Before he became sick, my son Barathraj loved evenings the most on a typical day. He went out and played with his friends for hours. But one evening last December, his laughter was replaced with cries of pain as he fell and hit his head on the pavement. His mother and I thought it was a small head injury at first, but later realised that he had a blood clot. We rushed to Sri Ramachandra Hospital, Chennai from our village for better treatment. I never imagined that my playful son would wind up in the ICU with his body in shock and with a dozen tubes covering his small face.
But I already have spent more than 2 lakh - an amount I can’t even dream of making in my lifetime - on his treatment so far. The doctor says he will have to remain in the hospital under intensive care for 3 to 4 weeks more. But I can’t afford it any longer.
Supporting Document
The specifics of this case have been verified by the medical team at the concerned hospital. For any clarification on the treatment or associated costs, contact the campaign organizer or the medical team.
Medicines didn’t help my poor son
From there, everything went downhill for us. Barathraj was given medicines to prevent fits, which ended up giving him rashes. His whole body was filled with red spots and I remember my wife’s scared face clearly. The doctors told us that his liver was weak and gave him more medicines. I had a bad feeling about his worsening health, but tried to put up a brave face in front of my family. And then something worse happened.My boy, who could not bear a small cut on his finger, is very sick now
He started vomiting and developed a fever. We took him back to Chennai, where doctors gave us a shock when they said his heart had stopped functioning properly.I had never seen my son so sick before. No parent can bear to see their child being supported by the ventilator, but I told myself that I would do anything to make him alright, especially when the doctors told me that he might need ECMO support if there is no improvement despite the medicines.
I have never felt more helpless as a father
We even had to leave our nine-year-old daughter in the village with her grandmother, but she put on a smile for us and told us she wanted to see her younger brother healthy again. The whole village is rooting for his recovery, as it is only because of my friends and family there that I was able to get Barathraj to Chennai for treatment.But I already have spent more than 2 lakh - an amount I can’t even dream of making in my lifetime - on his treatment so far. The doctor says he will have to remain in the hospital under intensive care for 3 to 4 weeks more. But I can’t afford it any longer.
All Barath consumes now is milk, fed to him through a tube. When he asks me whether he will be all right, I tell him that he doesn’t have to worry as the doctors will take care of everything. He calms down when I say that, but the truth is I have no money. If something happens to my son, I will not be able to forgive myself.
