It’s a special day for an extraordinary aunt!

At 59, Sitra Devi shows the actual meaning of courage, and the quiet strength of survival. A cancer survivor who has undergone two major surgeries, she has not only reclaimed her life but transformed it, emerging as an avid hiker who has conquered more than 50 mountains.

Every journey tells a story, and this one is truly special. Astro Ulagam had a heartfelt conversation with Saijanani about her mother’s incredible path. 

For her daughter, watching her mother survive cancer was witnessing life at its most fragile and most powerful. “Amma went through the darkest moments of her life,” she shares. “Surviving cancer changed everything for all of us. It taught me to appreciate even the smallest sacrifices she makes for us. I learned to be stronger, kinder, and more grateful. Today, we live with purpose, knowing how precious life truly is.”

The hardest chapter of that journey was the treatment itself especially the pain, the fear, and the constant uncertainty. There were moments when hope felt distant. “She was always scared, wondering if life could end suddenly,” her daughter recalls. “It felt like standing at the edge of life and holding on with whatever strength was left.” What carried Sitra Devi through those moments was faith, the prayers of her family, and a deep belief that her life still had meaning.

Family became her anchor. Loved ones spent countless nights by her side, offering not just physical care but emotional strength. “Our presence gave her the courage to fight each day,” her daughter says. Above all, it was the unconditional love of her children that became her greatest comfort.

After her surgeries, Sitra Devi turned to hiking, not as a sport, but as a way to feel alive again. Nature, she believed, healed in ways medicine could not. Surrounded by mountains and fresh air, she slowly rebuilt her strength, both physically and emotionally. “She survived for a reason,” her daughter reflects. “In the mountains, the little girl in her relived all the moments she once missed.”

Among the many peaks she has climbed, Gunung Keriang holds special meaning. The trail led her not only uphill, but into a pitch-black cave, a journey that mirrored her own survival. Walking through darkness, she reflected on her past and realised that even in the bleakest moments, there is always a way forward.

Every time she reaches a mountain peak, emotion overwhelms her. Standing above the world after all she has endured feels nothing short of a blessing. “Up there, she feels grateful, alive, and stronger than ever,” her daughter shares. “It reminds her how far she has come from her darkest days to this moment of triumph.”

Hiking has also shaped her philosophy on life. Each step, no matter how small, matters. Some paths are steep and painful, much like her cancer journey, but stopping is never an option. She has learned patience, trust, and lessons she carries beyond the mountains.

To other women facing illness or life’s struggles, Sitra Devi’s message is simple yet powerful: live fully. Life is not meant to be lived under anyone’s shadow. Women are strong enough to balance family, work, and still pursue their passions. 

“Never forget your power,” she believes. “And never stop living for yourself.”

If her journey could be described in one word, it would be rebirth. She did not merely survive, she returned stronger, wiser, and more alive than ever. “Every time she embraces the present,” her daughter says, “she falls in love with life all over again.”

Through this story, shared with Astro Ulagam, a mother and daughter hope to inspire women everywhere, especially those who feel defeated or demotivated. Their message is one of hope: even after the darkest chapters, it is possible to rise again. Every struggle carries a lesson, and within every hardship lies the strength to keep moving forward.

Celebrating a remarkable woman today. Happy birthday to our beloved aunt, whose journey inspires us every day. This is not just a survivor’s story. It is a reminder that life, in all its fragility, is still meant to be lived boldly.