Ashok and Swathilatha recently had their second child, a little baby boy. Every day, Ashok would come home early from work to spend time with his newborn baby. But he never thought that one day, he would be returning home to hear devastating news.

“I couldn't believe it when my wife told me that our child has a liver disease. I thought that the doctor must have made a mistake because my child looked absolutely fine. So, I took him for another test but... but the results didn’t change! And it isn’t a small disease that a few medicines can cure either - it is life-threatening.” - Ashok, father

His liver is failing, he needs urgent transplant

Swathilatha’s baby was diagnosed with a rare disease, Biliary Atresia. This causes bile to be trapped inside the liver, resulting in damage and scarring of the liver cells. In the baby's case, the disease has progressed to a severe stage and his liver is failing. There is only one cure that can save this little one’s life - a liver transplant and he needs to undergo it at the earliest.

“I took him to the doctor when he was 1-month-old as he was passing white stool. He had no other symptoms, whatsoever, and the doctor also said he’ll be fine soon. But when even after 4 months, things didn’t change, I took him for a second opinion to a bigger hospital and the results left us speechless, and shocked beyond belief. How could he have such a dangerous disease? How could his liver fail? He is just a 5-month-old baby!” - Swathilatha, mother 

These parents are helpless in saving their child

Just within a week after he was diagnosed, his parents started noticing significant changes his body. His entire body, including his eyes, turned pale and yellow. He was growing weaker every day, and his stomach started swelling abnormally due to the enlargement of his liver.

“When they said, he could have undergone a Kasai surgery but it’s too late now, it just filled us both with regret. We should have known! We should have brought him to the city earlier! Now, his life is at risk and I can’t tell you how scared I am to lose him. He cries and stays up all night unable to sleep. My little boy must be in immense pain, and I can’t do anything to make him feel better.” - Swathilatha

“I am a housewife and my husband is a daily wage worker. We live hand to mouth and nothing we do will ever be enough to cure my son. All we had is already spent on the treatment so far, where will we get more from? His condition is very critical and, without the liver transplant, he will not survive. Please help us.” - Swathilatha