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“My husband and I wed at a later stage in life, and we learned that we were expecting nearly 7 years after our marriage. Considering my age and the fact that I was having twins, at my first prenatal appointment, my doctor had told me that I needed to be extra careful. I was advised bed rest, and since I had been working at the time, I decided I would take medical leave. I heeded the doctor’s words, yet things turned out like this and I don’t know why. One of my precious babies has spent the past 7 months in the NICU fighting for her life…” - Sunita, mother
Born premature, her first baby is suffering life-threatening complications
Sunita had just entered her 7 month of pregnancy in September 2022, when her water broke unexpectedly and she went into labour. Her sister and her husband, Mangesh, rushed her to a nursing home, where she welcomed her premature twin baby girls. While her second baby seemed to have the typical premature birth-related issues, her first baby was more on the smaller side and was born with life-threatening lung-related complications that required long-term NICU care.
While one twin is well and thriving, the other is fighting to survive
10 days after they were born, Sunita and Mangesh's second-born twin was released from the hospital with a clean bill of health. However, their first-born had to remain in intensive care for nearly 2 months because her condition didn’t stabilise, and had to be readmitted to an advanced hospital where she was put on ventilator and oxygen support. She even underwent surgery for hernia, and spent another month in the NICU.Upon being discharged on home oxygen, there was a glimmer of hope that she would recover fully. But alas, the situation worsened. The baby lost weight and was unable to feed properly and Sunita and Mangesh knew that they needed to take their child to a facility with the expertise to address her needs. After enlisting the help of Sunita's brother, they decided to transport her to a hospital in Mumbai, which is where she has been for the past 3 months.
“It was only when we came here that we realised just how dire her condition was. Both her lungs were on the verge of collapse because they were filling up with carbon dioxide. One of her lungs was even larger than the other and was putting pressure on heart, so she had to undergo surgery to cut off the extra bit. Currently only one lung is functioning at 50% capacity and she still can’t breathe on her own, without external support. Seeing her laying in the incubator, with several pipes and wires attached to her small body, has been really difficult for us… All we had wished is for our babies to be born healthy, but this reality has brought us down to our knees.” - Mangesh, father
She’s undergone 5 surgical procedures to date, but she is still not out of the woods
In the 7 months since her birth, Sunita and Mangesh's baby has undergone a total of 5 surgeries for her lungs, hernia and also to attach a draining pipe to her stomach. All these procedures, as well as NICU care and hospitalisation costs have taken a huge financial toll on Sunita and Mangesh. Now drowning in debt, they don’t have the means to afford the rest of her treatment.
They have exhausted all their life savings and even borrowed loans, but it's not enough
Sunita worked as a part-time teacher, and opted for a medical leave in her first trimester. Her husband, Mangesh, works in a private company and earns a decent salary. All these years, they’ve been able to get by and live a comfortable life while also saving up for the future. In addition to that, Mangesh has also been repaying a home loan and looking after the medical expenses for his mother, who is a BP patient. Today, the couple has exhausted everything they had in an effort to save their baby and are struggling to continue her treatment.
“I haven't had the chance to carry her in my arms or even touch her yet. The only way I can even get a glimpse of her is through the glass window seperating us from the NICU. The pain I feel right now, watching my little one fight for every breath she takes - I hope to God no parent has to ever go through this in their lifetime. So far, we’ve spent nearly 27 lakhs just to keep our baby alive, and she needs to remain in the NICU for at least 2 more weeks. But there is no way we can afford to pay another 12 lakhs for her treatment… We can only ask of you to help us now. Please save our baby.” - Mangesh
Just like Sunita's baby girl, many poor children suffer from complications that come with being born too early in this world. If these little ones do not get prolonged NICU care from the day they were born, their chances of surviving are minimal. Funds stand between them and their healthy, bright futures. You can help avoid these complications, by donating to Milaap Baby Critical Care Fund, which will ensure that no preterm baby is devoid of medical treatment that can help them go back home with their parents, and lead normal lives like you and me.
Identity of the child is protected in adherence to government guidelines.
