However, Vashnavi Poovanedran, diagnosed with breast cancer at only 22, battled the disease with courage until her passing in October last year at age 34.
Popularly known as Navi Indran, she was admired for her honest sharing of her cancer experience, especially on social media. Her passing sparked heartfelt condolences from loved ones and strangers whose lives she touched when she was alive.
“During the funeral, there was a flood of people. The day before the funeral, a lot of people came to pay their respects. They came up to me and said, ‘I would like to pay my last respects to Navi. I’ve never met her in real life, but for many years, I’ve been following her,” Navi’s husband, Cedric Vincent, told FMT Lifestyle.
“I’ve got messages from as far as South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya to India. They said that they had followed Navi for many years,” added the 34-year-old marketing manager.
FMT Lifestyle pays tribute to this courageous woman who fought cancer with gusto, and was passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding the disease so she could help others.
“Social media is very much about showing the good, shiny parts, right? But Navi didn’t care. She always wanted to share the downside as well,” he said, adding that her openness made her relatable to others battling cancer or who had loved ones with the disease.
Navi also hoped to inspire others by showing that one could still have a full life even after a cancer diagnosis.
Although Cedric and Navi met in university, it wasn’t until the pandemic that they got to know each other better. They became a couple in June 2020.
Navi, he revealed, was a jovial person who loved Bharatanatyam dance, painting, cooking and baking. She was also known for making a great cup of tea! “It was hard not to love her. She loved deeply and she was genuine.”
In December 2020, after experiencing partial seizures, Navi underwent an MRI which revealed she had brain tumours. Only six months earlier, her doctor had told her she was in remission.
“I was very invested in the relationship. So, when we learnt about it, we just tried to figure out how to overcome it,” Cedric said.
Navi underwent Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) but the tumours kept returning, even months before their December wedding.
Knowing their plans to get married, her doctor recommended another round of SRS instead of surgery. Despite her medical state, Navi looked radiant on their wedding day.
However, an MRI scan in May 2023 revealed that the tumour had rapidly grown back, and Navi had to undergo a craniotomy. In January, more tumours were discovered, requiring yet another craniotomy.
At the end of July, a scan revealed light lesions in her brain and a tumour in the C1 region of her spine. So, she underwent spinal surgery. This eight-hour surgery took a toll on her.
Cedric shared that even after the surgery, a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan on Oct 3 revealed that the cancer had spread, and there was nothing much the doctors could do at that point.
Navi passed away on Oct 21 in the ICU, less than two weeks after turning 34 on Oct 9.
Throughout her illness, Cedric saw Navi repeatedly pull herself out of her darkest moments. “Her strength truly came from within. Thankfully, we had a close-knit group of family and friends. She was deeply loved.”
“Every time she bounced back after surgery or other challenges, it was always for Mia and me,” he said, referring to their dog with whom Navi had a close bond.
“And every time she fought, she didn’t just fight for herself,” he added, his voice filled with emotion.
Being a caregiver, he shared, wasn’t easy but he was determined to be there for her. He managed his stress by playing sports so he could provide the best care possible for her. “Looking back, I would do it all over again for Navi in a heartbeat.”
Recalling the day she passed, he shared: “Navi gave it her all. I know she tried her very best. It was a very hard moment, but at the end of the day, she was the one who was going through the pain, no matter how much we wanted her here.
“I can proudly say that my wife didn’t go out without a fight.”