I met Anila on Zoom to ask a few questions to find out a bit about the role her faith has played in her relationship with her medical condition, thalassaemia.

Thalassaemia is an inherited anaemia which prohibits the body from making the required amounts of haemoglobin, a vital part of red blood cells for carrying oxygen around the body.  In its most severe form, like the one Anila has, the only way to survive is through regular monthly blood transfusions at the hospital.  For many patients including Anila the accumulated iron from the transfusions can be toxic to key organs in the body^*.

Like most other people with thalassaemia, Anila grew up aware of her illness because the transfusions started from the age of 6 months.  Unfortunately Anila’s first nurse was not very empathetic and she remembers having to wait for her arrival every evening to receive a painful injection to take away the iron.  The timeframe when the nurse would come could be anything up until midnight, which crippled her social life.  She remembers since the age of 4 or 5 thinking of the hospital as her second home.  She grew up in a Hindu household and follows the Sri Sathya Sai organisation:   https://srisathyasai.org.uk/uk-organisation/

As a child she was a member of a group that’s like spiritual scouts, and this taught her many human values and spirituality, which continue to govern her every day.

Anila wanted to become a doctor but was rejected 5 times.  She was told that opening up about her condition on her application form meant that the committee thought the illness would shorten her life and would make training her as a doctor a poor investment. Rather than stop at this obstacle, this drove her to get her science degree and a PhD at Newcastle University.  Many years later at a lecture she saw the professor who rejected her, and she thanked him because the rejection had only made her more determined.  This plays into her belief that things happen for a reason and that there are no ‘mistakes’ in the way events unfold- this is the belief of karma.  Her scientific work happened in hospitals until 2010 and she became a tutor working from home, which she describes as a magical experience to get to help young people in understanding science.  “Life is all about giving what you can, doing your best and being grateful,” she says.

Anila seeks comfort in her faith to deal with the pain and difficulties that thalassaemia has brought into her life.  She believes that you have to go through what is sent along your way.  Anila says she prays for the ability to tolerate and bear the pain and that “it works wonders when you are genuine” but it is also her firm belief that “hands that help are holier than lips that pray.” She has first hand experience with the power of prayer.  She tells a story helping in a medical camp in St Petersburg, Russia, when a mother came with a baby with a severe eye infection- what was needed was penicillin eye drops but there were none in the supplies that had come to the camp.  However, one of the volunteers found a parcel that no one recognised or knew how it had arrived, and on opening it, found penicillin eye drops. 

Her friends and family have always remained supportive and positive, staying by her side through every difficulty and every celebration, and are always prepared to make her laugh.  She is adamant that “laughter is one of the best medicines” and that “it is important to stay grateful for what you have because there is always someone else worse off”.  Affirmations and acceptance work to give her piece of mind even now whilst tutoring- she advises others not to label themselves negatively because those thoughts hold you back. 

I feel really privileged to have had the chance to meet and speak with Anila.  Her story resonated with me and learning about she responded with courage and commitment to what others would see as unfortunate obstacles in her life is truly inspiring.

*nowadays, most people can avoid this toxicity by taking regular tablets, which were not available when Anila was growing up

• interview by Maya, year 11