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"We got a call from the laboratory to immediately take her to the hospital. It was a check-up for her headache but turned out her blood counts were dangerously low and the infection level had spiked up. I kept asking them, 'Are my daughter's reports okay? What is wrong? Is she alright?' But they were hesitant to tell me the truth over a call and just insisted on taking her to a hospital immediately. Only after reaching the hospital, I found out she had cancer." - Madhavi, mother
Struggling with cancer for a year, her fight is still on
Madhavi 's 16-year-old daughter has been struggling with blood cancer since September 2022. This year, in June, she had almost beat her cancer and was supposed to be on maintenance treatment. Unfortunately, in August, her symptoms started showing up again and her cancer relapsed. Now, she is again put on salvage chemotherapy while she awaits a bone marrow transplant.She hasT-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, an aggressive blood cancer, that progresses very rapidly. It requires a long-standing treatment and it cost this family almost INR 18 lakhs to complete the young girl's chemotherapy till the very last protocol. But today, they are left stranded while not only having to start her treatment again from scratch, but also to arrange another INR 39 lakhs including the life-saving transplantation.
Cancer made her drop out of school and now she worries about her future
Academics and school are the only thing that kept Madhavi 's daughter going despite fighting this deadly cancer. She was physically in acute distress, yet she kept pushing because mentally she would be happy diving into her books and notes. She had scored 97% in her Class 10 board examination and wanted to outperform herself in Class 12."The doctors had asked us to be extremely cautious as for the next 6-months she can't be exposed to any infection because the high dosage medications have weakened her immunity. Even online classes don't happen anymore but still she kept insisting she can go to school because she is worried about her future. But my daughter needs support to even turn to the other side of the hospital bed and is unable to eat any solid food because of her ulcers. How will she have the energy to be able to handle this stress on her body and mind? She felt even more dejected having to drop out of school than knowing about her cancer relapse. I felt so helpless for taking away that one thing that made her happy." - Madhavi, mother
She was resilient throughout her first diagnosis, but this relapse is now slowly crushing her spirits
Madhavi's daughter hasn't seen the sun for weeks now, since being confined to her hospital bed. Her joint pain and headaches have gotten worse with her ongoing treatment."Cancer has crushed her dreams. My daughter was strong throughout her first diagnosis, but this relapse has crushed her spirits. She is with me 24*7 and keeps all her feelings pent up inside her so that she doesn't cry, as she worries that would upset me further. I know that 16 is an age where she must be going through an emotional turmoil, but there is no friend of her age that she can share it with now. My husband is running from pillar to post to arrange for her transplant. But deep inside we are all terrified of losing our family." - Madhavi, mother
He sacrifices meeting his ailing daughter because of taking up 24-hour shifts just to be able to get her treated
Tripurari works as a security guard and he needs to fulfil his work shifts, be it night or day, as per the agency. To arrange for Madhavi's treatment he has been overexerting himself with 24-hour shifts with hardly sleeping for an hour or so."I'm here at work but my mind is with my daughter there. There is no urge left in me to sleep or eat because without my daughter I can't even gulp food down my throat knowing she hasn't eaten without pain for days. We managed everything in her last treatment. Now, I have nothing left and I can only beg everyone to help us get through this relapse with her surgery. She is our only child and there will be nothing left in our lives without her."- Tripurari, father
This family of 3 is now just scared of losing it all because of this cancer. They had their own little world which was full of love and their daughter's smile. Everything will slip off their hand despite having a cure, if they don't arrange the funds to get her transplant done. Only you can support them now by clicking here.
Identity of the child is protected in adherence to government guidelines.
