My father has worked so hard in his life to provide for us. He is our pillar of strength. Whatever we are today is because of him. I wanted to help with the house, and only now I have been able to contribute with what little I get. I don’t know what we would do without him.
52-year-old Salim thought he had an oral ulcer until he was diagnosed with something horrifying as oral cancer. He has been advised to undergo surgery at the earliest before cancer metastasizes and he needs financial support.
This story is from Salim’s daughter, Masaraat Jahan’s perspective.
Our family comes from Modasa, Gujarat. We are five sisters and a brother. We have been blessed to have parents who made sure that love filled the cracks of our house, and the tears in our clothes. Although we never had money, the family ties made us feel very rich. Also, our parents did all they could to make sure we were all educated, so we did not have to suffer like they did.
My father is a truck driver. He makes just Rs. 5000/month which is hardly enough for the household expenses. Three of my older sisters are unmarried. I’m working on an internship in Baroda, while the youngest of us is in Class 12. My brother is pursuing his Civil Engineering Diploma. My parents are very particular about us studying so we get good jobs. Right now I get a stipend of Rs. 10000, so that is useful for the family.
One 2nd February this year, my father went to the dentist to get his oral ulcer checked. He was asked to get a biopsy because the doctor suspected it could be more than just an ulcer. We went to GMERS in Baroda on 4th Feb for the tests, and consulted Dr. Siddharth with the results. He said it could be cancer. I can’t tell you how we felt.
Our world stopped in that second when we heard that word. We know people who have been through this, and we know how life changes when you have cancer.
There was no time to waste. We had to go for a CT scan to check its spread. The doctor said it had to be surgically excised before it gets worse.
How much could we save on Rs. 15000/month total income when it is spent on a family of five? The surgery cost estimate is nearly Rs. 5.8 lakhs. There is no way we can afford it. We have no one else to go to. Only Allah has to save my father now. We cannot see him waste away.
We hope our father, our lifeline, can live on to see his children grow up to be successful, just like he dreamed.
Please help us save him. Please contribute and help our father fight this cancer.
Supporting Documents
The specifics of this case have been verified by the medical team at the concerned hospital. For any clarification on the treatment or associated costs, contact the campaign organizer or the medical team.
