“Tannu and I have always shared a special bond.  I remember how she used to come back from school and give me every little detail about her day.  Her mother leaves early for her job and it has always been me who dropped her off to school. This was our time and she used to talk about all her dreams and aspirations during this walk to her school. Now things have changed. At least twice a week, I have to take her to the hospital for blood transfusions. I am so helpless that I have to request some passerby to give Tannu a lift in their car to the bus stop while I walk the entire 4 kms to catch a bus to the hospital.” - Sikander, father of 14-year-old Tannu. 

A rare blood disease has brought Tannu’s life to a standstill and has left her completely shattered

Tannu had a long episode of a heavy flow of menstruation. Her parents got scared and immediately took her to the doctor. Several tests were conducted and then Tannu was diagnosed with Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). It is a rare disease in which red blood cells break down earlier than the usual time. In most cases, like that of Tannu’s, PNH is associated with aplastic anemia, a condition in which the bone marrow does not make enough blood cells. The doctors have said that only an urgent bone marrow transplant can save Tannu’s life.

Sikander feels that his daughter’s illness has pulled them far apart from one another

“Tannu always loved studying and she had many plans about her future. She used to talk to me about where she wants to study next. Her enthusiasm for everything was infectious and since I have never had the opportunity to study, I always encouraged her. But now she lives in her own world and hardly shares anything with me.  She just got enrolled to a new school in the 10th standard. But when I told her that her school will not allow her to continue because of lack of attendance, she was very sad. Even when I am trying to feed her, her favourite khichdi, she hardly eats anything. When I see her suffering so much and being broken-hearted with her condition, I feel like I have failed as a father.” 

Tannu can get better only with a bone marrow transplant but her father is struggling to afford the treatment

Sikander’s wife works as a tailor and earns around Rs 6000-7000 per month. She leaves for work early in the morning and comes back home very late. She works extra hours to help her husband arrange for the money for their daughter’s treatment and so doesn’t get to spend much time with her sick daughter. The family has already spent a lot on Tannu's treatment and they are in no position to arrange for 20 lakhs that is needed for her bone marrow transplant.
 

“I used to work as a tailor too; used to earn Rs 7000-8000 per month. But for the last two months I have not been able to go to work because of Tannu’s illness.There have been days when I have remained on empty stomach or else I couldn’t have afforded to take Tannu for her blood transfusions. When my older son Aarif asked me if he could go on for further studies, I had to outrightly say ‘no’ to him. How can I even explain the pain that I felt while I said 'no' to my son - what kind of a helpless father curbs the desires of one of his child to treat another?” 

How you can help

Sikander is a desperate father who is running from every post to pillar to save his 14-year-old daughter, Tannu from a rare blood disease. She needs a bone marrow transplant at the earliest but her father is unable to afford the treatment. Your generous contribution can help Tannu get a second chance at life and Sikander get his happy family back again.

Your support can help this father save his daughter