"It's been 12 years since my husband abandoned us and remarried. He has never once met his son. Even after knowing that his own son is dying, he has still not bothered to look back and visit us even once. Debasish has now even stopped asking about his father. He knows it's just the two of us."

She has never let her ill fate overpower her son’s life

A survivor of child marriage, Kannika stays at her parents’ place with her son in Subhasgram, West Bengal. Her 16-year-old son, Debasish has just been promoted to the 10th standard. His existence has made the struggle of Kannika for all these years possible. Seeing his mother fight for all these years, Debasish is determined to become a police officer so that no other girl becomes a victim of child marriage ever again.
 

“Debasish was born when I was just 16. My husband abandoned us because of gambling when my son was just 4.  Now, he has chosen to have a new family. Although I have never really been able to overcome my grief, I have kept Debasish away from all of these. I have not let him feel the absence of his father all these while.”

He can’t eat proper food even if he is hungry

Debasish was living an ordinary life, doing everything a teenager does. Only 3 years ago, he developed a fever. His fever brought him to a condition where he was unable to even drink water. Tests were done which revealed that he had aplastic anemia, a rare disease where the bone marrow is damaged. This is a condition deadlier than any cancer. 

“The medicines that were given to him had kept his blood count under control. He develops insane rashes and his gums would bleed heavily when his blood levels fell. He was doing fine with the medicines. 3 months ago, his gums started bleeding again. I knew the medicines had stopped working for him. His condition has become so worse that he can't even have solid food now."

After abandoning, this teen’s father doesn’t even care to see his dying son

For past 3 months, Debashish blood transfusions every 3-4 days. His gums profusely bleed and his condition is deteriorating with every passing day. Doctors have said that stem cell transplant from his mother is the only way that will keep him alive now.

“For all these years, neither my ex-husband has cared to know about his son, nor have I involved him in our lives. But when my son started fighting a disease worse than cancer, I thought maybe as a father he deserves to know. Also, I needed help to save my son. I am astonished to see the inhumanity. He has not even visited us.”

Her struggle was endless, but she could do it only because she had her son

Kannika has brought up Debasish to be able to fight all odds. But when he sometimes sees Kannika struggle to get funds, he tells her to just stop the treatment. He is so angry with his father that he doesn’t even want him to visit them.

When Kannika was left with no option but bring up her son alone, she made thermocol handicrafts and started earning. Although she earned almost nothing, she was determined not to be defeated by her fate. For all these years, she has worked in catering service in marriage seasons. In other seasons, she works in garment shops in her area.

Without money, this mother can in no way save her son

“I barely manage to earn between Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 a month depending on the work I get. But I have never let my ill fate decide our fortune. But I can’t even work now. I have spent Rs 12 lakhs in only 3 years on medicines and blood transfusions. My jewelry is sold, I had to take money from my parents too. Nothing was enough. I am in heavy debt too. But nothing has helped in making things better."

How you can help

Kannika's battle has been going on since her childhood. She has sailed through a lot alone. But this time she can't save her son alone. The cost required to save her son is Rs 20 lakhs and it is impossible for the single mother to arrange.

Your support can help this single mother keep her only hope alive.