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My name is Suchithra K K (all of my friends and relatives call me Astha). I am a 26-year-old woman working in an LGBTQI organization based in Bangalore. I am originally from Kerala, and I have been living in Bangalore for the last six years and I live in a rented house. I have been facing a huge financial crisis for the last one year since the Covid -19 pandemic started. I am coming from a dalit, working-class background.
My parents are in Kerala and both of them are elderly, over 65 years old. My mother has been a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patient for the last 25 years and was in treatment. She has respiratory failure and doctors have diagnosed a liver infection also. In addition, she has mental illness, probably due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain. She has been on medication for thyroid and diabetes. In the past one and half years she has been admitted in the hospital many times and every time it costs 15k - 35k. She is under treatment in Mariyan Medical College in Pala in the Kottayam district of Kerala. My sister recently suffered from a stroke and this has caused added financial strain on top of this pandemic related crisis.
My mother has had to take external oxygen for 24*7 to survive. For the last 10 months we are renting an oxygen concentrator and it costs Rs.4000/- per month. Because we are using the concentrator, every month the electricity bill is coming up to 4k-6k. For the past month, we are unable to afford this oxygen supply and my mother's condition has become worse requiring hospitalisation.We don't have our own house or land like many other dalit families in kerala.
I know this may not be a permanent solution but if you could all help me get medical treatment for my mother temporarily, then I can think of some other ways to keep her alive. I am in a desperate situation right now and looking for you all to help me. Thank you! I know everyone is struggling with covid related expenses and am very grateful for your support.
My parents are in Kerala and both of them are elderly, over 65 years old. My mother has been a COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patient for the last 25 years and was in treatment. She has respiratory failure and doctors have diagnosed a liver infection also. In addition, she has mental illness, probably due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain. She has been on medication for thyroid and diabetes. In the past one and half years she has been admitted in the hospital many times and every time it costs 15k - 35k. She is under treatment in Mariyan Medical College in Pala in the Kottayam district of Kerala. My sister recently suffered from a stroke and this has caused added financial strain on top of this pandemic related crisis.
My mother has had to take external oxygen for 24*7 to survive. For the last 10 months we are renting an oxygen concentrator and it costs Rs.4000/- per month. Because we are using the concentrator, every month the electricity bill is coming up to 4k-6k. For the past month, we are unable to afford this oxygen supply and my mother's condition has become worse requiring hospitalisation.We don't have our own house or land like many other dalit families in kerala.
I know this may not be a permanent solution but if you could all help me get medical treatment for my mother temporarily, then I can think of some other ways to keep her alive. I am in a desperate situation right now and looking for you all to help me. Thank you! I know everyone is struggling with covid related expenses and am very grateful for your support.
