A promising career at Amazon, a new home, and a growing family — Rushit Mehta had come a long way since moving from India to New Jersey in 2010. “It was always my dream to come to America.”
Photo by MEG COYLE
Rushit and Krishna Mehta enjoying a game of backyard soccer with their son, Vraj.
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Life was good, until one day in July 2017.
“I was just so tired. I didn’t have any energy,” said Mehta. Doctors diagnosed him with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system. “It was so scary during that time. I was thinking, ‘what am I going to do now? What is going to happen to my wife, my son, my parents?’”
Along with worrying about his family and surviving cancer, Mehta was concerned about the high cost of treatment and not being able to work. He knew he had health benefits working at Amazon. But he’d never really had to rely on them, not like this. “I am a healthy guy, I never got sick. That’s why it was such a shock when the doctor told me.”
Mehta shared the news with his team and manager.
“They were so supportive,” he said. “Last Christmas I was doing my last chemotherapy. One of my managers came to my house and brought fruit, candy, and toys for my son because I couldn’t go outside to shop for my son because I was so sick.”
Full-time Amazon employees receive comprehensive medical benefits from day one – their first day on the job. It’s part of a full range of benefits including prescription drug, dental, and vision plans that are offered to Amazonians and eligible family members including domestic partners and their children. Amazon has long held that offering medical benefits on day one is the right thing to do for our employees.
Amazon gave me so many opportunities. They always encourage me to try something new, and help me with my leadership skills.
Rushit Mehta - Amazon associate
For Mehta, that also meant lower out-of-pocket costs for his treatment. Eight months later, he was ready to return to work and his team couldn’t wait to welcome him back. “Everyone was so happy to see me. They knew I was sick so they were glad to see that I was better.” He still has follow-up appointments with his doctors, but Mehta is cancer free and continuing to advance in his career.
“Without Amazon, I don’t think I could be successful in my life,” said Mehta who started as a temporary hire at the fulfillment center in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania in 2011. Three months later, he moved into a full-time position, and went on to launch another Amazon fulfillment center in Middletown, Delaware. He’s trained roughly 6,000 associates and is now an area manager, with 85 associates reporting to him. “Amazon gave me so many opportunities. They always encourage me to try something new, and help me with my leadership skills.”
Life is good again. Mehta is living the life he’d wanted since he was a child. “After eight years in this country, I can finally say I fulfilled my American dream.”
