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“My wife and I work as labourers in a tile factory in Nellore. But now, ever since our son’s condition has become critical, we are not able to go to work. We are in the hospital, far away, in Chennai waiting for some help, any help, to get him cured.” - Lakkakula Chandresekhar, father
Nikhil suffers from a rare blood disorder called thalassemia major, due to which his body does not produce enough blood cells. He undergoes blood transfusions twice every month just to survive. He is not able to go to school or engage in any activity like kids his age. A bone marrow transplant can ensure that he becomes healthy, but it is beyond the reach of his parents.
Nikhil’s life is a living nightmare right now
Nikhil has never known a normal life. He was diagnosed when he was only 1. He used to run high fevers regularly, and his uneducated parents did not know why for a long time. It took some time for him to be diagnosed properly. Ever since then his life has revolved around regular blood transfusions. If a slight delay occurs in him receiving blood, he becomes weak and cannot speak or even eat.
“Now, even blood transfusions are not making him better. He does not eat food at all. He complains of severe stomach pain. No medicine is able to get rid of it. Our son is suffering every moment.” - Lakshmi, mother.
Long-term blood transfusions in sufferers of thalassemia major is known for causing excess build-up of copper in the body, which worsens the condition and reduces the lifespan even further.
‘Earlier we used to earn at least 5,000 rupees, now we earn nothing’
Chandrasekhar and Lakshmi had a combined family income of Rs. 5,000 per month when work was regular. Now that they are in Chennai for Nikhil’s treatment, they earn nothing as they are unable to work. They have no money to rent a house, so they stay in the hospital. Chandrasekhar does odd jobs around the city to make enough money to buy food. Even then, he is often short of money and ends up starving for the sake of feeding his family.“We have exhausted all our savings on Nikhil’s blood transfusions alone. We cannot pay for the big surgery that he needs to stay alive. We want to save him, but what can poor people like us do, except beg for help?” - Chandrasekhar.
These parents need urgent help to save their son. Click here to contribute.
