"I’m terrified of what lies ahead. Not for myself, but for my family. I can’t afford to lose this battle. My wife, my younger brother, and my elderly mother depend on me completely. After my father abandoned us, I became the sole breadwinner. If I don’t make it through this, what will happen to them?"- Dipanjan, tearfully.
Life wasn’t always easy, but before all this, it was manageable
I worked hard as a cash sorter at a private company, earning just enough to provide for my family. At 22, I felt proud to carry this responsibility, knowing my efforts kept food on the table, supported my brother’s education, and gave my wife Mamani and my mother Rita a sense of stability.
My wife and I had only been married a year, and we were full of dreams—building a future, supporting my brother through school, and creating a life we could cherish together.
Then, just a month ago, everything changed
It began on the day of Dussehra. I was overcome with fever and started vomiting blood. What I thought might be a passing illness turned out to be far worse. After I was admitted to the hospital, the doctors confirmed what I never could have expected: I have Chronic Kidney Disease, and both my kidneys are irreparably damaged. On October 31, I began dialysis - twice a week, every week. The procedure keeps me alive, but it’s exhausting, painful, and a constant reminder of the fragility of my situation. The doctors say a transplant is my only chance, but how do you face such a reality when you can barely afford the treatments keeping you afloat now?
"My family is still reeling from the news. My wife has been my anchor in this storm. At just 21, she has taken on the weight of this crisis with a selflessness I can hardly describe. She cares for me tirelessly, day and night, even though this isn’t the life we imagined. I see the dreams we shared slipping away, but I can’t give up. I want to live for her, for my family, for all the things we still have to do together. I refuse to let this disease win."- Dipanjan
Each day feels like an uphill battle, made harder by financial problems
My treatments alone cost over ₹30,000 a month - a sum so staggering that it’s impossible for us to manage. My colleagues helped me through the initial phase, but now even they can’t do more. The reality is, I can no longer work. The savings we had are long gone, and the prospect of paying for a transplant feels utterly out of reach. My younger brother is in Class 12, and his education hangs by a thread. My mother, who has always been our rock, can only watch helplessly as the burden mounts. I was supposed to protect and provide for them, but now, I’m the one in need.
"Time is running out, and I can’t fight this alone. I need help—desperately. Any support, any contribution, could save my life and give my family hope. Please, help me get through this so I can stand on my feet again, for them. They are all I have, and I don’t want to let them down."- Dipanjan
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