Neetin Sareen: Making the Most of What's Left

“You don’t have much time left.” Six words you never want to hear as a proud, single father of two beautiful young girls. Yet, it’s the unfortunate news doctors recently told our 43-year-old brother and best friend, Neetin Sareen, who’s been battling thyroid cancer since 2014. Now, our family is on a mission to support his basic needs so we can make the most out of the time we have left with him. At 34 years old, Neetin was told that thyroid cancer was “the best cancer you could have”, as it’s relatively non-complicated to treat and chances of spreading are slim to none. Six months after having his thyroid removed, we were devastated to learn that he’d become a part of that “slim to none” statistic. The cancer had metastasized and progressed to Stage 4. Since 2014 he’s undergone radioactive iodine treatment, a challenging voice box surgery that left him with an uncomfortable, raspy voice, and a plethora of painful radiation sessions on various body parts. Due to rigorous medical interventions, he has developed osteonecrosis of the jaw (a condition in which the bone loses blood flow and begins to decay). Neetin has constant painful inflammation in his mouth and copious bleeding and infection. Unfortunately, reconstructive jaw surgery is not a viable option as it would require him to halt his chemo medication. The amount of stress and discomfort he experiences because of this specific issue is mentally and physically overwhelming and debilitating. About Neetin: When we say our brother is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet, it’s not just because we’re his siblings. This generous and compassionate soul would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. He's also known for his witty jokes and charming personality. Outward appearances would suggest that nothing is wrong with Neetin; that he is a 'normal, able-bodied person'. Who would have guessed that he’s fighting for his life underneath it all? Since the birth of his two children, he has dedicated his life to ensuring their health, safety, and wellness on every level. Always a hard worker, Neetin is not only the sole provider for Diya and Divya, but he also cares and provides for our 66-year-old mother, who lives with him and the girls. These responsibilities mean everything to him. As the disease progresses, Neetin struggles to maintain employment amidst illness- and treatment-related absences and has trouble excelling in his career due to the fatigue and mental fogginess that accompanies his cancer. Unfortunately, his condition makes it increasingly difficult to work as each day passes, and therefore had to leave his place of employment. Though he is adamant to find an accommodating employer, his priority is his health. Neetin’s Needs: Neetin doesn’t ask for much in life, but he needs more support now than ever. When a person is staring at the end of their road, with a terminal prognosis, the last thing they need to worry about is finances. Instead of stressing out about how he will financially support himself and his family, he should be resting when he feels unwell. Although we have come together to support our sibling, nieces, and mother, we, too, are working with limited resources that have been depleted. Sachan and I have launched this campaign to raise money to improve the quality of life for our brother, Neetin, to its highest potential amidst this illness by covering his basic living expenses, including mortgage, utilities, car payments etc. We would love for his girls to be able to create special memories with their father, which they can cherish when he’s gone. Our objective is to free Neetin of financial worries so he can fully enjoy the time he has left with his loved ones. Your kindness and generosity will help him make this possible. Please remember, too many people suffer in silence; we never know what someone is going through. Be kind to the people around you. If you can’t donate, please keep in mind you can still help our brother by liking and sharing our GoFundMe campaign across your social network. With love and gratitude, Sachan & Angeli❤️