Heartbroken Sharjah school friends remember 18-year-old’s quiet battle with cancer.
Sharjah: When Grade 12 C at GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah, returns from the summer break, one seat will remain empty. It belonged to Glowin Chell, leaving her seatmate Reema heartbroken.
Glowin, an 18-year-old Indian expatriate who grew up in Sharjah, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment in her home state of Tamil Nadu, following a battle with fibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting soft tissues.
Her funeral was held on Wednesday in Marthandam, her family’s hometown in Kanyakumari district. Several of her friends from Sharjah travelled to India to pay their final respects.
Sharjah: When Grade 12 C at GEMS Our Own English High School, Sharjah, returns from the summer break, one seat will remain empty. It belonged to Glowin Chell, leaving her seatmate Reema heartbroken.
Glowin, an 18-year-old Indian expatriate who grew up in Sharjah, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment in her home state of Tamil Nadu, following a battle with fibrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting soft tissues.
Her funeral was held on Wednesday in Marthandam, her family’s hometown in Kanyakumari district. Several of her friends from Sharjah travelled to India to pay their final respects.
Reema was among Glowin’s distraught friends who paid tribute to her, describing her death as a devastating shock.
“The news of her passing came as a terrible shock,” she told Gulf News.
Remembering Glowin as smart, kind and approachable, Reema said she would always treasure the memories they shared as classmates, including the light-hearted moments when they laughed over silly mistakes in their answers.
“I feel grateful to have been her friend. She will always be remembered with love and deeply missed,” Reema said.
A silent warrior
Glowin was diagnosed with cancer around August last year, while she was in Grade 12. Although she took a break from her studies to undergo treatment, she returned to school this year, determined to complete her final year alongside her juniors.
For many of her classmates, her death was especially shocking because they had no idea she was battling cancer. Glowin had quietly carried the immense burden of her illness while continuing to greet those around her with a smile.
Eshal and Nandana, both from Grade 12 C, said they were devastated to learn of her passing, particularly because they had been unaware of her illness.
“Despite everything, she never failed to have a positive attitude and a memorably contagious smile,” Eshal said.
“She was a really bright student and a friendly classmate. She will always be in our hearts,” Nandana added.
Warm presence and a lasting smile
Hitiksha, another classmate, remembered Glowin as someone who never hesitated to speak up in class.
“Glowin was such a kind, charismatic and genuinely smart person. She always had such a warm presence. Whenever no one would answer in class, she would step in without hesitation,” she said.
Although Hitiksha had known Glowin for only a short time, she described her as one of the nicest people she had ever met. “When I found out about her passing, I was in complete denial, and honestly, I still am. It’s so difficult to see someone who was so kind and full of life no longer here. Miss you, Glowin,” she said.
Tehreem, who shared biology practical sessions with Glowin, said her gentle nature had left a lasting impression.
“The warmth in her smile and the kindness in her soft-spoken words will stay with me forever. It’s heartbreaking to lose such a beautiful soul. May God grant her eternal peace. We will always remember her,” she said.
Strong bond since Grade 9
While many of her current classmates had known Glowin only briefly, a close-knit group of friends had been by her side since Grade 9. They were among the few who knew about her diagnosis from the early days of her illness.
Melinda, a close friend who attended Glowin’s funeral on Wednesday, remembered her as someone whose warmth and kindness remained undiminished despite her suffering.
The two had been classmates since Grade 9. Glowin later took a break from school while their group completed Grade 12, before returning after they had graduated. She briefly overlapped with Melinda’s younger sister before her illness forced her to step away from school again.
“Glowin was literally an angel on earth. She was steadfast in her faith and a good friend despite her continuous suffering,” Melinda said.
She recalled how Glowin would style her friends’ hair whenever they asked, particularly on picture days. “She was very smart but humble about it, and spent her time spreading her knowledge, be it about God, academics or her skills,” she added.
“I don’t want her memory to be clouded by her suffering and death. I want her to live forever in our memories as the girl who cared and strived for greatness in whatever short time she had left. I’m proud to have been called her soulmate and her best friend,” Melinda said.
‘Purest, kindest soul’
Hafsa, another close friend, said Glowin’s strength throughout her illness left a lasting impression on her.
“Glowin was one of the purest and kindest souls I have ever known. She was only 17, yet the strength, faith and acceptance she carried through her illness were beyond anything I could understand,” Hafsa said.
She recalled how deeply Glowin’s faith in God shaped the way she faced her illness.
“Her faith in God was something I always admired — even in her hardest moments, she trusted His plan. When I begged her not to leave us, she would remind me that if it was God’s will, there would be goodness in it that we could not yet see. I will never forget those words,” she said.
“Glowin touched so many lives with her kindness, her smile and her beautiful soul. I will carry her memory and pray for her family always. She will never be forgotten,” Hafsa added.
‘Too good for this earth’
Layyah, another close friend, said meeting Glowin had been an unexpected gift.
“She was such a shy, gentle and innocent soul, with so much life and wisdom behind her quietness. She had a way of making people around her feel loved and accepted, and proudly wove God into her life in every way possible,” Layyah said.
Layyah added that Glowin’s absence was difficult to accept.
“It hurts to know I cannot reach out to her anymore. Glowin was truly too good for this earth — it’s the only explanation I can live with. I hope heaven treats her as beautifully as she treated everyone around her,” she said.
A role model
Melinda’s mother, Renny, said Glowin’s unwavering faith had made a lasting impression on their family.
“Glowin was always a role model for us because of the tremendous faith she had in God. Even while she was going through her illness, she rarely complained. She would say that God was with her and that everything would be fine,” Renny said.
Glowin’s death came as a shock to the family, she added.
“We never expected her to pass away. We thought she would recover, as we had seen many people live for years after treatment. We are with the family during this difficult time. Glowin meant a lot to us, and we wanted to be there for them,” Renny said over the phone from Marthandam.
