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Shyamul Ghosh owns a paan shop in a small village in Midnapore, West Bengal. The paan shop income sent his two kids to school, brought home enough to feed 4 mouth. Today, is has been 8 months since the shop has shut. These days you will find Shyamul waiting in the hallways of the pediatric section of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
“We would come here every 3 months for check-ups. Hoping maybe this time we will be told my son is cured and cancer-free. It’s been two years now and I still wait in these hallways hoping to hear the good news. This year's Pujo is entirely about praying for Sanchayan's health.”
Fate brought little Sanchayan to the ‘big city’ but not on a happy note.
Shyamul’s 11-year-old son, Sanchayan was diagnosed with T-ALL, an aggressive type of blood cancer 2 years ago. “I knew what cancer was. The gukta packets showed dangerous graphic images. But never in my wildest dreams did I know it would happen to my son. He was always a good kid you know! Dreamt of living in a big city.”, his eyes welled up as he looked at his son hooked to drips on a hospital bed. Fate did bring Sanchayan to the ‘big city’ but not on a happy note.
When one blood test revealed the fight ahead of Sanchayan and his father
“Once when I went for a check up for my cough and cold, the doctors asked me if Sanchayan always looked this tired. Like any other kids, I assumed all the running around and playing had to drain him. Yet the doctor insisted we his blood test done.”, Shyamul said recalling the day that changed their lives, “Doctor made me sit and told me my little boy has blood cancer. I vaguely remember the rest of the conversation. I remember Doctor Sahab holding my hands and assuring me I can still save my son.”
With the doctor’s advice, Shyamul came to the big city of Mumbai to get his son cured. Also, with an average income of Rs.7000 a month, he was told Tata Memorial Hospital can provide the best treatment and he just might get some additional financial help after enrolling for the list of schemes the organization offers.
One surgery can cure this 11 year old
After the many chemotherapy sessions over 2 years; today, only a bone marrow transplant can cure Sanchayan. The transplant costs INR 15 lakhs. The hospital has granted INR 3 lakhs given Shyamul’s financial condition. Also after terminating the only LIC policy he owned, additional 2 lakhs have been arranged. But there is no way Shyamul can arrange for the remaining funds of 10 lakhs.“I had to mortgage my shop to arrange funds to cover the living expenses here. The piling interest of 8 months and counting will leave me with no shop. I have nothing left but I have to save my son. I want to take him home. See him continue school. And be like any other kid. Normal and pain free.”
How can you help?
This father is fighting with all his might to give his son a life-saving bone marrow transplant, which will take place in Tata Memorial Hospital. Which father would like to see their son’s childhood trapped in hospital walls? Today, this family lives in an ashram in Navi Mumbai hoping to find some help for little Sanchayan’s transplant. You can help this father save his son’s life.
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