“My daughter was in a coma for almost 8 months! The day she finally opened her eyes and whispered for water, the doctor said she couldn’t have anything yet. I smiled in front of her, but inside, my heart was breaking. She was just a teen. Why did she have to suffer like this?” —Lovely, mother
It’s been 14 years since Leesha first fell sick. At 14, she was a bright, joyful student who loved to learn. Then came the high fever, the unbearable headaches, and finally the coma that changed everything. Since then, her health has never been the same. She stopped school after Class 8. She couldn’t eat properly, couldn’t walk without support, and couldn’t dream like her friends did. Her condition is now getting worse. She has severe tremors, involuntary movements, and clenching of her jaw that has damaged her teeth. Doctors say her motor functions are deteriorating fast. Surgery is the only hope left.
‘She always wanted to become a doctor...but now she just wants a normal life’
Leesha was never an average child. She scored over 95% in school and dreamed of becoming a doctor one day. But Parkinson’s and years of heavy medication have made her body weak. Her mind is sharp, but her limbs don’t listen. She struggles to eat and has lost alarming amounts of weight. And now, her eyes fill with tears as she watches her peers get married and move on—while she waits for another hospital visit.
“She watches other girls living the life she dreams of — studying, working, starting families. And then she looks at herself and cries. She says, ‘Will I ever be normal, Mumma?’ What answer can I give her? We’ve already sold our home. I started a tiffin service just to keep going. But now, we have nothing left for her treatment.” —Lovely
‘I cannot bear to see her fade like this. Please help us save her’
Her father, Lacchman, is bedridden after a terrible accident. He has a metal rod in his leg and cannot work anymore. Their general store closed during the pandemic, and Lovely had to start a small tiffin service to sustain the family. Every rupee since then has gone into Leesha’s care.But the surgery she now needs is far beyond what they can afford.
“There was a time when I was helping both my daughter and husband to even use the toilet. I didn’t cry aloud. I just prayed and kept moving. But now I’m exhausted. Please… this is my child. I just want her to live a life with dignity. I fold my hands and beg you — help us save her.” —Lovely
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