Ravi Krishna's son should be in school. He should be fighting with his brother, throwing tantrums, playing football, and annoying his parents all day long. Unfortunately, all this little boy does, is cry out in pain until it echoes through the house. He hardly eats, and he is certainly frightened of the disease that seems to be killing him slowly from within.

Srithan was finishing his exams when he complained of stomach ache. We first thought it was simply a cry to get out of exams. When it continued through the holidays, we believed it was the junk food. Even the local doctor prescribed medicines for his bowels. He said it could be a stomach infection. Months went by, and my son’s pain only got worse. He begged us to take him elsewhere.

When he stopped eating, we sought an opinion at Kanchi Kamakoti hospital. The doctor told us that his hemoglobin levels were far below normal, and lab results confirmed that Srithan had Leukemia.  

Srithan cannot understand what is happening to him. As his father, I do not have the courage to explain. He is extremely scared of going to the hospital. He comes because he is close to his mother and will go wherever she goes.

Sudha is staying strong for him. She has not shed a single tear as she does not want to scare him, and also because nobody else knows about Srithan’s illness. We cannot send him to school. He will easily get infections.

We need Rs. 10 Lakhs so he can have chemotherapy, medicines, blood transfusions and more over the next 3 years. Where can we get so much from? If I can’t make it, then I have to let go of my son. God has put us in a terrible position.