Heart Transplant , 2018
Here’s a glimpse of Dr. Viney Kirpal’s inspiring story:
Dr. Viney Kirpal was a vibrant and energetic professor when, at age 58, she was suddenly diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. The discovery came as a complete shock—there were no symptoms until she noticed an odd red patch. Her journey through illness began with a radical mastectomy, six cycles of chemo (during which she suffered a mild stroke), and 33 sessions of radiation. The fear of the disease, loneliness, and guilt pushed her into depression.
Instead of surrendering, Dr. Kirpal decided to “take control” of her disease: she immersed herself in learning about cancer, connected with survivors, and used visualization to imagine herself healthy. Her family’s support kept her going.
After treatment, Dr. Kirpal started working for a non-profit to help underprivileged students, but her health took another drastic turn—chemo drugs caused heart failure. There were times when she hovered near death, and by age 69, she needed a heart transplant. Against the odds, Dr. K. R. Balakrishnan performed a successful transplant which Dr. Kirpal calls her “miracle rebirth.”
Dr. Kirpal’s story is about courage, resilience, and a “never give up” attitude even when facing cancer and life-threatening heart failure. Today, she lives cancer-free, cherishes every day, and writes to inspire others: “Face it. Fight it. Finish it! And you will win.”