Adivi Sesh remembers young fan Keerthi through memoir thumb-sucking: “Knowing Keerthi changed the way I look at courage”
For actor Adivi Sesh, his connection with a young fan named Keerthi became something that went beyond his work on screen. Her courage and spirit left a lasting impression on him, and her story has now been documented by her parents in a memoir titled Thumb-Sucking.
Keerthi was diagnosed with cancer at the age of four. Her treatment included four cycles of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and two bone marrow transplants. She also experienced four relapses, including some that occurred soon after her chemotherapy and transplants. Both her parents became her bone marrow donors and did everything they could to support her treatment while ensuring that she continued to experience moments of happiness during her childhood.
Despite the physical and emotional difficulties she faced, Keerthi also tried to protect her parents from the extent of her suffering. She made efforts to keep them happy even while dealing with the challenges of her illness.
Keerthi developed a special connection with Sesh after watching his film Major. She fondly began calling him “Sandeep Mama.” After learning about her story, Sesh decided to meet Keerthi and spend time with her and her family.
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Sesh later recalled their time together, including Keerthi’s love for Lego. The two spent time building a car and playing together. What began as a meeting intended to bring some happiness to Keerthi eventually became a meaningful connection for the actor, who remained in touch with her family.
Keerthi passed away at the age of eight after years of treatment. Her parents, however, wanted her life to be remembered for more than her illness. They chose to document her childhood, treatment journey and their experiences as parents in Thumb-Sucking, with the hope that her story could offer courage, perspective and hope to others.
Speaking about Keerthi, Adivi Sesh said, “Knowing Keerthi changed the way I look at courage. We often think of strength as something loud or visible, but she taught me that sometimes the greatest strength can be found in a child simply choosing to smile, play and love despite everything life has placed in front of them. I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths crossed and that I got the opportunity to know her, even for a small part of her journey.”
He added, “Keerthi may no longer be with us, but her spirit, her warmth and the love she shared with everyone around her continue to live on. Her parents have preserved that beautifully through Thumb-Sucking. I hope people who read her story don’t see it only as a story about illness or loss, but as a story about a little girl who taught the people around her about resilience, hope, love and the courage to keep finding light in difficult circumstances.”
Reflecting further on their bond, Sesh said, “I thought I was spending time giving Keerthi strength, but somewhere along the way, it was her courage, her spirit and her magic that enriched my life. Knowing her was a privilege I will always carry with me, and I hope her story continues to touch and inspire many more people.”
Thumb-Sucking also looks beyond the difficult aspects of Keerthi’s journey. The memoir documents her childhood and treatment while highlighting the efforts her parents made to give her a life filled with love and happiness. It also includes aspects of their experience that could offer useful information to parents facing similar circumstances.
On Keerthi’s birthday on August 17, Sesh ordered hundreds of copies of the memoir with the intention of sharing her story with readers interested in learning more about her life.
Those who wish to read the memoir can contact the Thumb-Sucking Instagram page through a direct message, mentioning that they learned about the initiative through Adivi Sesh’s post. The book will be shared with readers following their request.
Through the memoir, Keerthi’s parents aim to preserve their daughter’s memories while sharing what they learned throughout their journey. For Sesh, Thumb-Sucking is another way of keeping Keerthi’s memory alive and allowing her story to reach people who may find courage, information and hope in her experiences.
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The post Adivi Sesh remembers young fan Keerthi through memoir thumb-sucking: “Knowing Keerthi changed the way I look at courage” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.