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In September last year, a fire broke out in the Bamane household in the middle of the night. 5-year-old Aarti lost her father and older sister in the accident, while she and her mother suffered major burns all over their bodies.
A gas leak set the house on fire
The family had been asleep in another room with the door closed, when Sangita woke up to the smell of gas emanating from their kitchen. When she opened the door to check on it, the flame from a lamp in the room set the whole house ablaze, killing Aarti’s father, Deepak, and her 11-year-old sister, Utkarsha.“It just happened so fast. I remember being blinded by the intensity of the flames and the scalding heat of the fire. One minute we were just standing there, the next, the roof had come down on us. The plastic sheet over the roof melted off and fell on us, leaving all of us with terrible burns. When I think back to the incident, I’m instantly filled with so much pain and grief. I lost my family...” - Sangita, mother, unable to hold back tears
She suffered major burns and has bone deformity
Following the accident, Sangita and Arti remained in the hospital for a month. They suffered third-degree burns all over their body, but the little girl was in a far worse condition than her mother. Post-hospitalization, she was covered in bandages and forced to stay in bed for 4 months, which eventually led to her developing a bone deformity in her legs.“Now for the past few months, she’s been able to walk on wobbly feet only with support, but it gives her a lot of discomfort. The doctors say she needs leg surgery as well as plastic surgery to be able to live a normal life again. But, I have nothing! After our house burned down, I have been dependent on my brother for everything. I can’t afford these procedures!” - Sangita
With no means to get by, she can’t meet her daughter’s medical expenses
Sangita and Aarti lost everything in the fire, and have been living with their family the past few months. Deepak was the sole breadwinner of the family and used to work in a refinery. Currently, they have no source of income. So, Sangita’s brother has been supporting them financially and has spent over INR 3.5 lakh on their treatment until now.Aarti’s gait and other motor functions have been limited since the accident, and hence she hasn't even been able to do the things she once used to. It upsets Sangita that her daughter’s life has been heavily impacted by such a traumatic event, where she will have to grow up without a father and older sister.
“It’s just Aarti and I now. What happened has left us with both physical and emotional scars, but I don’t want it to hold us back from living our lives. My husband and elder daughter wouldn’t have wanted that for us either. I want my Aarti to go to school and grow up well. She is a bright child and I wish to see her succeed and stand on her own feet one day. But this can only happen if she undergoes these surgical procedures. For this, we need your help” - Sangita
All that Sangita and Aarti once held dear to them, they've lost in the accident. Now, they are in need of help. Your contributions can give Aarti a chance to live a happy and long life with her mother. Click here to donate.
