'She taught me how to live': Doctor overwhelmed by young cancer survivor's surprise wedding present

At just five years old, Khushi had been diagnosed with a chest wall tumour.

A paediatric surgeon from Chhattisgarh was moved to tears after receiving a deeply personal and unexpected gift from one of his former patients—a young cancer survivor named Khushi, who had once battled a chest wall tumour under his care.

Dr Tanmay Motiwala shared the emotional moment on X (formerly Twitter), explaining how Khushi, who had been unable to attend his recent wedding, instead posted him a surprise package filled with handmade presents.

“My heart is full. Had happy tears today,” he wrote. “I received a package from Khushi. A surprise that touched me deeply. I had invited her to my wedding, but she couldn’t make it. Instead, she sent me a set of beautiful handmade gifts. Yes, Khushi is my patient, but more than that, she’s a dear friend. A brave cancer survivor. A child who has taught me more about life than most ever could.”

I received a package from Khushi. A surprise that touched me deeply.
I had invited her to my wedding, but she couldn’t make it. Instead, she sent me a set of beautiful handmade gifts.

Yes, Khushi is my patient but more than that, she’s… pic.twitter.com/owSKdJboQn

— Dr. Tanmay Motiwala (@Least_ordinary) August 1, 2025

Included in his post were photographs of the items she had made. One in particular held a memory from the hospital—a private joke between doctor and patient. “I said while taking rounds and teaching her how to spell her name — ‘D O N K E Y = P A R I’. She replied, ‘D O N K E Y = TANMAY.’ We both burst out laughing,” he recalled. That affectionate nickname was later inscribed on one of the gifts she sent him.

(1/n) “D O N K E Y = P A R I”
I said while taking rounds and teaching her how to spell her name.

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“D O N K E Y= TANMAY”
She said. I listened to this and we both started laughing.#FriendshipDay special story from my hospital diaries. pic.twitter.com/EpHFislMkF

— Dr. Tanmay Motiwala (@Least_ordinary) August 7, 2022

In a thread originally posted in 2022, Motiwala had detailed Khushi’s medical journey. At just five years old, she had been diagnosed with a chest wall tumour. “She was a quiet and resistant five-year-old,” he recalled. “I sat there for an hour trying to talk to her, joke around, show cartoons on my phone, tickle her. Nothing worked. This kid was stubborn.”

But as her treatment progressed, so too did their bond. “Her chemo started and we started talking. Over time she would hold my finger while I took evening rounds. She would use my earphones and listen to songs while I worked,” he wrote.

Reflecting on her impact on his life, Motiwala added, “She taught me the art to fight in life and never to let that smile down, come whatever. She also taught me that the doctor–patient bond goes much beyond tests, surgeries and bills.”

His post struck a chord across social media, prompting an outpouring of emotional responses. “This story melted my heart,” wrote one user. “Doctors like you restore faith in humanity,” commented another. “Such stories need to be heard more,” a third added. Others described it as “pure”, “moving”, and “a reminder of the beauty in kindness”.