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“Ever since I found out that my child is suffering from a life-threatening disease, I have been hoping that this is all just a bad dream. That I’ll wake up soon, and my daughter will be just fine. No cancer, no expensive treatments, no pain - nothing. But the truth is quite the opposite and very, very very painful. To think that I could lose my baby girl like this... I cannot imagine my life without her.” - Nirmala, mother
A progressive cancer is plaguing their 2-year-old
Little Darshini was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is a rapidly progressing cancer that affects a group of white blood cells in the blood called the myeloid cells.Her symptoms began in early July, with a high and recurring fever that wouldn’t subside, despite the medicines prescribed by local doctors. She had some swelling in her head and her condition only continued to deteriorate as she became weaker and paler. It alarmed her parents greatly, and they wasted no time in taking her to a bigger hospital.
“We were absolutely shattered when we found out about her cancer. We may not know much, but we know how dreadful it is. This disease can kill even the strongest people. Only hours after we’d brought her in, the doctors had told us that the cancer was detected a little late, and her condition seemed pretty serious. No parent is ever prepared to hear that their child’s life is in danger…” - Nirmala
Chemotherapy alone won’t save her, she needs a bone marrow transplant
Immediately after her diagnosis, Darshini began chemotherapy. But only 2 cycles in, the family was told that chemotherapy wouldn’t be effective to rid her of her cancer altogether. What she needs is a bone-marrow transplant. But these parents felt their hearts sink at the price tag on the only treatment that could save their only daughter.
“25 lakhs! That’s how much they said the transplant would cost! We hail from a low-income background. I have no savings or any resources worth that much. How am I supposed to save my daughter, my only child, when I don’t even know if I can afford our next meal?” - Siddha Linga, father
Only a daily-wage labourer, he can’t meet his daughter’s medical expenses
Siddha Linga works as a coolie and would earn a meagre few hundred rupees everyday. Amid the pandemic-led lockdown, he had little to no work and the family struggled to get by. Things were only starting to pick up, when their daughter’s diagnosis brought their world to a crashing halt. Siddha Linga was forced to stop working to stay by her side, and begged and borrowed from everyone he knew, so he could afford Darshini’s treatment expenses.
“These past months we’ve been running from pillar to post to arrange the amount for her bone marrow transplant. But we got nowhere close. Even our family and friends no longer answer our calls for help. Meanwhile, Darshini’s condition was worsening, so she underwent another cycle of chemotherapy. The doctor said she needs the transplant as soon as possible, else we could lose her… How will I save my baby with no money?” - Siddha Linga
Little Darshini is tired of the hospital visits. It is too painful and unbearable for her. But her parents cannot afford the life-saving transplant she needs, so they are turning to you. You can help this family with your generous contributions. Click here to donate.
