Author: Dr. Sangeetha Suresh
It was a quiet afternoon when I walked into the small home of a 14-year-old boy named Dhanush*, who was living with advanced cancer. His eyes lit up when he saw us, not because we were doctors or nurses, but because we were the only visitors who spoke to him, not just about him. He showed me his artwork; his last painting was of a glowing sunrise. When I asked why, he simply said, “It’s not the end, it’s just a new morning somewhere.”
That moment captures what pediatric palliative care truly means: dignity, presence, and the sacred act of witnessing a child’s spirit beyond their diagnosis.
From Bedside to Leadership: A Personal Journey
My journey into pediatric palliative care began with a single home visit and a hundred questions. Why weren’t more children receiving this support? Why were families bearing such pain alone? These questions have guided every step of my path since.
In 2023, I was honoured to be selected as a Global Fellow with the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation. The fellowship was life-changing. It gave me not only knowledge but connection to a global family of compassionate leaders. Through this program, I had the privilege of learning from and interacting with incredible mentors like Kenn Ross, Joan Marston, Leise Groot, Dr. Chong Poh Heng and Dr. Ann Toh all of whom have dedicated their lives to transforming the landscape of palliative care for children around the world. Their wisdom, humility, and fierce advocacy deeply inspired me.
Alongside this, I began the Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program, where I continue to grow under the mentorship of Indian leaders such as Dr. Gayatri Palat, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Dr. Megan Doherty, Dr. Marry Ann and Dr. Spandana Rayala—whom are tireless champions for equitable, accessible pediatric care. These interactions have not only sharpened my clinical and leadership skills but have also helped me envision a model of care rooted in dignity, inclusion, and shared responsibility.
Strengthening the Ground Realities at Pallium India
Back home at Pallium India, my journey found purpose in action. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. M. R. Rajagopal, I’ve had the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in real-time, among communities where the need is often urgent but invisible.
Together with our team, I’ve helped lead:
- Medical camps and daily home care for children with life-limiting conditions
- Community awareness sessions, especially in under-resourced areas
- The launch and successful continuation of Rithu, a Parent Support Group (PSG) initiative that provides emotional support and peer connection for caregivers of children with serious illnesses
Most recently, we have taken important steps to strengthen our services by mentoring our healthcare team in pediatric palliative care. Recognizing that such an effort cannot and should not rest on a single individual, we proposed a collaborative model supported by our management and actively led by colleagues like Sibin and Nurse Chandralekha. This collective approach allows us to build sustainable capacity and share responsibility across the team, ensuring that our efforts are both impactful and scalable.
What the Children Teach Us
Children have always been my greatest teachers.
Like Anu*, a 6-year-old with a severe neurological condition, who could not speak but whose gaze held worlds. Her father once told us, “You’re the only ones who treat her like a child—not a burden.”
That sentence remains etched in my heart—not as praise, but as a call to action.
A Call from the Heart
India has around 6-7 million children in need of palliative care each year. Most go unseen, unheard, and unsupported. But this is beginning to change, not just because of large systems, but because of individual and collective courage.
My mentors from Dr. Rajagopal in India to global voices like Joan Marston, Megan Doherty, and Leise Groot have shown me that leadership in palliative care is not about titles, but about trust, presence, and persistence.
I dream of an India where no child faces serious illness in silence. Where families feel held. Where healthcare professionals are empowered to care not just medically, but meaningfully. I believe this future is possible because I have seen its seeds already sprouting in clinics, homes, support groups, and training rooms.
As Dhanush taught me with his sunrise—it’s not the end. It’s just the beginning of a new morning, somewhere.
Let’s walk toward that sunrise, together.
*Names changed for privacy.