A Courageous Warrior Princess

A Courageous Warrior Princess

“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will” – Chuck Palahniuk

Life is fragile, all fleeting. We all don't have a guarantee of the next breath, yet, we forget this stark TRUTH. Few courageous souls remember our mortality and thus learn to LIVE life to the fullest.

Kamneev Kaur Rai ( 14 April 1994- 13 Feb 2023 ) was a young Warrior Princess, who was one of my adopted daughter.

She was a gifted Musician. Immensely talented and accomplished. Her ability to quickly learn new instruments amazed everyone. Proficient in 27 instruments, including Violin and Dilruba.

?About 5 years ago an excruciating pelvic pain was diagnosed as Ewing Sarcoma Cancer. A rare form of Cancer that primarily occurs in the bones or soft tissues.

Initially, we all kept thinking it was some nerve pain etc. It was the expert eyes of Madhu K. Singh, MD , who saw the Cancer growth. We don't have words to show our #gratitude to her #oncologist , Dr. Marta Batus, Dr. Neha Kramer and Dr. Pete Anderson. They took care of Kamneev as their family.

Her medical team at Rush University Medical Center ? were ready to fight the odds. They were amazed at the courage of this young women, who was willing to do her best and fight and fight.

First aggressive round of Chemo and Radiation, the great prognosis was given. She showed all signs to be Cancer Free. We all celebrated and Kamneev became an active Spokesperson for the fight against Sarcoma Cancer.

Unfortunately this good news was so short lived. Cancer came back and the disappointed medical team and? friends started exploring our options.?

Kamenev's body was crumbling under the onslaught of aggressive disease but NOT her spirits.

Our courageous Warrior Princess decided to pursue and complete her Master's in Violin Performance at the Roosevelt University Chicago, College of Performing Arts, while going through Chemo.

After completing Masters, she enrolled for her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, focusing on Sikh Classical music at University College Dublin, Ireland. Her love for people and traveling shows that despite her years of battle with Cancer, she traveled to 50 countries. She was an ambassador of Music and love. Wherever she went she embraced that country residents, their culture and their language.?

Last year at the invasion of Ukraine, this Humanitarian Activist decided to be part of the UNITED SIKHS team at the Medyka border crossing in Poland. She was on the ground serving the fleeing families and children. Kamneev had an exceptional ability to learn other languages. She was comforting the Ukrainian families speaking in their language. While addressing the Polish people, she could switch to their Mother tongue.

Here is the link to one of the newspaper covering this:

Recognizing her physical strength diminishing and her end near, she started preparing the people around her. Just 2 months ago, she decided to travel back to Estonia. One of her friends here had named Kamneev as the Godmother of her newborn. Kamneev had to visit them and say her final goodbye.

She consoled her grieving mother….”Mom, you will be fine. You have many friends. I am tired now, and I have to leave.”

Her words to one of her close friends, Mohina….” I know this will mess you up, but you will also be fine. Go and find another good friend.”

On Monday Feb 13, 2023 she completed her mortal journey in the arms of her older sister Upahvan Rai surrounded by her family. The two sisters were best friends and inseparable.?

The elder, compassionate sister pursued medicine to serve Cancer victims. As a Doctor Upahvan Rai wants to spend her time in Research to find a cure for Cancer.

As an Aspiring Sikhs, reading through my scriptures, I often read about the analogy that light rays merge with the Sun or a droplet of water merges with the Ocean. This is the way our life is.? One's light blends with THE LIGHT, and one becomes perfect.

I contemplate this often and am very courageous about my physical death. There is no fear or worry about this inevitable reality. I have written my own Eulogy. I want to be a writer of my own story, including the inevitable death.??

“I discovered to my joy, that it is life, not death, that has no limits” – Gabriel García Márquez

I will be honest. Today I feel like SCREAMING. My voice is not loud enough to tear the clouds. This mother's heart is tearing apart. The loss of a child is unbearable.?

We accept and make our own order of events. When an elderly soul departs, we console ourselves that this was the time to go. Somehow the death of a young one seems unfair.

As parents, we hope and assume, our kids should outlive us. Life my friends unfolds the way the Universe destines. The Universal Laws don't spare anyone.

Lessons that I learned from our Courageous Warrior Princess are:

• Live life to the fullest. Play your music and let the world dance with you.
• Be a constant learner and keep setting new goals.
• Be hopeful, but learn to embrace physical death graciously.

My commitment to any who needs a shoulder to lean on. The lessons learned from my daughter Kamneev have made me stronger. I want to continue to serve those in need.

Kamneev's biological Mom, Mandy Gill one of my close friends. Here is a link to an article that I wrote just 3 months ago about Voice of a Courageous Woman. Read to learn more about the Courageous family.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/voice-courageous-woman-ginny-jolly

Ginny Jolly

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