This Farmer May Lose The Only Child He Will Ever Have To Liver Disease

Nandhan is the only child of daily-wage farmers Chandraiah and Lakshmi. He was born five years after his parents' marriage. Doctors have informed them that they can never be parents again. Nandhan has been diagnosed with Wilson's disease that has completely damaged his liver. He needs a liver transplant to live.

Kondanagula is a village bordering the Nagarjunsagar-SrisailamTiger Reserve – the largest tiger reserve in India. Chandraiah and Lakshmi are farmers in that village. They work on land that is not their's and keep half of what they grow. When the rain is enough and the crop is bountiful, they earn Rs 30,000 for four-months' crop cycle. But when there is no rain, they earn nothing.

When Nandhan was born, they felt that their life was complete. 

Till a month ago, their son was healthy and hale. He hardly ever fell sick and even a bout of common fever was rare. But this August, they learnt that their son had Wilson's disease – a condition that has completely damaged Nandhan's liver.

Wilson's disease is a very serious illness where the body is unable to get rid of the copper content in blood. Unless handled with medicines, this excess copper deposits in the soft tissue of the body such as liver, kidneys, eyes and in the later stages brain.


Nandhan's stomach is swollen because of excess fluid accumulating in the stomach

Last month, Nandhan developed jaundice and his condition rapidly deteriorated. His parents did not know what to do. They rushed him to the nearest big hospital, but that proved insufficient to treat Nandhan and they came to Hyderabad for his treatment.





Whenever possible, Lakshmi (far left) visits Nandhan and Chandraiah in the hospital.

But the degree has not helped him deal with his son's illness any better even in Hyderabad. Nothing has prepared him to deal with the reality that he might lose his son to this sudden, malignant condition. Already, he has spent Rs 50,000 and he needs another 18 lakhs for a liver transplant, the only cure.


Proud father Chandraiah put up charts to help Nandhan learn English
At the moment, Chandraiah is in Hyderabad to make sure Nandhan can see a good doctor whenever he needs. Nandhan's mother has started working as a daily-wage labourer, earning Rs 150 per day to send to them in Hyderabad. She also sells their buffalo's milk to earn another 2,000 every month. This is the family's only income at the moment.
Lakshmi's pregnancy was a difficult one when she was carrying Nandhan, and the doctors have told her that she can't have any more children. Nandhan and his achievements are a bright spot in Lakshmi and Chandraiah's otherwise difficult life.

Let their poverty not be the reason they lose their much-loved child. Our support will save their only son.