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This little boy’s condition deteriorated in a matter of months
Arbaj was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a deadly cancer that develops in the retina of the eye. This news would have been enough to break anyone, and nobody in Arbaj’s family had ever seen or heard of such a thing before. But when they were told that he needed surgery to remove the tumour and potent amounts of chemotherapy to stop the spread of the cancer cells in his body, they tried to stand strong and get him treated. Unfortunately, the treatment cost too much and his family did not have enough money to bear.“For months we kept running from one hospital to another getting whatever treatment the doctors suggested, but we couldn’t save the vision of his right eye. He underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy too, but it wasn’t enough. We knew that the surgery would mean he would lose his eye. But it was his life that mattered, and we wanted to save him. We just didn’t know how… ” - Abida, grandmother
After his father abandoned him, his grandmother struggled to get him treated
Arbaj’s father, a raging alcoholic, had abandoned his family a long time ago and outrightly said that he wanted nothing to do with the child. With no source of financial support, Arbaj’s mother and grandmother had been struggling to keep up with his medical expenses. They needed another INR 33 lakh to ensure he could get proper treatment. But, with no means to afford it, they were at the end of their tether and living each day with the fear of losing Arbaj.“We sold everything we could and I mortgaged our house too. We barely had a few hundreds for our sustenance and were at a point where my daughter-in-law and I were going without proper meals, so we could spare that money towards his treatment. But soon we had run out of every little rupee we had.” - Abida
You stepped up and saved his life at the right time
That is when you came to his aid. 2720 of you stepped forward to help Arbaj in his time of need with your generosity and compassion. With your support, the 7-year-old underwent surgery where the tumour was removed, and received a bone marrow transplant. Today, Arbaj is enjoying a new lease on life and a cancer-free childhood all thanks to you. Although he has lost vision in one eye and can’t see much of the world around him, it hasn’t broken his spirit. Arbaj's family is grateful for all the support they have received and to all the donors that made his recovery possible.“When we were at our worst, you became our guardian angel. Arbaj beat cancer with your help and now, he is happy and energetic just like he used to be before this disease took over him, and we owe it all to you. Our child is alive and thriving, and we are hopeful for the future. Thank you." - Abida
Unfortunately, little Arbaj’s is not an isolated case. There are millions of children like him who are in need of urgent help. They are suffering from deadly diseases that are claiming their lives, and writhing in pain every minute of every day. In many of these cases, treatment is delayed due to inability to arrange funds on time, which in turn exacerbates their condition and puts them in life-threatening situations. You can help avoid these complications, by donating to the Milaap Kids Cancer Fund which will also benefit similar causes looking for urgent medical aid.
Click here to learn more about how you can make a difference
