you take me there,” Kumar wife told him.
Kumar said his wife’s bold poser left him with no other choice.
Only days left for the match, he said, he somehow managed tickets and some of his friends came forward to help him.
“Four of our friends accompanied us inside the stadium. First we made note of all exit points. Police also helped us with a standby ambulance,” he said in his post.
After a few tense minutes, the moment she cherished arrived.
“Amid the chant of Sachin-Sachin, we forget all our pain. And Achu looked the most beautiful that day,” he wrote in his post along with a selfie he took with his son and wife in front of the stadium.
The photo shows his wife wearing a cap, apparently to hide the loss of hair due to chemotherapy.
Kumar said he wrote the post not to get any sympathy or help but wanted people afflicted with such diseases to face life and death as his wife tackled them.
“She has set an example to follow...whatever is to happen will happen. There will be big hurdles but never give up. Fight till your last breath...Life is really beautiful, enjoy every bit of it. All best,” he concluded, saying if it helps inspire suffering people he will be the happiest.