THE SUCCESS EXPRESS MARCH 2023

Student Success Story

Finding Success in Others' Comfort

Written by Nidhi Duggal, MS Communication Student

Sometimes success looks like this, getting my sister's name on the patent for the product she helped invent and for which she had worked hard. She was just not with me to enjoy this success, or was she?

My elder sister, Ruchi, was a highly confident person who studied and worked in multiple countries, including India, Shanghai, the U.K., and the U.S. She did her M.B.A. and had certifications in Market Research from Leicester University, U.K., and marketing certifications from the University of Notre Dame-Mendoza College of Business, Harper College, and Northwestern University-Kellogg School of Business. She was working at Hollister Inc in a product management role. There was no battle she didn't win, whether personal or professional, with her charm or wit. I don't know anyone so loved by foes and friends alike. No one had a grudge against her; she just smiled on her way to success and through her challenges.

Even when diagnosed with Glioblastoma GBM, she joked that she negotiated with God to give a challenging disease to kick in the butt as she would never have signed up for a simple fight. People who knew her closely agreed and smiled. I don't believe she lost her battle with Glioblastoma. She gave GBM a tough fight and decided to be the first to hug the Lord. That is how my sister saw and lived her life, smiling through the grueling side effects of craniotomy, radiation, chemotherapy, and the several medications she took. She had a poem for her medicines, so she remembered each one's purpose.

Her focus was to recover and get back at her career; she had set small achievable targets for each month. First, she wanted to climb three stories of her office, which she did during her short remission. She touched her vacant office desk and softly said you will have to wait a bit more, but I will achieve this personal victory and then return. Sadly, the photo at her desk that day didn't turn up in my camera, like it wasn't meant to be.

However, I was amazed to experience during her visit Hollister paused to hug their angel, welcome her smile, and see her true spirit shine, even if it was for a day. Everyone from the mail boy, canteen cook, managers, and senior managers hugged, wished, and thanked her for being herself!

This trip to the office was a small victory for her; the one I want to share with my Purdue family is that she made sure she left the world on a high note. Her patent as one of the transanal irrigation device system inventors came after a few years. She assisted in designing a range of products used by critically ill patients when she collected and analyzed research feedback on what will provide them comfort during their struggle with serious illnesses. She ensured she worked hard to comfort others in their worst hours before settling to face her battles. I am sure she celebrated with the universe, knowing people who need this product will be able to use it in time of need.

I share this story of my sister's success as her spirit of never giving up was strong that even in her last moments, she was aiming to make a difference in others life's and make this world a better place by being compassionate and providing others a little more comfort.

This patent was one of her last wishes from me, and I am still working on others.