Goa cancer patient bids goodbye to life with partying' shot

Panaji: In the third week of January, Shanti Avedna Sadan-Goa's leading hospice for terminal and advanced cancer patients at Lonto lime was all decked up for a party. There were balloons, karaoke, music, chips and cake.

The mood was sober, but the spirits were high. The idea for a "grand farewell party' came from one of the inmates, 28-year-old Ash- ley Noronha. In the final stages of chronic myeloid leukemia, Ash Jey had one last wish: He wanted to celebrate life.

"He told us he couldn't bear to see any sad faces and wanted every. one to celebrate his life," said Lourdes Soares, founder of Sabr care Trust, an organization that was assisting Ashley with his cancer treatment, adding: "Most people give up in the end, so this was a unique request."

Time was short, so when Ashley put forth his demand, the team at Shanti Avedna Sadan immediately got cracking to host a party that started with clearance from his doctor. Ashley, who had a nasal cannula for supplemental oxygen, wanted to look his best and asked to be shaved and groomed. He even wanted a touch of makeup, said a social worker from Can kids, Sagarika Prabhu Gaonkar, who helped organize the party.

Once done, he was wheeled out for his very last bash. In the face of death, Ashley set the mood that evening, talking his heart out, employing hum our and wit to make his family and friends comfortable, and ensuring everyone was in high spirits. He also asked for the music to be changed-he wanted pop music, joking that sad songs would kill him before cancer did. "He knew he did not have much time left, so he kept pushing himself to stay awake. He was scared to close his eyes. He even asked for his favorite drink rum and coke (his doctor refused the rum)." Soares said.

As the party went on, Ashley didn't want to let anyone go, but the guests were eventually asked to leave so that he could get some rest. With memories of his party still fresh, Ashley went to bed that night, and never woke up again.

"The farewell party was some- thing new for us. He was very happy and died peacefully. The cancer had spread, and he was uneasy, but he didn't complain. He breathed his last at 3.25am the next morning. We dressed him up in nice clothes his family brought for him, and he looked like an angel," one of the sisters at Shanti Avedna told TOI.

Prabhu Gaonkar said it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those present. "We work with many cancer patients and lose some of them. It's sad to see people go, but the way Ashley went really left us with a lot of hope. He gave us a different definition of hope as he took things so well."