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"Everyone is aware of the economic problems our country is going through, right now. We have fought many obstacles to come to India with our baby boy for his treatment. This is our last resort – if we cannot get him treated here, we will lose him.” - Lalith, father
Baby Dilmath is suffering from biliary atresia, which causes blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. This congenital condition occurs when the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not develop normally, and can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver, which is deadly if not treated. An urgent liver transplant is the only way he can be saved, but his parents are not able to afford it.
'We cannot bear to see him in so much pain… what did he do to deserve this suffering?’
When little Dilmath was born, his parents were alarmed when they noticed that his eyes were completely yellow. His skin also had a yellowish tinge to it. As days passed, not only did this yellowing get more intense, but the baby faced a lot of other issues too. His abdomen started swelling up and he would recurrently vomit and pass loose stools. They were devastated when they found out that this was all happening because of his damaged liver.“He keeps on crying… that is the only way he can communicate his pain. We haven’t seen any growth milestones yet, as he is surviving on medicines and ICU care… he is not growing as a normal baby should. We don't understand why our baby boy had to go through this, right from the moment he opened his eyes.” - Premasiri, mother, tearfully.
They sold everything of value that they had, but it is still not enough
Lalith is an ordinary farmer, while Premasiri is a housewife. The agricultural crisis in Sri Lanka has been making it difficult for farmers to earn even a fraction of what they used to earn before. It is in this background that Lalith sold his land, and whatever limited resources he possessed, to buy tickets to India and at least get his son's treatment started.
“We chose to come to India because of its excellent medical facilities. We knew that expenses could go out of hand, but we didn’t have time to worry – our child’s condition was deteriorating by the minute. Now, we need your support to get him the transplant that he desperately needs to live.” - Lalith
