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“I never wanted much; I was just looking forward to a life where I could create, play, and make my parents proud. I was a district-level footballer, I loved painting, and I worked hard in college. My family believed in me. But cancer took everything. It shattered my dreams, stole my strength, and left me staring at someone I barely recognise in the mirror. Still, I’m holding on. I want to fight. I want to live.” — Nikita, 22-year-old beneficiary
Cancer has been tormenting her for over three years now...
In December 2022, Nikita began experiencing recurrent fevers while studying in Gujarat. The illness persisted, and after a long series of hospital visits, she was diagnosed with blood cancer. Treatment lasted nearly three months, and just as she began to recover, doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant. But the cost was simply too high. Her family—already in a bad financial state—had no choice but to delay it.And in December 2024, the cancer returned like a bad dream. It started with painful sores in her mouth that wouldn’t heal. Tests confirmed their worst fear: a relapse. Nikita, who was in her third year of college, had to drop out, and her family shifted to Ahmedabad for treatment. She has now undergone three cycles of chemotherapy. Her doctors say a bone marrow transplant is no longer optional—it’s the only way to save her life. And it must be done urgently.
'Painting through the pain makes me feel like there is hope'
Even in her weakest moments, Nikita turns to art. She always found joy in it, but now it’s become a way to escape the pain. Chemotherapy has left her body fragile. She has lost her hair. The ulcers in her mouth make it hard to speak or eat. Her muscles ache, and she is exhausted all the time. But in those moments when she picks up her brush, something shifts. She draws flowers, faces, childhood memories—anything to remember who she was before cancer.
“It's the only time I don’t feel like a patient. It’s the only time I feel like me. Art helps me forget the reality of my situation—My parents have changed completely. They used to be so full of life, always laughing, joking. Now they barely talk. I can see how tired and sad they are all the time. I hate it. I just want them to smile again.” — Nikita
‘My father has given up everything for me, but saving me will take even more…’
Nikita’s father, Paras, once ran a small clothing shop. It shut down when the medical bills piled up. Her mother, Chanchal, who used to make clay pots, now spends her days caring for Nikita in the hospital. Her elder brother is preparing for government exams, and her younger brother is in Class 12. The family is split between their home in Rajasthan and their temporary life in Ahmedabad. They’ve already spent over ₹30 lakhs on her treatment—through loans, selling valuables, and donations. But the cost of the bone marrow transplant is more than they can bear. With no steady income and no savings left, they’re surviving on borrowed money and the kindness of others.
“I don’t want to die. I want to finish my studies, paint again, maybe teach kids one day. I want to be there for my parents—like they’ve always been there for me. Please help me survive this.” — NikitaClick here to contribute.
