Ready for a new life, and new dreams

For over a decade, Ravindra Sharma, 22, struggled with a facial deformity — a growth in his lower jaw that had been constantly increasing in size. For seven years, his family made multiple trips to numerous hospitals but couldn’t find suitable medical assistance. With barely any guidance or support, they helplessly watched Ravindra suffer as his condition worsened.

When the family visited Ranchi a few years ago, they finally found a growth control treatment that could potentially help Ravindra’s condition. However, they were disheartened to learn that they couldn’t afford the therapy. Feeling dejected, Ravindra and his family returned home, having lost what little hope they had left.

A few years later, in October 2021, on the advice of a village Sahiya (as ASHA workers are known in Jharkhand), Ravindra visited a screening camp at the PHC in Pandadih village along with his younger brother. These camps are organised by our outreach team to promote early detection of cancer across Ranchi district.

The team counselled the brothers, allayed their fears about Ravindra’s condition, and further advised them to visit their Swasth Jharkhand screening kiosk in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi. When they arrived at the kiosk, Ravindra was thoroughly examined by the doctor on duty. The Patient Navigator then guided him to get the required tests done at RIMS. The biopsy results revealed that the young man had all this while been suffering from Fibrous Epulis, a lesion of the gums.

The diagnosis exacerbated the fears of Ravindra and his family. However, with the guidance, advice and empathetic approach of the kiosk team, he was promptly admitted to the oncology ward at RIMS for further treatment.

In December 2021, in a successful surgery, the lesion was removed, and an expert team of doctors reconstructed his jaw. He was discharged in a few days after receiving post-op instructions and a follow-up plan, and was able to go back to normal life. This marked a turning point for Ravindra after having endured years of physical and emotional suffering.

The painful ordeal now over, Ravindra is happy to have received a fresh start and is grateful for the care and support received, especially from his Patient Navigator who stood by him and his family at every step of the way.