Our father, Satish Waman Kamath (70 years old) is a highly respected senior member of the travel and tourism industry in India.

It has been heartbreaking to see him deteriorate from being highly resilient, independent and strong willed to suffering multiple serious medical issues leading to a complete loss of the ability to walk,after having been an athletic person, an inability to look after his basic needs and complete degeneration of strength. He has had no quality of his life, turning him from an outgoing, social person to a very quiet introvert. He seems to have internalised his ailments and is not very vocal with us; but the sudden passing away of our mother in November 2018 has perhaps added to his downward spiralling health.

At present, he is undergoing critical care in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at Yashoda Hospital, Secunderabad, after developing severe complications from Renal Failure. This is his 2nd ICU hospitalisation in 2 weeks.  He has several medical conditions which have caused a serious deterioration and medical complications since 2016 –

• 1. Chronic Kidney Disease 5 (End stage renal failure), diagnosed April 2018. He has been on dialysis 3 times/week since May 2018
• 2. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), leading to a toe amputation in the left foot in Jan 2017 and a series of toe amputations in the right foot in May-June 2018, with a final forefoot amputation in July 2018
• 3. Diminishing ability to walk or attend to his basic needs and this can only be done with assistance
• 4. Diverticulosis and colon ulcers, caused due to age and CKD
• 5. Gastrointestinal bleeding, caused due to ‘uremia’, in turn caused due to renal failure
• 6. Pulmonary edema and pulmonary infection, caused due to renal failure and low immunity due to multiple medical complications
• 7. Diabetes, diagnosed in 1999

The current hospitalization has already crossed INR 3,30,000 since 21st Jan 2019, which is averaging INR 70,000 per day. Due to his complicated medical history, he needs critical care and be kept under observation. The ICU hospitalisation last week cost INR 2,22,000 for 5 days.

Whatever little his medical insurance covered was used up with his first toe amputation in Jan 2017 and they refused further coverage due to his medical conditions. All our father's and the family’s savings and assets have already been utilised as there have been multiple surgeries and hospitalisations since his CKD 5 and PAD diagnosis in 2018.

A big chunk of the expenses have been covered with the goodwill of our close family and friends supporting us. We have been completely upfront with his doctors and the hospital billing managers that he doesn’t have medical insurance nor cash flow to pay for the high medical costs and to help us the best they can with their margins etc.

My sister, Sharayu and I, have been looking after him full time, and are now reaching out to our extended friends and family networks to find a more sustainable solution to help with his current critical care expenses and for being able to provide him with good quality ongoing and palliative care.
In addition to the emergency hospitalisation expenses, we also incur ongoing medical costs which average INR 50,000 – 60,000/- per month. These costs include -

• 1. Dialysis procedure (12 times per month),  kits and injections given during dialysis – Iron and EPO (for Haemoglobin)
• 2. Diapers for bladder and bowel movement
• 3. Doctor reviews at Yashoda Hospital
• 4. Daily home nurse visits
• 5. Home Physiotherapy
• 6. Antibiotic injections, and general medication to manage his health
• 7. Machine for PAD to improve blood circulation

We appreciate all help in these very challenging times, including helping us reach out to more people in your friends and family circles who might be in the position to help.

With deep gratitude,
Meghna & Sharayu Kamath