Ten years ago as a schoolgirl, I felt a hard lump in my stomach. The local doctor sensed that something was wrong and referred me to a hospital. My petrified parents were told that I was showing signs of ovarian cancer and that I needed to be moved to a different city as soon as possible. I was finding it difficult to even maneuver and do basic things.

We were asked to shift to TATA Memorial. My father was in tears. We had no clue whether I would survive ovarian cancer. None of us were aware of the disease, its symptoms, or treatment methodologies. We thought that there was no cure for it but the operation was successful. Dr. Shahid Qureshi let me give my exams and I came out with flying colors.

I went through many hard times in my life. This disease helped me unleash my hidden potential. I have learned to adapt to situations quickly. A cancer diagnosis immediately affects your perception of time. You may have never thought about the length of your life until you were diagnosed with a deadly disease. Cancer and the thought of death go hand in hand. Throughout the process, I became impatient, more sensitive, and easily frustrated. As I began to regain my sense of normalcy, I appreciated the time I had and took advantage of each day.

Surviving cancer was a major accomplishment for me. It resulted in the continuous growth of my inner strength. I would never wish it on anyone, however, I am a better person as a result of it and the life-altering changes I experienced. I no longer have to prove myself to others. I now know what I can handle and have the ability to make choices that are in my best interest! It cannot touch my mind, it cannot touch my heart, and it cannot touch my soul.

Life is all about accepting challenges. It’s not that complicated, life is really simple, but sometimes we insist on making it complicated. Don’t complicate things. Try to relax, enjoy every moment, and don’t give up as you never know what tomorrow may bring for you. I am facing every phase of my life with grace. I never feel like I shouldn’t dream big. I don’t care about the next moment of my life. I always give my 101% to the moment I am living in. I have so many dreams to fulfill and I will accomplish them all.

Do not underestimate yourself. Difficulties are just a way to unleash the hidden zeal that you have not explored yet. Difficulties are a part of life. Trust me, you can cross every hurdle if you believe in yourself.