“My future doesn’t matter. Not when it looks like my brother won’t have a future at all. I will give anything to save him.” – Suhas, Surya's younger brother.

2 years ago, Surya’s life completely changed when he met with an accident on the way home from the movies. He suffered a mild trauma to the leg, but the stitches fixed him up. He was never the same, but nobody realized it until he became completely bedridden. Surya now has cancer and he is fighting it for the second time since the accident.

He was pursuing 2nd Year B.Tech when cancer struck him

“He completed his diploma in Mechanical and worked in Maharashtra for 2 months. He saw that the diploma held no value, so he came back home to get a B.Tech degree. He had just joined college when the accident happened. Within a few days, he started bunking classes. He would sleep all the time. He stopped eating altogether. One day he told me that he is afraid. That his body was not alright. Nobody even suspected cancer.”

In 2018, Surya was admitted to NIMS. He went through intensive cycles of chemotherapy for over 10 months. Finally, in December, the family went home happy knowing that he was cancer-free. Unfortunately, in February 2019, the symptoms reappeared. Swollen eyes, high fever and loss of appetite.

They found a donor in the registry, and yet have no money to start the procedure

“Surya knew before any of us. He told me it feels like cancer. He said that he wants to make it out alive, but worried about us not being able to afford the treatment.”

After being diagnosed with a relapse, 20-year-old Surya is back in the hospital for more chemotherapy. This time, only a bone marrow transplant can save him. The procedure would cost a total of Rs. 35 lakhs, including an added expense for stem cells from the registry as nobody in the family is a donor match.

Suhas put his future on hold to save his brother's life

“You’d be surprised how brave my brother is. I cannot stomach his condition after every chemo cycle, but he keeps smiling, talks to everyone, cheers them up. He tells me that he will survive. ‘Who’ll annoy you if cancer takes me?’ he asks jokingly.”

Suhas and Surya have always been friends more than brothers. They never fought, only found joy in teasing and playing pranks on each other. Suhas wanted to pursue hotel management. He is supposed to enrol but gave up on the dream. He told his father that the money could save Surya. He also wants to stay by his brother’s side and help him kick cancer out of their lives, rather than continue his education.

His father thought going to the Gulf would solve their financial troubles

“Our father, Srinivas Rao, was a tailor. He used to make Rs. 400/day. He struggled really hard to get a job as a tailor in Dubai because he wanted to save for our education. He was only there for 8 months when Surya’s diagnosis came. He returned to Dubai after we ran out of money for treatment the first time. 15 days ago, he quit and came back because Surya’s condition worsened.”

The family availed Arogyashree scheme, sold their land, and pooled in all savings last year to pay Rs. 15 lakhs for Surya’s treatment. In the past few months, they again had to borrow Rs. 8 lakhs. Now, they are unable to fund Rs. 35 lakhs for the bone marrow transplant. They have run out of every option.

You can help Surya survive

“Our mother Karuna Kumari works at the same company that my father worked for. Her salary of Rs. 7000 is what keeps us afloat. I know my brother does not look critical, but as he sits here smiling and joking, his body is completely giving up. It is just his will power that is delaying the inevitable."

Surya needs a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible. Time is running out, and every other avenue is closed. Suhas is appealing for your help to save his brother’s life.

Your contribution can gift both these brothers a future.