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“His body is so disfigured that he cannot go out and lead a normal life. This tumour has robbed him of a childhood and no one wants to befriend him because of his appearance. He prefers being by himself and will hide behind closed doors, quietly enduring all the suffering. It breaks my heart that I cannot do anything to comfort him” - Reena Devi, mother
His neck and chest are covered in tumours because of a rare condition
23-year-old Deepak has spent most of his life grappling with a rare neurological disorder called neurofibromatosis. Usually non-cancerous, it affects the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and skin, causing tumours to form on the nerve tissues. Due to this condition, the right side of Deepak's neck is littered with several deformities.“We sought medical help from many hospitals, but we couldn’t get him treated. They wouldn’t even tell us what it was and we had no choice but to return home, upset and disappointed. We refused to give up, and pushed out luck. At one point, we thought we’d finally found a hospital that could help us, but the treatment was so expensive. It threw our lives out of gear…” - Bhola Singh, father
He had to discontinue school after being subjected to ridicule and bullying
Despite his plight, Deepak was keen on learning and attended his classes diligently. But he was forced to drop out mid-way after he endured brutal taunts and teasing at the hands of the other students. He would even be bullied at family functions, and it was to such an extent that the torment and discrimination they meted out against him made him reclusive. Now, he avoids making friends or interacting with anyone in society.“He longs to pursue his education and fulfil his dreams. He’s endured so much at his age - no child should have to go through what he has. But, this disease just won’t give him a chance to live a decent life. We have seen how he’s struggled with this tumour. It leaves him so weak some days, that he cannot even perform his routine activities. He just wants to be a normal boy with a normal life!” - Reena Devi
They have left no stone unturned for his treatment so far, but now they’re on the verge of giving up
The cost of the procedures and their inability to fend for their child has broken these parents’ spirits. The family has gone above and beyond their capacity to make his treatment available to Deepak, but their cries for help fell on deaf ears. Till now, the family has even sold their land, jewellery, and other valuable assets to manage Deepak's treatment and medication.“I am the sole breadwinner in my family. We have 4 children and I have to feed them, pay rent - my salary of just 10,000 rupees isn’t enough to bear the expenses of his treatment. I am torn between seeking medical attention for him and supporting my family. I just feel helpless that I am unable to do anything for him.” - Bhola Singh
Deepak needs multiple complex surgeries to get rid of the tumour, and his parents have tried all possible ways to see proper treatment for the boy. Hope still flickers in their heart that they might see their child healthy again. But everyone seems to have closed their doors on them.
Now, they’re turning to you for help. Your generous support can give them their healthy son back. Click here to donate.
