Jobless Father Skips Meals To Save 7-day-old Son's Life | Milaap
Jobless Father Skips Meals To Save 7-day-old Son's Life
  • Gayathri

    Created by

    Gayathri
  • Bo

    This fundraiser will benefit

    Baby of Rajalakshmi

    from Chennai, Tamil Nadu

“We only had a few ten rupee notes with us when we came to Chennai from our village in Kanchipuram for my wife's delivery. I have been going hungry and saving up, but still can’t make the money required for my newborn son’s surgery. The doctors have told me that he will die without it.” - Prabu


Prabu skips meals at the hospital so that Rajalakshmi and the baby don’t go hungry. When Prabu gets food parcels for Rajalakshmi at the hospital, he only gets portions for one person. When Rajalakshmi asks him why he isn't eating, he says that it is because he already had food from the canteen. The truth is that he skips meals and drinks only tea or coffee. He does not have enough money to even eat a full, satisfying meal, let alone save his son from dying of a bad heart.

These parents have been living a nightmare since the 5th month of pregnancy

The newborn baby boy of Rajalakshmi and Prabu has a dangerous heart condition where his blood is not able to get enough oxygen. This is because of an anatomical defect at birth where the vessels that take blood to different sides of his heart are interchanged. Rajalakshmi remembers shivering when she was told that her child’s heart has a defect in the 5th month scan.

Their son looks like a normal baby despite his deadly condition

Sometimes Rajalakshmi has to remind herself every now and then that her son has a bad heart. He has absolutely no symptoms that define the gravity of his condition. Prabu had in fact even consulted with many doctors in his hometown before coming to Chennai. They all said the same thing – that he will not survive without surgery.

“They all told me that the baby will not have any symptoms that reflect his heart condition. The doctors in our village at Kanchipuram had told us clearly that our baby boy would not survive if he was not operated on immediately after birth. We are poor people, but don’t we have the right to be happy as well? ” – Prabu

The couple has left their first child back in the village to try and save their second

Rajalakshmi and Prabu had never been separated from their 2-year-old child Aradhana before this. Now, they had to leave her in the care of a relative in Kanchipuram till they got back from Chennai. The child doesn’t know anything and is constantly waiting for Appa and Amma to come back and take her home.

“Sometimes I ask strangers in the hospital if they can help me. I tell them that I will repay the money at any cost. But Rs 5 lakhs is no joke. I know that despite not touching such a big amount in my life. I have no one to borrow from as people I know are struggling just like me. I hope my son lives until I get the money for his surgery.” - Prabu

How you can help

Prabu used to work in the housekeeping department of a private company in Kancheepuram. He used to earn Rs 8,000 a month without leaves. Now, his life has changed for the worse. He had to quit his job to prepare for his son’s delivery in Chennai. He has been single-handedly taking care of Rajalakshmi and her needs ever since. There are outstanding bills for medicines and other procedures at the hospital that he is not able to clear. The surgery is now a long shot.

Your contribution can help Prabu and Rajalakshmi take their son back home 

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