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“This has been going on for way too long now. Our child has been suffering ever since he was born. His liver had started failing and we had never known about it until he was about 8 months old. Back then, they’d told us that he had a liver related problem. And we were getting it treated diligently. But suddenly things went terribly wrong, and now they say his liver has failed completely…” - Mounika, mother in tears
Mounika and Vinni Babu are fraught with worry. Their 3-year-old son’s life is slipping out of his hands and they are completely helpless as they don’t have the means to afford his treatment. They are filled with dread at the thought of losing their child to his severely damaged liver.
His condition progressed until it damaged his liver completely
For most of the initial months of his life, Mounika and Vinni Babu’s son was a happy and healthy little baby. He was an easy child for the most part, and these parents felt lucky to have a breezy parenthood, unlike the stories they’d heard. However that didn’t last, as soon, they realised their baby was experiencing some troubles.“His patterns changed so suddenly. He would eat heartily before, but now he could barely eat a few bites, and even started to vomit everything he ate. He had had no problem before this, and so I was deeply worried. He was 8 months old when we finally learned that it was due to some issues in his liver. But we kept faith because he was prescribed medicines and we thought that would be enough to cure him completely. We just weren’t prepared for what was to come..” - Vinni Babu, father
Without a transplant, the chances of his survival look extremely grim
“Just as soon as we learned that he had a liver issue, his stomach swelled up and the whole area became rock hard. We hoped it would subside with medicines, but it didn’t! A couple of months ago we learned that his liver being damaged is the reason behind his bloated and hardened stomach. This still continues to persist. Doctors have told us that the only way to put an end to this once and for all is a liver transplant. How did things end up this way? Why does it have to be my child who has to go through all of this?” - Mounika
The toddler was diagnosed with decompensated liver disease brought about by progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC). PFIC results in liver cells being unable to produce sufficient amounts of bile, thus leading to a buildup in the liver cells and causing liver disease. This means that the child’s liver damaged beyond repair, and the only treatment option that can guarantee his survival is a liver transplant.
With two bedridden parents to take care of, he is in no position to afford his child’s transplant
Vinni Babu and Mounika hail from Otturu, a small village in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. Vinni Babu is the sole earner in his 5-member family, consisting of his wife, child and ill parents, and makes a living as a fisherman. Despite his modest income, he has gone out of his way to gather the funds required for his son’s treatment. He sold the family’s valuables, and borrowed large amounts of money on heavy interest, yet they have proved insufficient. He needs INR 20 lakhs to afford his son’s liver transplant.
“He is our only child, our everything - but I don’t have a single paisa left to put in his treatment. I haven’t even been able to go to work because I can’t leave my wife and son all alone. On top of that, my parents are also not in the best shape and I’ve had to neglect their needs to take care of my son. My father recently broke his leg, while my mother is paralysed and mute. Both of them are bound to the bed, and there is no one to look after them. I have already spent tons of money on their treatments. How on earth will I afford my son’s transplant?” - Vinni Babu
Identity of the child is protected in adherence to governement guidelines.
