Help this 5-year-old beat a painful, deadly cancer

Kavyadharshni is a 5-year-old with Neuroblastoma, a cancer of nerve cells. She has cancerous tumours in her abdomen and head. She needs chemotherapy, a bone-marrow transplant and radiotherapy. While Kavya is bravely fighting the disease, her parents don't have the money to pay for treatment that can save her life. 

Elangovan, Kavya's father can hardly believe how much his daughter has changed in the last one month since she started chemotherapy. Her hair has fallen off. Her tiny frame has lost 5 kgs and she has no appetite left. Knowing that her stomach has painful tumours, beyond a point, he doesn't insist she eat. He is just thankful she still enjoys drinking Pediasure (a protein drink).

Life too, has changed since the treatment started. They have both learnt that infections can come from anywhere and that they must protect their daughter. Kavya doesn't go out. If she does, she needs to wear a protective breathing mask. She is not to eat or drink from outside. Her parents make sure every extra penny goes into her treatment and medicines. 

She has finished two cycles of chemotherapy and needs a bone-marrow transplant after that. Her father, an operator in a private company in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, is leaving no stone unturned to make sure she gets the treatment.  

Last year was the year Kavya started school. But in October, she came home with a fever and complained of stomach pain. She became too weak to go to school. Her parents took her to the hospital and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and put on antibiotics. 

After two months of treatment, her weakness and stomach pain persisted. A biopsy of the stomach brought the family some shocking news. Kavya has neuroblastoma, a very common cancer in children. That's when her parents decided to get her treated in Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore. Now she needs 6-9 months of chemotherapy after which the doctor will decide if she needs a bone-marrow transplant. 

The family has already paid 3.5 lakhs for the Kavya's treatment. Elangovan is trying to collect funds from his office and is tapping all possible sources of funds to save his daughter. His friends have put together another 1.5 lakhs. But he still doesn't know where he will get another  10 lakhs to save his daughter. 

“No one in my family is in a position to help. I am the one who usually sends them money for their needs. Now, I don't know where to get Rs 15 lakhs needed for Kavya's treatment,” he says.  

Help this family in their time of need. Click here to contribute and save Kavya.