By: Alena Wiese
The harsh reality of life is that it is finite. Yet, a profound reflection on life, loss, grief, and cancer by Dr. Manu Dua, a dentist who tragically passed away from oral cancer at the tender age of 34, ignites a beacon of inspiration that defies this inevitability. In an award-winning manuscript, Life Interrupted: Dr. Dua’s Survival Guide, Dr. Manu’s final thoughts asserting the endurance of ideas despite the temporal nature of life are reverberating across the globe. A vision brought to life thanks to the relentless effort of his sister, Dr. Parul Dua Makkar, his voice speaks volumes even in his absence.
Life Interrupted, honored as a Distinguished Favorite at the NYC Big Book Awards and winning Best Motivational/Inspirational Book at CIPA EVVY, highlights a heartbreaking yet compelling tale of courage in the face of adversity. As the very disease he treated as a dentist took his life, Dr. Manu’s resilience never faltered. He wrote, “I do not believe any human being deserved to suffer so much in such a short time.” His fight against oral cancer was indeed a grueling one, undergoing multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and even relearning necessary life skills such as eating and speaking.
Yet amidst his personal battles, his professional service never ceased, continuing to work at his dental practice until it was ultimately sold. What remained unwavering throughout his suffering was his firm belief in the long-lasting nature of one’s ideas and work. He asserted, “…Our lives will come and go, but our ideas will remain immortal. Therefore, in essence, the soul behind our work remains eternal.”
The eternal soul behind Life Interrupted does not solely belong to Dr. Manu. His sister, Dr. Parul Dua Makkar, also a dentist, played a significant role in ensuring his words reach the hands of other individuals. Dr. Parul not only contributed her own passages to the book but played a pivotal role in making her brother’s dream of this publication a reality. Her continuous efforts in promoting oral cancer awareness and her contributions toward the release of Life Interrupted are reflected in her engaging public speaking and active online presence.
Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is tireless in her pursuits to spread her brother’s enlightening reflections, which are accessible through her website (www.parulduamakkar.com) and on her social media handles (www.instagram.com/duagoodjob and www.linkedin.com/in/dr-parul-dua-makkar-bsc-dds-facd-375324145/). Through these platforms, you can not only order Life Interrupted but also hear more about Dr. Parul’s inspiring work.
The poignant pathos that colors the pages of Life Interrupted is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. It serves as a stark reminder of how one’s life can change course abruptly but also reinforces the indomitable force of love, hope, and resilience, even and especially in the face of devastating loss. It is the story of a man who battled the cancer he was meant to treat, his thoughts, insights, and reflections now resonating with readers around the world. It is a triumphant tale of life and work that indeed are immortal, surviving in the minds and hearts of those touched, and continues to instill strength, courage, and hope.
Dr. Manu may have departed, but he continues to inspire, his legacy immortalized within his words, fulfilling his vision of creating something that outlived his fears and wildest imaginations. The soul behind his work remains eternal, echoing his belief that “if we simply let go of fears that will not serve us in this life or next,” creations can outlive their creators, continuing to serve long after they have departed.
