Shrenik Shah, Patient Ambassador and Moderator of Fridays with Shrenik Live webinar at Indian Cancer Society, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“There was a time when I thrived in marketing. Life was moving along comfortably, filled with campaign launches, creative strategies, and countless presentations. My voice was my tool, my strength. But as fate would have it, one day, my voice was gone.
Vocal cord cancer – it felt like life had suddenly pulled the rug out from under me.
It’s funny how life throws us into the unknown, expecting us to find our way. When I woke up from surgery, it felt as if the world had gone silent. For a long time, I believed I’d lost the ability to speak in the way I once did.
Yet, within that silence, I began to hear something new: the possibility of a different story, one I was only just beginning to write.
With a hand-held electrolarynx tucked under my chin, I learned to speak again. The sound was different, mechanical even – but it was my sound. My voice was back, though in a form I never expected. Strangely, it felt more powerful than before, as though the adversity had given my words new weight. I became a speaker, a storyteller, a life artisan, and eventually, a global mentor.
Since that day, I’ve dedicated over 8,000 hours to sharing my journey with audiences worldwide. What started as a single talk soon became hundreds, each one carrying a piece of my story.
I found myself at places I’d never imagined – premier medical colleges, major international conferences, and yes, even TEDx stages. From the warmth of Gujarat’s grassroots level to the grandeur of venues in the USA and the UK, I’ve shared my journey, speaking not just about survival but about embracing life’s unexpected turns.
One memorable invitation was from VANDE BHARAT, a live telecast that reached over 2.5 million people. Standing there, knowing my voice was crossing borders and reaching so many, I felt a mix of disbelief and gratitude.
My story continued on platforms like GSTV, NewsPlus24, and even on a podcast streaming on the OTT platform MoonOTT, where I discussed mental health and PTSD. With every talk, I realized my voice – even a transformed one – could still resonate, inspire, and connect.
And the journey continued. I was invited to prestigious gatherings – TED Circles, the Della Leaders Club, the World Leaders Summit, the Institute of Global Professionals, and even a keynote in the USA before 2,500 attendees.
The same voice I thought I’d lost was now echoing in spaces I’d only dreamed of. One of the most rewarding initiatives was a Facebook live e-health series, where I invited expert doctors to join me in sharing valuable insights with a global community. It was a labor of love, watched by over 65,000 people, and a reminder of the power of shared knowledge.
The story has found its way onto pages, too – in publications like Formidable Men Magazine, The Powerhouse Global Magazine, and the coffee table book 10/10 Immersive Narratives of 10 Cancer Winners. Honors and awards followed, each one a reminder that what started as a personal battle had become a shared journey.
From a Guinness World Record certificate to titles like World Super Hero and Global Goodwill Ambassador, these recognitions are more than accolades. They are symbols of resilience, of a life redirected but no less meaningful.
Every talk, every encounter with someone who says my story made a difference to them – it’s an affirmation that even in silence, there’s a chance to create something beautiful. For me, the joy of public speaking isn’t about delivering advice or offering solutions; it’s about opening a door, allowing others to glimpse the possibilities on the other side of adversity.
Perhaps, if my journey teaches anything, it’s that life has a way of unfolding its own plan, and sometimes, it takes losing something to discover a whole new path forward.
And as long as I have my voice – in whatever form – I’m here to share it.”
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