When Vignesh’s friends call and ask his mother, Vandana, if they can talk to him, he just brushes the phone aside. “I don't want to talk to anyone,” the sullen 12-year-old says. Vignesh is weak and tired. He’s in a lot of pain due to the boils in his mouth, but most of all he’s sad because he overheard his parents saying the word ‘cancer’. Vignesh has been fighting a blood disease for over a year now, and like most of us, his parents too didn’t realise the seriousness of the disease. Although they did everything they could to get him treated, the disease proved to be aggressive.
Vignesh with his father, Vinayak
Last month, Vignesh fell sick again. This time it was serious – the bone marrow transplant had failed and Vignesh’s blood disease developed into blood cancer.
“We found out that the blood disease has progressed into cancer. The doctor told us that it’s very rare. We're in shock. I can’t let him see me in fear. I want him to stay strong because he has a big fight ahead of him.” – Vandana, mother
Vignesh is a happy and bright boy - his grave diagnosis changed him
Vignesh is a class 6 student, who before his diagnosis, was extremely active. When doing school work or playing with his friends, he would spend his time pulling apart parts of his toy car and learning what each part does. Vignesh loves cars, and his dream is to grow up and own the ‘best car in the world’. However, in November 2017, after days of fever, he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia – a condition in which the body stops producing enough new blood cells.“He started blood transfusions, but since his condition was serious he had to undergo a bone marrow transplant in February 2018. We used all our savings, borrowed from everyone.” - Vandana
The disease proved to be deadlier than they expected
Vignesh slowly began recovering. He started feeling better, but would still have fever, cold and cough occasionally. The only thing he asked Vandana and Vinayak was if he could watch Jurassic World in the theatre, now that his ‘infection’ was gone. But it was too much of a risk for Vignesh to step out. While all his friends went for the movie, Vignesh stayed at home, watching the old Jurassic Park films. Unaware that his fight wasn't over yet.Vignesh with his father, Vinayak
“From then on he’s been very withdrawn and quiet. I think he realized then that he wasn’t like his friends.” - Vandana
Last month, Vignesh fell sick again. This time it was serious – the bone marrow transplant had failed and Vignesh’s blood disease developed into blood cancer.