He's Been Fighting This Deadly Disease Since He Was Just A | Milaap

He's Been Fighting This Deadly Disease Since He Was Just A Baby, Now He's Running Out Of Time


“Our child has spent most of his childhood being sick. He has been through so much pain at such a young age. All he wishes is to enjoy his childhood like normal kids, play like other kids and live freely. He is brave but we are afraid to let him do so...” - Monica, mother

Deep is fond of riding bicycle, running and does well in academics. He doesn’t like to stay at one place. He is an active kid willing to participate in just any activity there is. But his body is not supportive of his free-spirit.

Deep suffers from Thalassemia Major. It is a condition in which the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough red blood cells. Only a Bone Marrow Transplant can save him but Deep's parents can't afford the treatment.

Blood transfusions are keeping him alive but not for long

“Deep was 6 months old when when we got to know about his disease. Since then, he needs blood transfusion every 15 days...He is 7 now! He requires care all the time. We wonder what will happen to him when we are not there. We want him to get well soon.” - Mukund, father.

Everytime the next schedule for transfusion nears, Deep's body starts showing changes. His body turns pale and white and it suddenly becomes weak. He can't eat, talk or walk anymore until the transfusion is done.

He is losing his innocence
Deep has been living with this condition throughout his childhood. Now he has started to understand it. He is trying his best to be strong but it is impacting his childhood. He isn’t happy with it but knows that his parents are trying their best to get him the required treatment.

"When we visit the doctor, Deep talks to him and understands whatever he says. He explains that to us too. Earlier he used to cry on visits to doctor when he was injected but now he just closes his eyes and quietly goes through the pain. It is heartbreaking. He is losing the innocence of childhood” - Monica, mother

His only question- When will I be normal like my friends?
Deep has been a bright kid at school but his condition has hampered his attendance at school. His friends often enquire about him being absent from school and about his health.He looks just like the other kids of his age- agile and enthusiastic, but it last for a very little time.

“This time when we returned from the hospital, Deep got to know about the transplant and he is afraid of the treatment now. He asks us when will he be able to live normally like his friends and we have no answer.” - Monica, mother.

Whatever I earn is hardly enough to feed my family... how will I save him?

Deep’s father is a helper on a bus which yields him a meagre income of INR 12000 every month. Most of it goes into feeding a family of six.Luckily, Deep’s elder sister’s bone marrow has matched with his but with no money for treatment, they are helpless.

“ The procedure costs so much that I can’t afford it. I have been spending so much money on his treatment since birth. I have no savings, no other means left. My work has been affected due to regular hospital visits and no work means no pay. I don’t know what to do” - Mukund, father.

Deep’s only wish is to have a healthy childhood and your contribution can help him.
DM
Patient Deep Mukund Chogale is 7 years old, living in Borivali
MC
Being treated by Dr. Mamta Manglani in MCGM- Comprehensive Thalassemia Care, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology & BMT Centre, Borivali

Receiving Bone Marrow Transplant treatment for Thalassemia major

Click here to know more about Deep Mukund Chogale
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