"I told him he was going for a brain scan, while he was going for a surgery. I cannot tell him he has cancer. The fear alone would kill him!"
Seizures are a part of life for 15-year-old Abijith who has been battling a condition that results in low functioning adrenal glands. Recently, when the seizures got erratic, Abijith was diagnosed with brain tumor. After surgery and radiation, his immune system was extremely vulnerable. He caught an infection that has caused brain fever. Now, Abijith is in the ICU, unresponsive and struggling to survive.
Just when they thought it couldn't get worse
“He would be active – watching TV, sipping on his coffee, talking to us and suddenly he would get seizures. Adrenal Hypoplasia causes his sugar to drop among other symptoms. It causes seizures in the morning. But, this time he had an episode at any time of the day and they were only getting worse.”
Subashree (sister) and Hariharan (father), rushed him to the doctor who diagnosed him with a brain tumor. Abijith needed a surgery to remove the tumor. Subashree told her brother that it was just a routine scan. When he was in recovery, the doctor found he still had a mass of cancerous cells and needed radiation. Just as Abijith was completing treatment, he became prey to an infection.
He does not know that it was a tumor
“Abijith fought with me when he came out of the surgery for not telling him the truth about where he was being taken. He would fight with us every day accusing of doing something to him. He would sleep throughout the day. It scared him that he couldn’t lie awake. He did not tell us that he was feeling sick, afraid we may take him back to the hospital.”
When he began to have seizures again, Subashree rushed him to the hospital. He was diagnosed with Meningitis. Here, his condition began to deteriorate, until he began completely unresponsive.
He is probably lost and helpless, we need to bring him back
“He was refusing to eat. He would keep repeating the same thing like a mad man – Take me home, Take me home, Take me home! I said I promise to take him if he had his food. He was not comprehending anything. Suddenly, I felt like I lost him. They thought he was in a coma. No. His eyes respond. He blinks. He understands when we speak. He is just frozen from within.”
It has been 15 days, and Abijith is still in the ICU. With medicines, he is getting better and he needs treatment for 3-4 weeks. We have spent over 5 Lakhs so far and now we are unable to continue the treatment that is keeping him alive. The estimated cost for Abijith's recovery is Rs. 10 lakhs.
We just need to give him time to recover
My husband has been supporting us all for the past year. Ever since my brother’s condition deteriorated, I have been by his bedside. It’s been 6 months. I have exhausted all my leaves and the only option is to quit now. We are struggling to pay for the increasing bills.
How you can help
It has been difficult for Subashree to see her brother lying in a limbo, unable to move or speak. He is just 15. He has a whole life ahead of him. She cannot lose him because they could not afford to save him.
Your contribution can save Abijith’s life.
Supporting Documents
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.
