"Cancer has paused my life. I never imagined this would happen to me. Every day, I’m terrified, but I can’t show it. My family needs me to be strong – I have to fight this for my children, my wife, and my elderly parents.” -Sanjay Kumar, a 45-year-old advocate who was once the sole breadwinner of his family.
Diagnosed with blood cancer in October, Sanjay’s world has turned upside down. Sanjay is now a shadow of his former self. The man who once stood tall in courtrooms now struggles to walk even a few steps without the aid of a walker. His body is weak, and every movement is a reminder of his condition
“I feel like I’m jailed by cancer. I’m stuck in this body that refuses to cooperate. The pain, the uncertainty – it is all too much.”- Sanjay
The disease has not only ravaged Sanjay’s health but also shaken his family to the core
It all began with persistent fevers in mid-September. Sanjay consulted local doctors, who diagnosed him with typhoid. For weeks, he endured treatments that yielded no relief. Finally, on October 14th, after a battery of tests at Medanta Hospital, the devastating truth emerged: Sanjay was suffering from blood cancer. Vandana and Sanjay’s children, a 16-year-old daughter in 11th grade and a 14-year-old son in 10th grade, have been deeply affected. Last month, Sanjay’s platelet and white blood cell counts dipped, leaving him in critical condition. He was hospitalised for weeks.“Seeing him like that was unbearable. The kids were terrified of losing him. They’re scared all the time. They love their father and are always by his side, but we worry about their education. If things don’t improve, they might have to drop out of school. It’s a nightmare no parent wants to face.”- Vandana, wife
With mounting medical bills, the family’s finances are completely drained
Sanjay’s illness forced him to stop working in mid-September. As an advocate, his private practice brought in around ₹10,000 a month, just enough to keep the household afloat.Sanjay’s parents, too, rely on the family. His mother is paralyzed, and his father, a diabetic, requires regular medication. The weight of responsibility now falls entirely on Vandana, a homemaker with no income of her own.
“We have already spent ₹15 lakhs on his treatment, which we managed through loans. But we’re drowning in debt, and his treatment requires seven rounds of chemotherapy each month for the next six months. I can’t manage anything with my worsening health. But I have to survive for my family. They are my world, and I can’t let them down. Please help me.”- SanjayClick here to contribute.
EIN 20-5139364