#BackInBay: After six-months of cancer battle, Sonali Bendre returns home
What's the story
Sonali Bendre, who has been battling cancer for more than six months, returned to Mumbai on Monday, accompanied by husband Goldie Behl.
She was undergoing treatment for high-grade cancer in New York.
Sharing an update about her health, Goldie told ANI that Sonali's cancer treatment has ended for now but she will require regular health check-ups as the disease might return.
Sonali is recovering well, confirms Goldie
Sonali's return made Goldie emotional, who has been her source of strength during the tedious cancer battle.
Overwhelmed by the love and support Sonali received, Goldie thanked her fans and confirmed that she is recovering well now.
"After six months, I would like to mention that Sonali is recovering well. I want to thank all her fans and well-wishers," he added.
Sonali is all smiles as she returns home
Sonali couldn't describe her homecoming in words
Sonali, who has been sharing updates about her cancer battle on social media, wrote a homecoming post and added her heart belonged to her home.
"It's a feeling I can't describe in words," Sonali mentioned.
The actress revealed her time in New York taught her many lessons and she was excited about this interval.
But she added the fight is far from over.
Time to learn there's a new normal, Sonali said
Though she was suffering, Sonali felt motivated
Despite going through a painful treatment, Sonali ensured she stayed motivated and wrote inspiring words on social media.
She proved how important it is to enjoy every moment of life and take one day at a time.
Although it was a cycle of excruciating pain, Sonali emphasized on self-care. This helped her overcome the pain and fight harder every time.
Trumping all hurdles like a true fighter
“I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe. I was strong. I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me.” – Cheryl Strayed, Wild.
Over the past couple of months, I have had good days and bad ones. There have been days when I’ve been so exhausted and in so much pain that even lifting a finger hurt. I feel like sometimes it’s a cycle… one that starts off with physical pain and leads to mental and emotional pain. The bad days have been many… Post chemo, post-surgery and the like… where even just laughing hurts.
Sometimes it felt like it took everything I’ve had to push past it… a minute to minute battle with myself. I got through it knowing that even though I was fighting a long drawn out, draining battle… it was one that was worth the fight.
It’s important to remember that we’re allowed to have those bad days. Forcing yourself to be happy and cheerful all the time serves no purpose. Who are we being fake and putting on an act for?
I allowed myself to cry, to feel the pain, to indulge in self-pity… for a short while. Only you know what you’re going through and it is fine to accept it. Emotions aren’t wrong. Feeling negative emotions isn’t wrong. But after a point, identify it, recognize it and refuse to let it control your life.
It takes an immense amount of self-care to get out of that zone. Sleep always helps, or having my favourite smoothie after chemo, or just talking to my son.
For now, as my treatment continues… my visual focus remains to just get better and get back home.
It’s yet another test…
Student all my life…
Learning all my life…
#OneDayAtATime 📷: @srishtibehlarya
