Bollywood
Adivi Sesh Pays Tribute to Young Fan Keerthi Through Her Memoir Thumb-Sucking, a Story of Courage, Resilience and Hope
For actor Adivi Sesh, some connections leave a mark far beyond the screen. One such bond was with Keerthi, a young fan whose courage, warmth and spirit stayed with him long after their first meeting.
Keerthi was diagnosed with cancer when she was just four years old. Despite undergoing intensive treatment, including four cycles of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and two bone marrow transplants, she experienced four relapses, including shortly after her chemotherapy and transplants. Both her parents became her bone marrow donors, doing everything possible to give their daughter the best chance at recovery and, more importantly, to ensure that her childhood was filled with happiness despite the difficult circumstances.
Keerthi, in turn, did everything she could to protect her parents from the pain she was experiencing. Even while going through constant physical and emotional challenges, she tried to keep them happy and shield them from the extent of her suffering.
During this difficult journey, Keerthi found a special connection with Adivi Sesh after watching his film Major. She affectionately began referring to him as “Sandeep Mama.” When Sesh came to know about Keerthi and her story, he decided to meet her and spend time with her and her family.
The meeting became a deeply memorable one for Sesh. He remembers Keerthi’s love for Lego and the time they spent building a car together and playing. What began as an attempt to bring some happiness into a young fan’s life eventually became a relationship that stayed with him. Sesh continued to remain in touch with Keerthi and her family even after their meeting.
Keerthi eventually lost her battle after years of treatment and constant pain, passing away at the age of eight. However, her parents wanted her story to live on not as a story defined by illness and loss, but as a reminder of courage, love, resilience and hope.
They have now chronicled their journey and Keerthi’s memories in a memoir titled Thumb-Sucking. The book captures memories from Keerthi’s childhood, her journey through treatment and the steps her parents took to ensure that she received the best possible care while continuing to give her a childhood filled with joy and love.
Speaking about Keerthi and the impact she had on his life, 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Importantly, Thumb-Sucking does not focus only on the pain of the journey. Instead, it reflects the family’s resilience and hope while also documenting aspects of Keerthi’s treatment journey that could provide useful information and perspective to other parents navigating a similar situation.
On the occasion of Keerthi’s birthday on August 17, Sesh ordered hundreds of copies of her memoir with the intention of sharing her story with readers who wish to learn more about her life and journey.
Those interested in reading Keerthi’s story can DM the Thumb-Sucking Instagram page, mentioning that they came across the initiative through Adivi Sesh’s post. The book will then be made available to them upon receiving their request.
Through Thumb-Sucking, Keerthi’s parents hope to preserve not only the memories of their daughter but also the lessons they learned through their journey. It is a deeply personal account of a family that chose to celebrate life even in the most difficult circumstances, and a tribute to a little girl whose courage touched everyone around her.
For Adivi Sesh, the memoir is also a way of keeping Keerthi’s memory alive and ensuring that her story continues to reach people who may find strength, information and hope in her journey.
