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Shyam Babu is a 5-year-old child full of smiles and joy. However, Shyam suffers from a vein obstruction in his liver that has stopped his blood circulation. Shyam's condition has resulted in gastronomic bleeding and growth retardation.
How It All Happened
Three years ago, on a regular day, Shyam began vomiting blood. His father, a mechanic in an agro-products company in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, rushed home from work that day. Shyam was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with this condition.
"I remember that day. My wife called me up and cried to me. I left everything and rushed home." - Myla Rajeev,30, father of Shyam Babu.
"Every time my son drank or ate something, his stomach would swell up, and he would start vomiting blood. There were days when Shyam would cry, and not be able to communicate his pain," said Rajeev, who has been working as a mechanic in the same company for the last 10 years.Through the Employees' State Insurance(ESI), a self-financing social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers, Rajeev was able to get his son treated and diagnosed after an MRPC scanning - a special type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam that produces detailed images of the the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas and pancreatic duct in Ramesh Hospitals in Guntur,Andhra Pradesh. The child's food pipes are also swollen up.
"I would see him cry, would talk to him. He would try to talk, but wouldn't be able to. He would start crying in pain. That shattered my heart into a million pieces." - Myla Rajeev
Doctors have informed Rajeev that surgery is the only solution - a solution that Rajeev is completely for, but cannot afford.
However, this was not the only struggle that Rajeev had to face. A few months back, while Rajeev was trying to get the best treatment for his son, his wife Jyothi, committed suicide, leaving the whole family, especially Rajeev completely lost and broken.
Rajeev's wife, Jyothi, committed suicide while her son was still sick. Now Rajeev is the only support system for Baby Shyam.Rajeev is the only breadwinner for his joint family
Rajeev earns around Rs.10,000 a month and is the only earning member for his family of 6 - that include his mother, sister and youngest child Lasya who is 1 and-a-half-years old. Rajeev's sister is presently studying B.Tech in a government engineering college and lives with them.
"It is very hard for me. I am not educated. I studied till the 10th standard, and started working immediately after that. This is the maximum that I can earn. It kills me that I cannot support my entire family no matter how much I work."- Rajeev.
"It is very hard for me. I am not educated. I studied till the 10th standard, and started working immediately after that. This is the maximum that I can earn. It kills me that I cannot support my entire family no matter how much I work."- Rajeev.Shyam was enrolled in school but was forced to quit almost immediately, when the surgery date was finalized.
Rajeev is now the only support system to his son after his wife committed suicide.
"My son deserves a chance at life. Your support means a lot to me and my family. God is helping us through you."
How Can You Help?
Shyam is eager to go back home pain-free and play with his baby sister. He is eager to go to school and play with his friends and receive an education.Your support can help Rajeev fulfil his son's dream at a chance at a pain-free life.
