Pinki looked like all the blood in her body had been drained out of her, her eyes were lifeless, her skin pale, her cramps unbearable– this was not her period, it was something far more serious.

“Who would’ve thought that her heavy period flow was because of cancer? She had it for one year. Every month her cramps were so bad that she couldn’t get up from her bed for 2 days…even a hot water bag wouldn’t help. The doctor in our village said that some girls have more pain during periods and it’s normal. Last month she had it for 20 days. It turned out to be because of cancer. Blood cancer.” – Rimpa, mother

Pinki called her sister to tell her she’s never going to see her again

Pinki’s cancer was diagnosed in Kolkata. As Madhusudan and Rimpa sat with her during her counselling session where she found out she has cancer, they worried if she could handle the truth.

“She just looked at us and asked us why we were spending so much money on her. What we all know of cancer is through movie…and she thinks it’s going to kill her anyway, so what’s the point. She even called her sister and said she’s never going to see her again. That was the most heartbreaking thing to see…but we won’t give up on her. Pinki can make it.”

Yes, she can. With 6 more months of chemotherapy, Pinki can go home cancer-free. However, her poor parents have nothing left to afford her treatment.

She can be saved with chemotherapy, but these poor farmers can’t afford it

Madhusudan has gone back home to their village to try and arrange for more money to continue Pinki’s treatment. Every day when he calls Rimpa, she tells him that Pinki is crying. She’s in so much pain all the time.

“She had such a normal life before this. She’s in class 11…she’s helpful, loving. We thought she would study, get married, have a family. You know, the dreams parents have for their children. Now to think that she won’t even have a future. This disease…”

Madhusudan is a small-time farmer in Tamluk district, West Bengal. His income is not stable, there are good months and bad. But their life went on, somehow. Now they are at a dead-end. Watching their daughter suffer at such a young age has left them devastated, but they are not ready to give up. Not now.



Pinki needs chemotherapy to fight blood cancer. Her parents have done everything they can so far, but are falling short. You can help save her.