“It’s been almost 3 years since he has been getting injections every few weeks, but he is still as scared as he was the first time he got them. He knows it only means more pain. He’s so scared that even the sight of the hospital gown makes him wail. He screams and cries, nothing can calm him down. It’s heartbreaking to watch him go through this so often at such a young age,”  - Rameshwar, father

Little Ashwin turns 3 this June – but Usha and Rameshwar can’t celebrate. Ashwin is very sick and only a bone marrow transplant can save him. Rameshwar works as a delivery executive for Amazon. He works hard so that his son’s medicines and blood transfusions aren’t stopped at any cost – it’s the only thing keeping him alive. Unfortunately, despite Rameshwar’s best efforts, he can’t save Ashwin on his own.

All he wants is to play with his brother, but his disease stands in the way

Ashwin was only 2 months old when he was diagnosed with Thalassemia, a severe blood disease that affects the body’s abilities to produce haemoglobin. Children with this disease often experience fatigue, weakness and slow growth. Ashwin has been undergoing blood transfusions every 20 days.

“Every month, it’s the same cycle – he has the blood transfusion, comes back home a little more active, we see him play and laugh, but in the next two weeks, he’s sick and weak again.”

Ashwin loves to play with his older brother Ranvir, but he can’t for long. A bone marrow transplant is his only chance to have a normal childhood, but his parents can't give him that without your help.

Despite working all day and night, his parents don’t have enough to save his life

Rameshwar and Usha both are working parents. Nowadays, no matter how much they want to be with their sick child, they are hardly at home. Usha works as staff at a hospital in Mumbai and earns Rs. 14,000. She even works nightshifts sometimes and can’t be there for Ashwin when he cries for her before bed.

“But this is what I have to sacrifice to continue his treatment. I long to be with him every minute, through every hospital checkup and blood transfusions, but I’m helpless. My husband and I try going together for every check-up, but sometimes we have to take turns. It’s the sacrifice we have to make to keep him healthy.” -Usha

Unfortunately, no matter what Usha and Rameshwar do, they can’t afford the 33 lakhs needed for his life-saving transplant. They have already spent lakhs on his treatment over the years.

Your support can bring back the smile on Ashwin’s face

“The older Ashwin gets, the risk of getting the transplant only increases – this is the right time for him to get it. He can survive.” - Usha

Ashwin is barely 3-years-old and has only been in pain till now. Every hospital visit begins and ends with him in tears. The few days of happiness he has soon turn into exhaustion and pain. You are Ashwin’s only hope to survive this blood disease.