24-year-year-old Manaswani Bellamkonda, who was battling with a very aggressive form of cancer since last four months, has lost the battle, breathing her last on Sunday, November 19, 8 p.m., at the Waikato Hospital
Ms Bellamkonda had her husband Jay Krishna Bellamkonda, and her parents at the bedside, along with her newly born baby at the time of her departure to the heavenly abode.
Husband-Wife Jay Krishna Bellamkonda and Manaswani Bellamkonda during happier times.
This is another grim news coming from Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, after the recent news of a family of three, struggling for their lives after eating the meat of a wild boar, affecting the wider Kiwi-Indian community.
Currently, a family of three from the Malayali community, who was hospitalised last week with suspected food poisoning, and being treated for botulism remains in a critical condition.
In this case, the New Zealand Telugu community is bearing the pain of the unfortunate death of a promising life of a young mum, who was in her 25th week of pregnancy when she was first diagnosed with stage 4 of Adenocarcinoma (a form of cancer) in August this year.
Public viewing arranged in Auckland
The grieving family has organised a public viewing of Ms Bellamkonda for one last time for the family, friends and the members of the wider community on Thursday, November 23, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Ann's Funeral Home, Wiri, Manukau.
Vijay Kosna, a Telangana community leader, who is also related to Ms Bellamkonda told The Indian Weekender that the grieving family had organised a public viewing of Ms Bellamkonda for one last time for family, friends and the members of the wider community, before taking her back to India.
"Ms Bellamkonda had wished to be taken back to India, a wish that everyone in the family is committed to fulfilling, despite huge financial cost attached with the wish," Mr Kosna told The Indian Weekender.
Family in gratitude to the community
The Indian Weekender has learnt that the grieving family of Ms Bellamkonda are exploring all possible financial avenues to fulfil her last wish of taking her back to their native town Hyderabad, in the state of Telangana, including appealing to the High Commission of India to share some burden.
However, the family is reluctant to reach out to the wider community for any financial help.
And this is purely out of the sheer sense of gratitude for the overwhelming support that they had received from the community earlier in August when a Givealittle page was created (August 29) to support the family during the stressful phase of battling with the medical ailment.
The community had then rallied behind generously, raising $30, 449 within few days.The Indian Weekender had covered that story and relayed family's call for help to the wider community.(https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/7/8466/New-Zealand/Community-rallies-around-would-be-mum-battling-cancer)
"The family was overwhelmed with the community support received then, and sincerely believes that the community had done their part in sharing our burden," Mr Kosna said.
The family is hoping for some help from the office of the High Commission of India, given that their financial situation is still acute.
Telangana Association of New Zealand (TANZ) is supporting the family in this endeavour and has placed an official request with the newly opened office of the Indian Consulate in Auckland in this regard.
Speaking to The Indian Weekender Kalyan Rao Kasungati, President of the TANZ said "We acknowledge the support of the community received so far towards the cause and we look forward to any further help from the Office of the Indian Consulate in Auckland.
Baby will stay in New Zealand
The 1-month-old baby-boy, Vayun Bellamkonda, who was born prematurely on October 11, and the only silver lining of this saga of four-month long battle with cancer will remain in New Zealand, while the family travels back to India for the last rites of Ms Bellamkonda.
"Doctors have advised to not take the baby at this stage as he was born prematurely," Mr Kosna said.
"The boy will stay with us as my wife Sunitha Vijay is a cousin to husband Jay Krishna Bellamkonda," Mr Kosna added.
Meanwhile, visitors and the members of the community interested to visit Ms Bellamkonda at Ann's funeral home in Wiri, Manukau can call their office at 09 2788600 or Funeral Director Sam Achary on 021395723 for any further enquiry.
The family of Ms Bellamkonda are intending to travel back to India on Friday, November 24.
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