“Without even realising that our happiness could be short-lived, we started making innumerable plans for welcoming our baby when we got to know that Sarita was pregnant. When the baby did not cry out after he was born, we got scared. Tests confirmed that he has two holes in his heart. He was immediately moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Just when we were coping with the news of our baby’s heart condition, we got to know of another shocking news about our baby. The doctors said that our son has Down Syndrome. My wife broke down instantly in front of the doctors as I stood there numb.” - Vishnu Kumar, father. 

The baby has been battling against a lot of problems since his birth

Vishnu and Sarita’s baby boy was born with an atrial septal defect that causes holes in the wall between the heart's upper chambers. He is unable to breathe and gets tired very easily. It is important to note that babies with Down Syndrome run the risk of being born with some type of congenital heart defect.  Down Syndrome affects the physical and mental well-being of the person and also leads to problems like that of hypothyroidism.
 

“Only Sarita was allowed to enter the room and hold the baby for few minutes just to calm him down when he was crying in pain. It has only been two days that we have brought him home but he is not keeping well. We have to take him to the hospital again. He has a severe cold and can’t breathe properly. I can’t bear to see my baby suffering so much, I wish I could do something to make him better.” 

Sarita with her baby boy

The last two months were very difficult for Vishnu who has been struggling to take care of both his wife and his newborn

Besides Vishnu’s little baby being sick from the day he was born, Sarita’s health has not been supporting her at all. After her delivery, her entire body was swollen with fluid accumulation. The doctors said that it was because of a protein deficiency. She had to stay in the hospital for 15 days before she could be discharged.
 

“For the last two months, I have had no idea how time passed away. My wife became very sick after her delivery and on the other hand my baby boy was in the ICU. I waited on the hospital corridors with empty stomach, passing every moment in fear that I will get some bad news. Now, even though the baby is home, his health is not improving at all."- Vishnu

Vishnu is in deep debt and is unable to afford the life-saving surgery for his son

“I have never had a permanent job in my life. Sometimes I get jobs on contract-basis and earn a meager amount of Rs 6000-7000 in a month. But for the last two months, I had no jobs. Neither have I been able to go for any interviews because of my son’s sickness. I have already spent 5 lakhs on his treatment by borrowing from my uncle and now I need another 3.5 lakhs for the surgery. I am so helpless that I have to take my sick son and wife to the hospital on a 4 hour long bus ride that adds to their discomfort. I don’t know how I will repay the money or afford the surgery.”

How you can help

Vishnu and Sarita’s 1.5 month old baby boy is in need of an urgent heart surgery but his family is too poor to afford that. The little baby with Down Syndrome will not survive without this surgery. Your kind contribution can help this baby get a new life and bring the happiness in his parent’s life.