I work as a security guard, but I have not received my salary for around a year now. Just when the court proceedings to get my dues began, Shahid was diagnosed with cancer and my whole world fell apart. I was already struggling to feed my family, and his treatment costs have become an additional financial burden on my shoulders that I cannot bear anymore. My son has become very weak now – he cannot walk two steps without falling unconscious. He will not survive without continued treatment. I am now left with nothing to save him.”-Shahnawaz Ansari, father of 12-year-old Shahid.

Shahid was a good student at school who had dreams of a bright future, until cancer snatched them all away

Shahid would always tell his mother, Haseena, that he would study hard enough to get a good job someday. He wanted his family to have a better lifestyle, a markedly different one from their poverty-stricken background. That was his ultimate dream. Little did Haseena know that her ambitious son would fall prey to cancer at such a tender age, when he got a high fever in November last year. When it did not subside, the worried family took him to a better hospital in their city of Ranchi, where it was confirmed that Shahid had blood cancer.

“He would always tell me- ‘Look how hard Papa is working. Wait till I grow up and get a good job – he won’t have any tension anymore.’ My poor innocent child did not deserve this. We already had so many troubles, I cannot understand why fate had to do this to Shahid. He was full of positivity – never have I heard him saying anything foul. I just hope we don’t lose him.”-Haseena, mother, with tears in her eyes.

This poor child can hardly get up from bed now, and needs help to even go to the washroom

 Cancer has completely sapped Shahid’s vigour and enthusiasm. The active boy who used to help his mother with chores and play chase with his siblings has disappeared; in his place has come a frail child who does not even know that he is suffering from a deadly disease. He does not have the energy to walk to the washroom all by himself and is completely dependent on his mother.

“He used to be his mother’s strength – doing everything for her, without being asked to. Today, he can’t move a limb by himself. The devastating effects of cancer have almost disabled our boy. It has been months since I have seen him smile. His laughter was so contagious – it used to make everyone around him happy, but now he cannot even cry. He cannot eat well either and sleep is a distant dream too. I pray every day for him to get a good night’s sleep, but that never happens. He is always so restless.”-Shahnawaz.

Shahid is so critical that he needs chemotherapy every week to survive now, but his father cannot afford it

Earlier, Shahid needed chemotherapy once in every 20 days. But now, he needs it once in every 7 days. His blood cancer has become aggressive and can even turn fatal without continued chemotherapy. But his father has already exhausted all financial options, and has no money left to buy basic supplies for his home, let alone afford his son’s treatment.

“I had to sell a small piece of ancestral land that I owned to manage treatment expenses till now. I used to earn Rs 8,000 a month when I was being paid. Without it, these months have been a downhill struggle. I don’t know for how long the case against my employers will go on and when I will get justice. I cannot wait for court proceedings to end to save my son. He needs help now, at this very moment. I have nothing but empty pockets. Please help me.”-Shahnawaz.

How you can help

Severe blood cancer will kill Shahid within no time if his father is not able to continue his treatment. His body is already very weak and he will not survive without prolonged chemotherapy. However, his security guard father has not received his dues from his employer for a year now, and is struggling to make ends meet. With your help, this child has a chance of surviving and going back to school to fulfill his dream of getting a good job one day.