Anuj Bajpai’s Post

Thankful, Hopeful, Prepared! This was the motto that Paa gave me as we begun battling a gruesome transitional cell cancer in 2020. Thankful, for a fulfilling life. Coming from a very humble background where means were limited and failure wasn’t an option. And yet making it big in every way possible! Dad was top of the class, a gold medalist, exceptional as an ENT surgeon, professor, public speaker, orator, debater, motivational speaker, career counsellor to many many students, singer, poet, percussionist, yoga guru, social activist, philanthropist…. All this while being the greatest dad, a doting husband and a caring son. Always positive and always thankful! Hopeful, that medical science has answers to a lot many more troubles than it had 10 years ago. That we aren’t the worst hit by this disease, yet. That difficult times won’t last forever. That Paa himself was a specialist in cancer treatment and knew the prognosis well. That, above all, we were all together in this fight and won’t give up no matter what! Prepared, for whatever the future held. For minor and major emergencies. For demanding days and long nights. And eventually as it turned out - for 24 cycles of chemo, multiple surgeries, countless radiations and 150+ days in the hospital over two and a half years. Prepared because Paa had super-human courage. Prepared because we had complete faith on each other. Paa is off to a greater realm today. No matter how hard you prep, you can never be prepared for a day like today. There is nothing positive about today, except the promise that we will continue to be thankful, hopeful and prepared as you watch over us. We could have mourned in solitude but I chose this forum since I know Paa has many many friends, well wishers, followers, students through whom Paa lives on. It would be a great disservice if this motto wasn’t passed on! ❤️ Dr. Anil Bajpai 1950-2023