A family in Surrey, British Columbia, is facing a daunting three-year wait for respite funding to care for their five-year-old son, Ansh, who is battling a rare and incurable brain cancer. Diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, an aggressive cancer of the brain stem, Ansh’s condition has left his parents as full-time caregivers, managing his increasing physical challenges such as frequent falls, difficulty swallowing, and slurred speech.
The family’s application for respite care was met with a waitlist of three years, a timeline they fear Ansh may not have. Chintan Shah, Ansh’s mother, expressed her frustration with the government, highlighting the financial strain and the emotional toll it takes on the family, as they juggle caregiving duties without adequate support.
Despite the grim prognosis, Ansh continues to embrace life, even participating as an elf in BC Children’s Hospital’s 2025 calendar. The family, already relying on a GoFundMe campaign, hopes for expedited respite care to allow them to focus on spending quality time with their son.
