‘Devika Tinsarran: The cancer warrior

Dec 25, 2017 News

---

By Tiana Cole

Devika Tinsarran, 32, who was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer will be celebrating Christmas just like any other Guyanese despite her illness.
Two years ago, Tinsarran was experiencing excruciating pain in her breast, tiredness and weight loss. These signs and symptoms led her to the doctor’s office for a medical check-up.

These days, she spends her time sharing her experience and her lifestyle which she believes is the reason for her being called “the Guyanese Vegan” on Instagram and Facebook.
And to whoever will listen, she is a breast cancer advocate in Guyana through various foundations by promoting healthy lifestyle and dietary habits that can change people’s life. Tinsarran is also an animal lover, who enjoys travelling.
She stated that she will be spending half the day with her husband’s side of the family in Georgetown. She will spend the remainder of the day with her family in Wakenaam.
“For me, family is important. On November 2016, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and my family took it very hard. I was away from them for Christmas and we were very uncertain as to what this year would bring, but in it all, we never gave up hope.”
Tinsarran continued, “When I was given only six months to live, I refused to believe that Christmas 2016 would be my last Christmas. I wanted to be with my family for many Christmases to come. I’m forever grateful that I’m alive to spend another Christmas with my husband and family.”
“I do not need anything else in this world, I do not care that I can’t have all the festive foods and drink everything with sugar; all that matters to me is that I’m here another year to celebrate with the people I love…
“It doesn’t matter how we do it, as long as we do it together,” she added.
DO’S FOR CHRISTMAS
Devika noted that she and her husband go all out with decorating the home for Christmas.
“I’m in charge of the interior and my husband does the exterior; we take pride in decorating our home. The display we have is being referred to by some as “Kitty’s Christmas Village”. It brings us joy to see smiles on people’s faces when they walk past our home.
“If we can put a smile on someone’s face, it is all worth it. It is hard work but it brings not only us but so many people joy at this time of year.”
She added that she and her husband include the real reason for Christmas in their decorating plan.
“We have a nativity scene in the interior and one on the exterior. I love to bake although I don’t eat what I bake, but I enjoy wrapping it up and sharing with my neighbours.
“As a little girl, I remember growing up in Wakenaam. After church on Christmas morning, my mom would wrap cake and make a little goodie bag and send us to distribute it to every family in the village. It was one of the things I enjoyed doing, and now it brings me so much joy to do that for my neighbours.”
DON’TS 

“Since I’m a vegetarian, I do not eat most of what’s known as your typical Christmas Day food and treats like pepperpot, black cake, ham, garlic pork, sauce and so on.
Of course, we still make them; everyone else has and enjoys them but I don’t. Eating the way I do is my preferred lifestyle; it’s not just something I do on occasions. And it’s part of the reason why I’m still here, I believe.
We don’t do the whole sporting and drinking alcohol at Christmas time. The most we will have is Shandy.
The gathering of families to celebrate, to fellowship, it doesn’t matter what happens throughout the year. On Christmas Day, families forget their troubles, their differences and enjoy each other. Everyone is happier at Christmas time, I believe.
I think Jesus would be happy with us celebrating His birthday that way.”
THE NEWS
When asked how she reacted the first time she was diagnosed with cancer, Tinsarran said, “I froze; I became numb; I couldn’t feel my legs. There were so many things running through my head all at once.
“As (the doctor) kept on speaking, I heard myself say to him, “Stop! Whatever you’re about to say right now, I wouldn’t hear or remember. Please give me a few days; I’ll come back and we’ll go from there.”
Tinsarran said that her family and friends were devastated by the news, since no one expected it. The news was a shocker because her family does not have a history of breast cancer.
But she said that her family was confident that she could fight this battle.
She noted during treatment, it was the little things that made the most difference to her.
According to Tinsarran, “My husband was my arms and legs. I felt as though I couldn’t function without him. There were days when I couldn’t walk on my own or even get out of my bed.”
She added that every day before her husband left for work, he would make her breakfast and fill her tea flask to last her throughout the day.
“My mother-in-law would go with me to every doctor’s appointment, every treatment sessions and she did all the cooking when I couldn’t.”
While noting that her parents and her uncle live in Wakenaam, she said that they visit her very often.
She stated that they would bring her lavish amounts of coconut water and organic vegetables which were an essential part of her diet.
“My mom and dad called me every day and prayed with me; they still do to this day. My brother and sister made it their duties to come see me every day after work and did whatever they could to make me more comfortable,” she recounted.
Tinsarran added that her friends would message her regularly just to lend support. This, she said, was extremely important to her.
Chemotherapy
Tinsarran did eight cycles of chemotherapy and 33 sessions of radiation therapy.
Each has its own struggle but with the support from her family and friends, she made it through. She said that her faith in Jesus helped in the fight.
Whenever she felt overly anxious, Tinsarran would listen to her playlist of healing scriptures.
This calmed her.
“It gave me added strength and Jeremiah 29:11 became my anthem.” She continued, “So I held strong on those words and it got me through the most horrible and damaging treatments you can put your body through.”
“Because what chemotherapy is really, it’s basically poisoning your body and hoping to live after. Along with killing the cancer cells, it also kills every cell in your body that is attached to the cancer cell.”
Although Tinsarran wishes she could reverse doing treatment, she said the experience has made her a better person since she believes everything in life happens to teach us something.

THE BATTLE
“I would not lose the battle, not one day. And even today, I still believe that I will one day overcome this. I will live and not die because my work here on earth is not yet finished.”
She would recite this whenever she felt scared.
According to her, there was a point in her life when she “stopped freaking out”—it took her a couple of days.
Recalling that time, Tinsarran stated that she woke up one morning to her husband gazing at her. She recalled that before she could have whispered a word to him, he told her, “Promise me that I’ll get to do this every day until we’re old and gray.”
It was in that moment she realised that she had to fight with everything, not only for herself, but for her husband and everyone who was rooting for her.
“They often say that the person fighting cancer is strong; but I believe the partners of those fighting are the epitome of strength,” said Tinsarran.
Those persons have to watch you go through this horrible experience, watch you helpless and can’t really do anything to assist you, other than be your support system.
She disclosed, “It’s very important for family and friends to be around you. Cancer takes a toll on you, not only physically but emotionally and mentally as well.”
She added, “You need people to be there to keep your company, to make you laugh even in your pain. You need help with daily activities and chores around the house. It’s nice to know that people are there with you through your journey.”
Last November, Tinsarran was informed by her doctor that the cancer has spread to her liver.

---

---