Every time someone would ask Radha about her daughter, Divya (7), her face would glow with pride and she would tell them about how she has now learnt to read and write words. And like most proud parents, she would look at her and say “paapu, tell aunty the new word you learnt yesterday?” Divya would then quickly hide behind her father, Muniswamy, and peek out from behind with a smile. “People always tell us that she has such a bright, beautiful smile,” Radha says. However, since last November, little Divya’s smile has faded. When people meet them at the temple or at the bus stop, they still see the same shy girl, but what they don’t notice is the tinge of yellowness on her skin, her slightly swollen hands and legs, and that after walking just a few steps, she asks her mother to carry her - Divya's liver disease is making her weaker.
Fortunately, there is a cure for her liver disease – a liver transplant that can give her a healthy life going forward, and a chance to do all the things she wants to.
Fortunately, there is a cure for her liver disease – a liver transplant that can give her a healthy life going forward, and a chance to do all the things she wants to.
Divya was all set to start class 1 when her condition began deteriorating
Divya’s liver disease was diagnosed two years ago, however, with medication she was able to live a relatively normal childhood. Her days always went the same way – she would wake up early in the morning to get ready, her father would then drop her to school on the way to the market and once she was back home and had finished her homework, she would fall asleep to her grandmother’s stories.“However, since last November, her hands, legs and stomach have been swelling up often. They told us it was because her liver was failing. She had gotten admission into a school for class 1, and was very excited too. But she just didn’t get better. Last week, she was so sick that she was in the ICU for 4 days.” – Radha, mother