Simanchal can distinctly remember the night when his wife, Parvati and he sat on the Bhubaneswar railway platform with Asutosh squirming in pain on their lap. It was pouring heavily outside. They were waiting for their train to Mumbai, the ‘city of dreams’, hoping that their only dream to see their son cancer-free comes true. Teary-eyed Simanchal could only think of happier times sitting there. Times when he used to come back from the city with new toys for little Asutosh, tell him stories about his city life and them tuck him to bed with a goodnight kiss. Times when his 3-year-old son was hale and hearty and was not fighting a deadly disease.

Even in the darkest of hours, Simanchal was not ready to give up on his son

Little Asutosh has been suffering from severe fever and body pain for almost a year now. Initially, it was difficult for Simanchal and Parvati to understand what was wrong with their son, as none of the doctors could tell them anything for sure. Soon Austosh started showing other symptoms as well like a swollen stomach and bruises on his body. It was when they finally took him to Bhubaneswar that they got to know of cancer. Asutosh has been diagnosed with Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML). He is in urgent need of a bone marrow transplant but the cost of the treatment is coming in the way. However, a determined father, Simanchal has left no stone unturned to get his son cured and has even travelled to Mumbai in the hope for a better treatment. 

With all their money exhausted, they had to sleep on the roads with their sick son

“We had left our home in Odisha with just Rs 15000-20000 in our hands. For about 20 days we were sleeping on the roads outside the hospital because I couldn’t afford a roof for my family. The money we had soon got exhausted and even though we borrowed some more from our friends in the village, we are nowhere near the amount the that we need for my son’s transplant. It would cost us around Rs 33 lakhs. But I don’t know how I will arrange for it without help.” - Simanchal, father. 

Asutosh with his grandfather in his village

As he awaits his transplant, little Asutosh longs for his village and the comfort of his home

Asutosh has grown up in a small village in Ganjam district of Odisha. As much as he loved the village and the greenery, he was always curious about the city where his father went to work for six months of the year. A seasonal farmer by profession, Simanchal would come home usually during the time of harvest. Those were the happiest times for little Asutosh who then got to hear so many stories about the city. But now, lying down in pain in the hospital bed, he hates the concrete jungle around him. He longs for the village quietness and calm.

 Asutosh playing in the hospital play-area

“He always wanted to visit the city but we never thought it would be while he is in this condition. Sometimes when he feels little better, he asks us to take him to the play area in the hospital. But in other times he keeps requesting me to take him back home. However, my hands are tied. Every night, as I put him off to sleep, I pray for a miracle to make him better.”

A daily wager by profession, Simanchal is looking up to you to help him get his son treated

With a meagre income of Rs 3000 per month, Simanchal is not in a position to get his son the life-saving transplant. As he looks at little Asutosh suffering through the pain of cancer, he feels helpless and desperate. He is willing to be the donor but the cost of the transplant is their major roadblock. However, a small gesture of love from your side can change their lives. Your contribution can give this 3-year-old a cancer-free life and bring back the smile on his parents’ faces.

Your kind support can help save little Asutosh