He thought it was a case of acidity and shrugged it off, and later he was diagnosed with a case of Liver Cirrhosis. 54-year-old Joydev does not have long to live as his liver is failing. He needs a liver transplant at the earliest, and he needs your help to fund it.
"Cirrhosis, as people think, is not a disease which is caused only by alcohol. There are other factors too, which can cause liver cirrhosis like fatty liver or hepatitis B/C. Joydev is a non-alcoholic and non-smoker who suffers cirrhosis. He really needs a chance in survival." - Dr. Anand Khakhar.
Joydev and his wife Kakuli come from a small town called Rangapada in Assam. They live a humble life with two sons Zenith and Benith on Joydev’s income of Rs. 20,000 from his job as a high school English teacher. The couple does the best they can to provide for their sons so they can have a bright future together. Zenith is enrolled in an undergraduate course at a good college out of town, while Benith is in 6th grade.
“We live a simple life here. We want the boys to have whatever they need to achieve their dreams. All Kakuli and I want is to grow old together and have a home filled with love.”
Around 4 years ago, Joy began having trouble with digestion. He had a bad appetite, would throw up food sometimes, and struggled with stomach aches. Believing this to be a case of gas, he did not give it much thought. When the symptoms got worse, he consulted the doctor.
“They did routine examination. I could not believe them when I heard the diagnosis. We kept going from hospital to hospital hoping we would hear something different. We cannot afford the treatment, if my diagnosis was true. For all those reasons I was in denial.”
Joydev finally had to accept that he had Liver Cirrhosis. This is a slowly progressing disease where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, eventually preventing the liver from functioning properly. The scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver and slows the metabolic process.
A person cannot live without a liver. There is only one way out for Joydev. He needs a liver transplant to survive the rest of his life.
In the past few years, the family has already spent over Rs. 10 lakh on Joydev’s treatment. Kakuli has even taken a temporary job as a school teacher for a salary of Rs. 3000/month. Every time they chose a treatment option, they were told that things would get better but the relief was only temporary. They have drawn down all savings, borrowed from people on interest and sold all their assets to arrange Rs. 15 lakh for the transplant surgery that is estimated to cost around 28 lakh.
“He does not drink or smoke. He has good eating habits. He takes care of his body well. I have no idea, why he got this terrible disease! We had so many dreams for our children. We don't know how to handle this. Our elder son is also away during this time. I am hardly able to keep it together!” Kakuli cries.
Benith’s exams are close. He is currently staying with Joy’s elder brother, and has no idea how serious his father’s condition is.
Your support can keep this family’s life from falling apart, a father and a husband from losing his life.
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.
