“My son is not comfortable with me. He keeps searching for his father. He does not talk to me. I don’t know why. It just is this way. Now, when he is suffering, it breaks my heart that he does not even let me feed him, let alone console him.” - Neelu Verma (Mother)

Lakshya is 13 years old. He was born with Down Syndrome. It never stopped him from going to school, being mischievous, or dancing nonstop at his sister’s wedding in January 2017. A day later, he fell down. He could not walk. It was not the result of dancing. In fact, it was not anything they had ever imagined.

He's had 7 surgeries in 2 years and he is still immobilized

Lakshya has cervical myelopathy. His spinal cord is compressed and the condition is progressive. It started with a sharp pain in his legs after the wedding. He could not even lift his legs to wear shoes. After every few steps, he stumbled and fell. Lakshya clung to his father, Sanjay, and cried out in pain. Sanjay visited several doctors in the village and nearby towns. When nobody helped, he moved to Lucknow. There an MRI revealed the truth.

“On 17th July 2017, we admitted our son at ISIC, Delhi. The very next day he had a surgery. That was just the beginning. Since then, he has undergone 7 surgeries. He is bedridden. He has not left the hospital. We celebrated 2 of his birthdays here. Physiotherapy is the only activity in his life. Other than that, he is just frozen.” - Sanjay

Lakshya feels alienated even in his mother's presence

Neelu moved to Lucknow from Lehpur with her children because their village did not have the requisite school or healthcare facilities that Lakshya needed. Sanjay had to stay back to take care of the farm. Despite the distance, Lakshya visited his father every month with his sisters. Now, at the hospital, he feels lonely and depressed without his father around. Neelu is in distress unable to comfort her son when he is suffering. She spends most of the time outside his room as he gets tensed when she is around. She is also unaware of the medical and financial details.

"I am not educated. I don't understand when they tell me this. My husband handles everything. I just want to be here for my son but me being here makes him uncomfortable. He thinks I look strict. There is nothing I could do to change that. He was never comfortable with me. Can you imagine what it feels like? When his sisters are here, you see he is alive. When they aren't, my son is depressed. I am afraid he will leave me forever." - Neelu

How you can help Lakshya

The family has spent Rs. 20 Lakhs with an income of Rs. 50,000/year. They will be repaying debts until the day they die. So far, they have not even paid enough interest. As a result, loan sharks and relatives have refused to lend any more money. Lakshya is due for his 8th surgery. The parents hope this could help bring him home. Every moment they delay, his condition further deteriorates.

"His grandmother died a few weeks ago. We had to borrow money even to give her a proper funeral. This is our state today. My daughter has abandoned her education to be a doctor, because we cannot afford to even help Lakshya. He is in pain. My husband cannot be here every day. Not at the risk of losing daily wages. My son needs you. We need you." - Neelu

Lakshya could end up crippled for life or worse without this surgery. Your contribution can help him step out of that hospital and go back home to his family.