“Swetha wants to become a doctor. A week before she fell sick, I bought her books for the NEET exams. Now she takes it with her to the hospital to study when she’s getting painful blood transfusions. The exam is in May and she’s determined to write them, but she might not make it without treatment.” – Veluswamy, father
Swetha (16) is from a small village near Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu where there are no medical facilities. Her dream is to become a doctor and open a clinic in her village for those who can’t afford medical care. Unfortunately, Swetha has a deadly blood disease that stands in her way.
Even a small infection can kill her
Last December, Swetha got a high fever and she was extremely tired which was very unusual for her. Her parents, Solaiammal and Veluswamy, took her to the hospital and a blood test revealed that her blood count is extremely low. In Chennai, she was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a rare blood disorder which develops as a result of bone marrow damage and the body stops producing enough new blood cells. This has left her feeling fatigued all the time and she has a higher risk of infections which can turn fatal if left untreated.
"We have never heard of this disease before but my daughter knows about her condition better than us. She needs blood transfusions every 15 days, and every day she is given a high dosage of medicines and injections. It's painful to watch her go through this, but she tells us that it's the only way she will get better."- Solaiammal, mother
Swetha's condition deteriorated despite multiple blood transfusions. She needs high dose therapy to allow her blood count to go up. She has a long road to recovery but she is losing her hope and feels terrible about her condition.
Swetha before the disease took over her completely
Her father is neck deep in debts, the treatment is beyond his means
Velusamy is a daily wager, he works on other's farms and earns around Rs 500 per day, but work is irregular. He has spent 3 lakh so far by borrowing from his friends and relatives. He is neck deep in debts and struggling to manage the expenses. He needs 15 lakh for her treatment which is beyond his means. Without your help, he'll lose his daughter to this deadly disease.
Swetha is a bright, young girl with many dreams. Unfortunately, without urgent treatment, the disease will only make her weaker by the day.
Swetha is determined to fight her blood disease and become a doctor. Only you can help save her.
Supporting Document
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.
