Anis Rai, 30, of Mechinagar Municipality-5, Ghodajin, is currently struggling with double pain. On one hand, his 48-year-old mother Pavitra is bedridden due to paralysis on the right side of her body, while on the other hand, his 29-year-old wife Bishnumaya has been unable to get up or sit for months after losing her right leg to cancer.

Anis lost his father when he was a child. His father was a bus driver. He lost his life in a road accident 18 years ago. That day, he let the conductor drive the vehicle while he was sitting in the co-driver's seat. However, the accident occurred when the learner driver lost control of the bus and many passengers including Anis' father lost their lives.

Mother Pavitra Rai was a tea plantation worker. She spent her life playing hide-and-seek with the Tokla tea plantation workers for about two and a half decades. Pavitra, who worked hard from morning to evening to support her family, suddenly suffered a stroke five years ago. She has not been able to get out of bed since then. 'My mother's life was saved, but she can't walk, she can't understand what she is saying,' Anis says sadly. After her father's accident, the responsibility of the family fell on Pavitra's shoulders. It was difficult for her to raise four children. She used to support the family with the meager wages she earned from the tea plantation. Later, her step-son Anis also started working in the plantation as a wage laborer. Then Pavitra breathed a sigh of relief. At that time, she suffered a stroke. After working for about two years and supporting her family, Anis suffered another tragedy. His wife Bishnumaya suddenly fell ill. Anis, who was already taking care of his paralyzed mother, now also has the responsibility of treating and caring for his wife.

‘It’s been a year and a half since my wife became ill, and since then I had to quit work,’ says Anis, ‘I spent my days running to and from the hospital for treatment. I couldn’t do my regular work.’

About three years ago, Bishnumaya’s right knee hit a stone while slipping in the yard. What initially seemed like a simple injury turned into a serious health problem. Over time, the injured knee started to swell and a large lump of flesh started to grow in the same place.

In the meantime, she underwent Ayurvedic treatment several times. But instead of healing, the wound spread further and the situation became more complicated. ‘I was scared when the wound started growing,’ says Bishnumaya, ‘I only found out that it was cancer after going to B&C Hospital.’

Since the treatment at B&C’s Purbanchal Cancer Hospital was expensive, they went to the cancer hospital in Bharatpur, Chitwan. At that time, they didn’t even have a car to rent. Anis borrowed money from a neighbor and took Bishnumaya to Bharatpur. The hospital confirmed the cancer there. The doctors said that although it was a second-stage cancer, it would require five rounds of chemotherapy. After that, they traveled to Jhapa and Bharatpur five times for chemotherapy.

‘We didn’t have the money to pay for chemo, so we had to raise funds,’ Anis recalls. ‘We raised money from that same donation and underwent chemo.’

Even after five rounds of chemotherapy, the cancer was not cured, but instead started spreading throughout the body. As the condition became more complicated, Bishnumaya's right leg was amputated about a month ago on the advice of doctors.

She has a five-year-old son. After he fell ill, she sent him to the Kanyam-based Maitighar. She says she sent him there so that his studies would not be affected and that he would receive good care.