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“We eat only a single meal per day now. We cannot afford to eat more than that even if we are hungry for most of the day - because our baby girl is admitted at the hospital and is fighting for her life. Whatever little I earn is going towards her treatment.” - Sakthi Murugan, fatherSakthi Murugan and his wife Kaviya were married two years ago. And within a year, they were overjoyed to learn that they were going to become parents. Sakthi Murugan had taken great care of his wife all through her pregnancy and soon they were blessed with a baby girl. The two were enjoying their new life as young parents when the unexpected happened…
‘She is our first child and we cannot give up on her’
A few months ago, their baby girl started getting frequent colds. This led to breathing difficulty, and she would need to be taken to the doctor frequently. Nobody could tell what was the reason behind her illness until Sakthi Murugan and Kaviya took her to a free government check-up camp where a doctor told them that their child’s heart was beating more rapidly than usual and that they should get tests done. Soon, it was revealed that the child had a hole in her heart that needed immediate surgery.
“We were broken. We still are. How does such a small child get these diseases? What mistake did we make in taking care of her? We thought we were doing our best… she is our first baby and we cannot think of losing her. She’s in a serious condition now and doctors have told us that it will get worse if she does not get surgery.” - Kaviya
'My Son Carries The Weight Entirely On His Shoulders With His Sole Income'
"She is my son's only child she is just 6 months old, and we can't see her suffering like this. My son is a daily wage worker and does not earn much. I am too old to work, and he is the only one who is taking care of everything in the family, but this amount required for the surgery has outrun his capacity. We don't have anyone to save our little one. Please help us. " - Sakthi Murugan's mother
‘Her medicines cost Rs 20,000 each day…how will we afford this?’
The baby had to undergo an emergency angioplasty recently as she suffered from complete breathlessness. Now, she is admitted to the ICU where her medicines cost 20,000 per day. Sakthi Murugan and Kaviya had to give up whatever savings and jewellery they had to fund their daughter’s treatment until now, but they are left with nothing to afford her surgery.
“We are not eating. It’s ok if we starve; at least we can save that much money. Auto rides to the hospital itself cost Rs 400. I am a painter who is not able to go to work because of my daughter’s hospitalisation. I don’t know whom to turn to for help. I am desperate.” - Sakthi Murugan
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The identity of the child is protected in adherence to new government guidelines.
