Pavaratty, Thrissur: While disclosing a breast cancer diagnosis to Sapna Tracy, the doctor advised her to have an abortion and start chemotherapy immediately. He also assured her that if treated rightly, the disease could be cured.
However, the bluntness in her answer surprised the doctor. “Just like me, the baby in my womb too has the right to live,” she told him, firmly refusing the advice to terminate the pregnancy and start treatment.
Sapna, 43, who already had seven children, chose to risk her life for the unborn child, and about one-and-a-half-years ago, she gave birth to a beautiful girl, whom she named Philomina.
Though all hailed her strong will and courage, breast cancer cells had already started to spread to other parts of her body.
Finally, on the Christmas day, Sapna, wife of Chittilappilly Joju of Chittattukara in Thrissur district, lost her fight against cancer.
Coincidently, the inspiring story of her spirited battle against the deadly disease was being aired on a television channel when she breathed her last.
Sapna, who hailed from the Punnothu family in Thalayolaparambu, was working as a senior nursing officer at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi when she was diagnosed with cancer. Soon, she went on a long medical leave and returned to her native place.
According to the relatives, despite her hectic schedule and the demanding nature of the job, Sapna always took good care of her children.
She was a recipient of the Pro-Life award instituted by the Faridabad Eparchy as part of the Church’s anti-abortion campaigns.
She had been leading an active life before her health deteriorated last month and became bedridden.
The couple’s other children are James, 15; Treesa, 14; Jose, 11; Sebastian, 9; Francis, 8; Maria, 6; and Antony, 4.
Faridabad Eparchy Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Thrissur Archdiocese Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, and the Delhi-based Swanthanam Community Director Fr Dheeraj Sab attended the funeral.
The burial was held at the St Sebastian’s Church crematorium in Chittettukara.
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