A new home away from home for families of children with cancer opens in Wadala, just in time for the season of giving
Children at a St Jude centre celebrate Christmas
The day before a child’s chemotherapy is difficult for a parent. Your world shrinks, and you can only think about tomorrow,” says Shyama Kaviratane. In a city where every square foot comes with a premium, that waiting often plays out on the streets for parents of children with cancer. Co-founder of St Jude ChildCare Centres alongside Nihal Kaviratane, Shyama has seen it up close. Nearly two decades and 68 centres after the duo first saw families camping outside Tata Memorial Hospital in Parel, a new centre opened in Wadala late last month.
Shyama Kaviratane (in pink) inaugurates the new Wadala centre
According to the Tata Memorial Hospital’s 2024 report, there was a 12 per cent increase in diagnostic investigations, leading to a total of 26,000 admissions. “With no safe and clean place to call home, families sometimes abandon treatment prematurely,” reveals Kaviratane, who is now based in Singapore.
Feels like home
The centres host compact rooms or ‘units’ that are designed to replicate community living and foster a sense of equality among its temporary residents. “We have stuck by the original layout of the units ever since we opened our first centre in Parel in 2006. The rooms offer basic accommodation, sans fancy installations. The only change, if any, is that we now have charging points for mobile phones. Children seem to love their screens,” Kaviratane chuckles.
The centres host identical compact units to promote a sense of equality
With a common kitchen and an activity area in place, the families naturally bond over their shared emotions, we learn. “Our cooking hours are limited, lest mothers fall back into the habit of practically spending the day in the kitchen. We actively encourage the fathers to take up kitchen duties as well. Over time, we noticed families sharing meals with each other. Testing times can be a great reminder of human values,” Kaviratane adds.
Season of giving
A resident with his art canvas. PICS COURTESY/ST JUDE CHILDCARE CENTRE
With centres across 13 cities now, there’s always room for kindness, the co-founder reminds us. This Christmas, the centres offer packages such as Snowflake Wishes, Support Stocking, Candy Cane Ride and Santa’s Pantry to lend a helping hand. Kaviratane points out that as a blanket policy, the centres do not accept donations in physical cash. Those keen, can choose from the packages that provide well balanced meals, transport to the hospital, and educational support.
A family attends a counselling session at the centre
Many, like ‘Judian’ Sanika Jadhav will be looking back at their journey this season of giving. A leukaemia patient who walked through the doors of the Parel centre in 2012, Jadhav is now pursuing a Masters in Analytical Chemistry and hopes to enrol into a PhD programme soon. Many Judians who have accomplished their dreams often return to take young residents under their wing, Kaviratane reveals.
Outside the box
Children pore over a storybook
Each centre is home to families of children under the age of 15. Between trips to the hospital, the families spend at least an hour in counselling, or practising some form of art. “Art is an inseparable part of every child’s life. We cannot let a cancer diagnosis steal that joy from them. Our music, art and craft sessions keep children and their families engaged and distracted from the harsh realities of life,” the co-founder explains. The day before a child’s chemotherapy is tough. “The key is to keep them engaged today, and leave as little time as possible to worry about tomorrow,” Kaviratane signs off.
AT St Jude ChildCare Centre, RJ Gaikwad Road, Wadala East.
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