Every morning Ranjeet takes the bus to Damodar Hall of Parel. He sets up his stock; keeping the sweaters and socks on the top and hopes at least today he will make some good sale. It is 8 p.m and he reaches home to his wife and 3 kids waiting for some healthy family time. First look at Ranjeet’s life, it all seems routine and ordinary. But take a closer look and you will see the struggles of many such families from a lower income group trying to make a living in a the big city of Mumbai.
“Leaving Ramapur (Bihar) was the most difficult decision I ever had to take. I knew my Chandan can be cured only in Mumbai. But how and what will I earn to take care of my family was always question. I still remember how 5 of us lived in the Dharamshala near Bandra for almost 6 months. We spent every penny we had for the tests and scans suggested by doctors at Tata Memorial Hospital.”
Ranjeet came to Mumbai for his 11-year-old son’s Chandan treatment in 2012.
When Frequent Fever Was Diagnosed As Blood Cancer
It was first in 2007 when Chandan was around 2 years old; his health started to deteriorate due to fever. The local doctors of Ramapur referred them to a bigger hospital in the Bihar. After a bone marrow test he was diagnosed with leukemia.The doctor from the town suggested that the doctors at TMH would have a cure for this disease. So, with his whole family and a whole lot of hope he left for Mumbai.
Soon as Chandan showed a considerable improvement in his health and they went back to their village in Bihar. Again in 2012 when Chandan’s health started to worsen, they came back to Mumbai for the chemo injections. The doctors then confirmed Chandan was diagnosed with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Today, only a bone marrow transplant can save him.
“Had I gathered a little more courage and stayed back in Mumbai, maybe Chandan would have been like any other 11 year old."
After 6 months of living in Dharamshala, Ranjeet took up a job as a street hawker and started selling clothes near TMH. Earnings from it has to take care of a monthly rent of 3400 INR, living expenses of family of 5 and medical expenses of Chandan. As if this was any less a struggle, Ranjeet needs to urgently arrange for 12 lakhs for Chandan’s bone marrow transplant.
“Had I gathered a little more courage in 2007 and stayed back in Mumbai, maybe Chandan would have been like any other 11 year old. Maybe the relapse would have never happened. I earn 7000 INR, my small piece of land is mortgaged; there is no way I can arrange for 12 lakhs.”, says Ranjeet regretting his decision of going back to Ramapur, Bihar.
How can you help?
Ranjeet earns Rupees 7000 a month. His wife is a home-maker. His income is barely enough to cover his son’s chemo sessions. Medical expenses since 2012 have already been a struggle. It's not easy for a parent to see his child fight complications this grave. Your support will save his son. Please contribute now and help Ranjeet.
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