“All my friends keep talking to me about taking Science or Arts in 11th. I am not able to tell them what is in my head. I don’t even know if I will be alive tomorrow – school toh door ki baat hai” – Akash

16-year-old Akash has been on bedrest for the past 6 months. His body has become so weak that he cannot even stand up without someone to lean onto. With each passing day, he is losing hope as his body has been deteriorating fast. He knows his parents cannot afford the cure, and it has left him devastated.


Akash before a deadly blood disease took over his life

He knew something was seriously wrong but never confided in his parents until it was too late

“I did not really tell my parents when I had fever. It took me a while to notice that I felt weak every day, and the temperature never went down. My legs started hurting, and whenever I sat in the class, I would feel so dizzy like the room was going round and round. My parents took me the doctors in Danpur. I just felt the pain get worse until one day I could not get out of bed.” - Akash

Mamatha and Premanand traveled to Bhubaneshwar where Akash was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. His body cannot produce enough blood. Since he is a teen, his condition is critical. His body needs more energy for development and if there is not much blood, every system begins to fail.

He thinks it is impossible to go back to school, even though he finished his boards

“It is the same routine now. Every week I will get red patches. I feel there is no air in the room but actually I am not able to breathe. Every part of my body hurts like it is on fire from the inside. That is when I know it is time for a transfusion. My father carries me out of the house. We go to the hospital, get a test to see blood count. I get blood. I feel better, and come home.”

If Akash exerts himself even a little, he would end up needing transfusions the same day. Being confined to a bed in his room has caused depression. He does not care about life or his future anymore. He cries silently and refuses to confide in his parents. Although it shows strength, it also shows how much this disease is affecting him both physically and emotionally. Akash needs a bone-marrow transplant.

Akash knows his father will never be able to afford his transplant

Premanand works as a helper in a cloth shop for Rs 5000 per month. Now that his son needs urgent treatment, Premanand has been asking for help. He has spent Rs 1.5 lakhs till now by borrowing money from others just for the medical tests and blood transfusions.

He can only get better with your help

“I’ve even quit my job so that I can take care of my son. Sometimes I have to carry him to the bathroom also. Where will I ge 10 lakhs for his transplant. I cannot even look at my son because he knows the truth, that he will lose his life because we can't afford it.” - Premanand

Akash needs a bone marrow transplant. It is his only shot at beating this disease. However, he does not have much time to get it. Every passing moment, life is draining out of him.

With your support,  he can survive, and have a life.