Aaditya had won the tickets for a dance video he had composed on breast cancer.

With two free airline tickets to India in hand, 10-year-old Aaditya Singh could have jetted back home for a summer vacation to catch up with friends and relatives, but this goodwill kid had other ideas.

Dubai-born Aaditya, who is actively involved in a number of social and environmental awareness campaigns, recently won the tickets for a compelling dance video he composed on breast cancer for the ‘Protect Your Mom’ awareness campaign. His plan back then, when he spoke to Khaleej Times, was to give the tickets to someone less fortunate, and five months on, his wish has been granted.

“Aaditya’s gift was a big help for me. I feel very blessed,” says Sudna (name changed), cancer survivor and receiver of the airline tickets. Diagnosed with cervical cancer back in January, 45-year-old Sudna was shocked to find out she had developed the disease.

And two days after receiving the diagnosis, eager to start chemotherapy as soon as possible, she flew to India for treatment — where costs are about half the price in Dubai.

“The options for gynaecology treatment here were limited. And it was just too expensive for us,” she says. After an intense few months of treatment, and responding well to the chemotherapy and radiation, Sudna got the all-clear from doctors, but was told she had to return to India every three months, for the next two years, for check-ups.

With a nine-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son studying in Dubai, Sudna said the prospect of having to fly the whole family back to India eight times in 24 months burdened them with ‘financial pressures’, so she returned to Dubai, leaving her daughter with relatives back home.

“I was very weak and upset, but we had no choice. My son went back to India in June after finishing his exams. The money just isn’t there to fly the whole family back and forth,” she says.

Call of hope

A few weeks after landing in Dubai, feeling physically, emotionally and financially drained, the next challenge was funding her upcoming visit to India. But then came the call, which lifted her spirits.

Knowing Sudna was still weak from months of invasive treatment, a friend got in touch saying a young boy had two airline tickets to India, and was looking to pass them on to someone more needy. The mystery boy was Aaditya.

Well aware of the financial burden treatment can have on a patient, Aaditya passed the word to friends and family saying he wanted to donate the tickets to a cancer patient.

“When I win things, I always want to give them to someone less fortunate,” he told Khaleej Times.

As Sudna heard how this young boy wanted to help people, her emotions ran high. “My husband got in touch with Aaditya’s mother and we told them about our situation,” she says.

And once Aaditya heard about Sudna’s case, his mind was made up. “She was in the most pain, the most distress. I wanted her to have the tickets,” he says. “But they told my mother, ‘We are in need, but if you find someone in desperate need give the tickets to them.’”

Sudna used Aaditya’s tickets to fly back to India in late September. She says she feels blessed by his donation.

“It is very emotional for me to think about it. I just want to thank him for everything.”

Aaditya’s mother, Veenu, now talks to Sudna on a regular basis, keeping Aaditya informed of her progress, and the Delhi Private School, Sharjah, student says he hopes she gets well soon.

Talking about her son’s efforts to make a change, a proud Veenu says she will continue supporting Aaditya.

“Aaditya is passionate about spreading awareness, whether it’s early detection of cancer or environmental issues,” adding that his current role as president of the Ambassadors of Community & Environment Club (ACE) at his school, is a responsibility he takes “rather seriously”. The passionate student says he won’t stop on his mission for change.

“One good deed is all that 
it takes to start a chain reaction of goodness. I wish to be a part of such a chain and contribute to the world being a better place to live in.”

kelly@khaleejtimes.com