Navin isn’t one to give up. When he found out he has cancer last year, he decided that one day he too would become a doctor and save children like him. His class 10 board exams were about to start, and he insisted on writing all the papers. He would write his exam in the morning, and go for chemotherapy in the evening. Navin got 93% in his exams. Radha was certain that with a bone marrow transplant and his unwavering spirit, he would make it through. Navin was declared cancer-free in June 2018.

If only that was the end of his suffering.

The words ‘cancer-free’ was a relief – they thought better days were ahead of them

Navin’s (16) fight with blood cancer began in 2016. After a year of being cancer-free. His cancer relapsed in February 2018. This time, Navin was old enough to understand his disease. He underwent a bone marrow transplant in May 2018, and was once again declared cancer-free. Much to Radha and Sridhar’s relief, he was recovering quickly.

“I was certain this was the end of his suffering. I thought God couldn’t put one child through so much, there were only happy days ahead of him,” – Radha

Unfortunately, Radha was wrong. On December 25, 2018 Navin was admitted to the hospital for graft vs host disease (GVHD) of the gut. This occurs post-transplant – the donated bone marrow views the recipient’s body as foreign and attacks the body. Navin’s condition is now critical.

Navin is like any other teen – he likes hanging out with his friends and playing PUBG, but he can only do it in the hospital

Navin has been in the hospital ever since then. He has loose motions nearly 30 times a day and vomits constantly. He’s weak and dull. Even sitting up in bed is often difficult for him. The highlight of Navin’s week is when his friends from school come to visit him in the hospital. They spend their time talking and playing PUBG with each other. For those few minutes, Navin feels normal.

“He’s positive despite everything he’s been through. He’s a fighter, my son. I can’t hold back my tears sometimes, but I haven’t ever seen him breakdown.”

They've spent nearly 68 lakhs so far, they can’t afford even a rupee more

The past few years have been hard on Radha and Sridhar. They have spent nearly 68 lakhs on his treatment so far – an amount unimaginable for a common man. Sridhar works as a caterer and Radha hasn’t gone for work in three years now.

“We’ve broken all our fixed deposits, sold all the jewellery, borrowed from every single person we know, taken numerous loans and mortgaged the apartment that my father had left me. It’s the only possession we have left now. We don’t have much of family support because Sridhar and I got married against his parents’ wishes.”

Navin needs continued hospital care and medicines to recover from this dangerous infection. There’s no other way he can make it. Navin fought cancer twice and can fight this infection with your help.

Your support will save this bright, ambitious teenager’s life.