“All the kids look forward to their summer vacations, but for my daughter, Ishani, they became a nightmare. It was so sudden. She was unable to balance herself and the next thing I know she stopped walking completely. My only daughter became paralyzed from the waist below. How could this happen when just a day before she was completely fine?” - Anindita, Ishani's mother

Ishani’s biopsy reports revealed that she has a tumour surrounding her spine. The doctors suggested to immediately get it operated as any delay could even cost Ishani her life. Even after an 8-hour surgery a part of the cancerous tumour is still inside her and would require many cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to cure Ishani.

She has to rely on her parents for even the smallest of things

“When the doctors told us about the tumour, we were not ready to accept it. We told them it must be a mistake because my daughter never had any major symptoms - not even a back pain. And now they are telling me it is cancer. The operation went on for 8 hours. I have never been so scared in my life. For 19 days we were at the hospital only praying for a miracle to get my girl back on her feet. ” - Ranjan, father

Ishani has to undergo treatment for Ewing Sarcoma which is a malignant tumour in her spine. Her D8 vertebra was broken and to prevent her spine from bending the doctors had to insert 2 screws to keep her upright. Not only that, being paralyzed has made her completely dependent on her parents for even the slightest of movements. Even though she is undergoing physiotherapy, it will take a long time for Ishani to get back on her two feet.

I can't be around her for 2 minutes without breaking down

Ranjan works as a salesman in a company and if he achieves his targets, he earns Rs. 10,000 a month. Her parents had savings for rainy days but have spent everything on Ishani's surgery -  4 lakhs excluding her after-care and physiotherapy fee.

“Every time we go to hospital, there is a one-time bill of Rs.40,000 to Rs.50,000. We have to hire an ambulance every time we go. We spend over a lakh every month. The only way she can survive is if she completes her cycle of 14 chemotherapy and radiotherapy.” - Ranjan, father

I can see her slipping into depression

Ranjan has to be present at home almost every other day because it is difficult for her wife to take care of Ishani and his bed-ridden father both all by herself. He knows he is at the risk of losing his job anytime because he has taken too many leaves than he is allowed to and barely has an income now. They had to sell off Anindita’s wedding jewellery because now even their relatives cannot help them with such a huge amount.

“I still remember the day Ishani got the 10th rank all over West Bengal in Scholar Search Exam, I was such a proud mother. My daughter loves reading books so much that sometimes I learn so many new things from her. To see her now like this is something which no mother can describe. I can see her slipping into depression from a bright child she is. She loved going out so much, she misses it now.  It's been 3 months since she is isolated and hasn’t moved from her bed. I will die if  something happens to her,” - Anindita, mother. 

“Sometimes when the chemo makes me drowsy and I go off to sleep for hours, I dream of myself getting dressed up and dancing. I wake up only to realize it was just a dream. I don’t have any more hair left and I don’t feel like meeting my friends or looking in the mirror anymore..." - 9-year old Ishani

Ishani needs your help to get better. She is a brilliant student always topping her class but now her cancer is taking away everything she has achieved. She is the only child of Ranjan and Anindita and they are trying their best to cure their baby girl. You can help Ishani get better by contributing to her campaign.