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“I feel isolated, and even my friends avoid me at functions. My mother's tears and neighbours' hurtful words weigh heavily on me. I can't bear to look at myself in the mirror, because of the hideous reflection that stares back at me. I envy my peers - they studied with me and have stable jobs, while I am suffering... ” - Raju, tearfully
An abnormal swelling on his right cheek has grown into a large tumour
For the past 7-10 years, Raju has been dealing with a steadily growing swelling on his left cheek, which has recently been expanding rapidly. The swelling has become so large that it is affecting the 24-year-old’s vision in the right eye and obstructing his breathing through the right nostril.After medical examination, it was diagnosed as a massive tumour known as fibrous dysplasia, where abnormal fibrous tissue (scar tissue) replaces healthy tissue, covering his entire eye and extending into the nostril. Raju is in urgent need of treatment to address this challenging condition.
“This issue with his right cheek swelling has been a constant struggle in his life all these years. Despite visiting multiple doctors, we couldn't identify the problem, and it has drained all my savings. We couldn't even find a treatment that showed visible improvement in my son’s condition.The doctors claim that only a renowned doctor's operation can cure him, but there’s no way we can afford it.” - Laxmi, mother
Sadly, people around him either feel frightened or repulsed by his looks
Raju struggles with eating due to swelling, making it hard for him to sleep and breathe at night as well. People criticise him for his appearance and shoo him away whenever he’s around them. Because of this, he does not go out a lot.“As a computer graduate, I dream of a better career path than working as a labourer, but I don't have any other option. A few years ago, I received job offers over the phone for some positions in Kolkata and Bangalore, but when I attended face-to-face interviews, I was faced with rejection. Although interviewers provided various reasons, I just knew the real cause behind the rejections was my appearance. It completely shattered my confidence and self-esteem. Since then, I haven’t been able to seek more job opportunities…” - Raju
Surgery can relieve him of his troubles, but his family is no position to afford it
The family went to Delhi after borrowing money from many people, and though they stayed there for a month, their efforts at finding Raju a cure were futile. They returned disappointed and debt-ridden, and are still struggling to pay off all the borrowed money. They don't even own any land that they could sell and live in a small government-provided house in a village in Bihar.“I have two sons and a daughter. The younger ones are married, but Raju is still unmarried. No one wants to marry him because of his problem. For now, we manage, but I worry about the future when I'm not around to take care of him. As a daily wage worker, I do not have a lot of money, and neither do I have any property that I could sell. All my efforts so far have been in vain and I haven’t been able to get my son treated. I pray for someone to extend a helping hand, bringing hope and healing to my child. To us, you'd be a Godsend.” - Laxmi
According to his treating doctors, Raju will need to undergo a series of sophisticated tests to assess his facial mass, following which he will start his treatment - which involves a surgical procedure with a team of plastic surgeons, faciomaxillary surgeons, and ENT surgeons. The plan includes removing the tumor and the treatment will require multiple hospital admissions, extensive surgery as well as blood transfusions. The estimated cost for this treatment would be around 30 lakhs.
“Every day, the swelling on my face worsens, blocking his breathing and affecting my vision. I've tried various treatments, but nothing has worked. Doctors say surgery is the only option, but we're a poor family, and my father’s meagre income can't cover it. Please, I just want to live a normal life like everyone else. Your help could change everything for me.” - Raju
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