Prema’s Story – A Silence We Heard Too Late

Sometimes, the stories that hurt the most are the ones we never got to hear in time.

Prema was one of us — a dear batchmate, a quiet and kind soul who once walked the same school corridors, shared the same laughter, and lived the same dreams we all did. After our heartfelt school reunion and the formation of Changathikkoottam Charitable Trust, we rekindled many old friendships. But sadly, one among us remained silent — and we only learned her story after it was too late.

Prema had been battling a rare form of cancer that affected her bone marrow. Her illness went unnoticed by most of us until it reached its final stage. For nearly a year, she fought through treatments, pain, and uncertainty, all while keeping her struggle mostly to herself and her close family.

When a few of us visited her home after her passing, her family shared their heartbreak. Her eldest son quietly said something that stayed with us:

“I felt I should let her friends know. Maybe if you all had known earlier, it might have made a difference.”

That moment shook us. Prema’s mother now lies bedridden, unable to recognize even familiar faces. The silence in that home was louder than any words — and within it, we felt the weight of what had been missed.

We may not have known in time to help Prema during her illness, but we knew we couldn’t turn away now. As a small token of our collective love and support, our group came together and raised ₹50,000, which we handed over to her family. It cannot undo the loss, but we hope it brings them some comfort — a reminder that she was not forgotten.

Prema’s story is heartbreaking. It is also a reminder of why Changathikkoottam Charitable Trust exists — so that no one among us has to suffer in silence, so that we stand by each other not just in joy, but also in times of quiet despair.

We couldn’t rewrite Prema’s story.

But with your support, we can make sure the next story is different.

Let’s keep the spirit of care alive — in her memory.