“One evening my wife and I returned home to see Dheva lying on the floor, crying aloud in pain. We were horrified when he couldn't even stand on his own. He kept on saying ‘Appa please do something, my stomach is hurting so much, I can’t get up.’  I gave him medicines but his pain was recurrent accompanied by fever. I didn't imagine that it would be something terrible like this. When doctors uttered the word 'cancer', my world came crashing down in front of my eyes. He is not able to sleep because of the pain and he throws up everything. I don't know how his little body can bear this.- Kaveri, father of Dheva. 

Dheva is suffering from a dreadful cancer that can turn fatal unless he has urgent treatment

Dheva has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. It is a form of cancer that affects the white blood cells. It occurs in the bone marrow and can quickly spread to the blood. Dheva is very weak and can’t eat anything - he throws up every time he eats. Besides the severe pain in his stomach that takes place due to abnormal accumulation of red blood cells, Dheva also has pain in his joints and pain. The only way little Dheva can get better is through a prolonged treatment of chemotherapy for a minimum of 5 months.

 

The parents are grappling with the fact that their little son is so sick that he cannot get up from bed

Dheva has always been an energetic little boy. He wanted to go to school even when he was not old enough for that.

"He used to love playing with his friends and was always late to return to home after school. Now, he stays so sick that on most days he can’t leave his bed. He gets up from his bed wanting to get ready but his weakness doesn’t allow him so. He falls on back on the bed. I could not believe what I was hearing when my husband told me about Dheva's condition. Tears well up in my eyes as I try to come to terms with the fact that my Dheva has cancer.” - Muniamma, mother.

Every day Dheva complains of pain and weakness and nothing his parents do can comfort him

Dheva is weak and tired and often complains of a persisting pain in his stomach. Kaveri and Muniamma have three other children besides Dheva - Satya, Vidya and Jagan. The other children do not understand why Dheva gets all their attention suddenly. His parents are cautious about every little step he takes. They avoid giving the leftover food to him anymore - he is always given freshly-cooked food. Yet, nothing seems to ease his pain and the poor helpless parents feel completely lost.

 

“The kids don’t know what has happened to Dheva. They feel bad when he can’t join them in their games. I can see Dheva getting upset too. The only thing he keeps on asking us is when will things be better again. I put up a brave front and tell him ‘Very soon my child’. But in my heart I know that we might lose him any day unless he gets the right treatment.” - Kaveri. 

The parents are daily-wage workers and by no means can arrange for the money for Dheva’s treatment

Muniamma and Kaveri both work as daily-wage workers and each get Rs 300 per day. For a family this big, the amount of money they get is clearly not enough. They are in no position to make arrangements for 10 lakhs which is essential for Dheva’s treatment.
 

“When I got to know about the cost of the treatment I didn’t know what to say. I have never seen that much amount of money in my life, how will manage to get it? I looked at Dheva’s face and my heart sank. He is suffering so much and as a father I can’t even arrange for the money. I have never felt this helpless in my life.” - Kaveri. 

How you can help

6-year-old Dheva has cancer and has severe stomach pain. He is very weak and can’t eat anything. He often has fevers and has pain in joints and bones. He has been admitted to the hospital but the family doesn’t have the money for the treatment.  If Dheva gets the treatment there are high chances of him getting well. Your kind contribution can help little Dheva get back to normal life and enjoy with his family.