“My family members are trying very hard to save me, they are in heavy debt because of me. I want to fight Cancer and live to fulfill my parent's dream.”
Santhosh was the first person to read his cancer report. He was scared that he will die soon but he was more concerned that his parents could not handle it.
Still in school, this boy had to find out he had cancer and brave up
Santhosh used to stay in a hostel, 500 km away from his family. During vacations in June 2017 when he went home to visit his parents, he complained of having mild neck pain. They took him to a local hospital where he was prescribed some painkillers. The pain was persistent so he sought another doctor. His uncle brought him to Bangalore where Santhosh was diagnosed with cancer.
"I told my uncle not to tell anyone about Cancer. My Mother knows I am sick but has no idea that I am suffering from Cancer.”
Santhosh feels tired even if he walks a little but he has to travel 500 km for treatment
For every chemotherapy treatment, Santhosh has to travel 500 km to the hospital from his native, and return home on the same day. His family cannot afford to rent a room in Bangalore, and this is causing them more pain.
"His platelet count has gone down drastically. He has become very weak but he puts up a strong face for the family. He is a brilliant student and very good in sports as well, once a champion basketball player in school. Now? He is not even able to walk!" - Srinivas (Maternal Uncle)
There is not a single rupee left to save his life
Santhosh’s father has suffered a huge loss in agriculture due to the scarcity of rain. His savings are exhausted and he is deep in debt. Santhosh's survival strategy is a Bone Marrow Transplant. The tests to find a match has cost them over Rs. 1.5 lakhs. His father has used up all their resources and can, in no way, afford Santhosh’s surgery that is estimated to cost Rs 15 lakhs.
It killed my grandmother, I hope it doesn't kill me
Santhosh is not ready to give up. He wants to fight this battle for his parents. His parents have seen a lot of trouble in life. He feels guilty for making it worse. He wants to give them a better life. His only desire in life is to get a job and buy a house in the city for his parents.
“We have lost my Grand-mother to cancer and now it has attacked me. I hope I don’t die so soon. I don’t want to let my family down. I want to continue studies and make my parents happy but I hope Cancer doesn’t kill me like it killed my Grand-mother.”
How Can You Help
We cannot even imagine the trauma 13-year-old Santhosh is going through having to fight the world's worst disease all by himself. With your support, he can defeat cancer and get his life back.
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 organiser or the medical team.
