"Baar baar davai de rahe hain, lekin fir tabiyat kharab ho rahi hai”
A month back, Nisha kumari (5) had a severe stomach ache in the middle of the night. She was rushed to the hospital and admitted there for a week.
After visiting several hospitals, they were finally told Nisha has ASD (Atrial Septal Defect) commonly known as a hole in the upper chamber of the heart. For the last one month she hasn’t been eating properly, the medicines have been helping but the effect doesn't last too long. She has severe trouble in breathing - she gets tired even if she walks two steps.
“Kabhi mausam kharab ho ya zada shor hone lage toh isse khabrahat hone lagti hai, wo dil par haath rakh kar bolti hai yahan dard ho raha hai”
(If the weather goes bad or it gets too loud she starts feeling uneasy, she would place her hand close to the heart or on her chest to show where it’s hurting)
Three years back, she was first taken to a local hospital back in Sitamarhi because of a similar stomach ache. She was prescribed medicines for 9 months. But Nisha's father, Lalan Rai could only arrange for the medicines till sometime. The money he earned was not enough to continue her treatment. Because of the irregularity in the treatment she had occasional episodes of illness.
Lalan Rai works as a tailor in an export house in Seelampur area, Delhi. 6 months back his entire family (wife and four kids) had to shift to Delhi from Sitamarhi and are now living in a crowded single-room rented accommodation in Gandhi Nagar.
"It’s been really difficult for me to take care of Nisha, even affording her medicines becomes a problem. My savings are all over, there is nothing left with me that I can sell to get some money. Doctors have told that a surgery can cure my daughter. She is only 5, I want her to live a happy and healthy life. Please help me save her," - Lalan Rai, father.
