"She was a very bright student, but she stopped going to school after Class 6 to support us. She works with us in the farm day and night, so that her sisters can continue studying. Now, she is not even able to stand, she doesn't eat food anymore. Cancer is slowly taking her life, she fears death, she fears leaving us all alone. She has not asked for anything in life, now she pleads to save her from the pain, but I'm helpless" says Lakshman, a farmer from a remote village in North Karnataka.
Lakshman's daughter Malashree has been diagnosed with Metastatic Ewing's Sarcoma - a form of bone cancer.
She hates looking at the mirror
Malashree's parents say that she does not like looking into the mirror and cries uncontrollably when she does. Hair loss has affected her strongly and despite the doctors assuring her that her hair will grow back, she cannot be consoled.
She also feels bad when she looks at other people her age walking around and running. She is in no position to walk right now as she weighs less than half as much a person her age should weigh. Her parents add that she only eats a few spoons of food at home, and nothing at all in the hospital.
Treatment
Mala, along with her parents Laxman and Gowramma, have moved to Bengaluru for her treatment. She is currently admitted in Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre in the city. The family earns an income of Rs 200 per day. Her treatment, which includes a high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, would cost Laxman and Gowramma around Rs 15 lakhs.
“This is the first time we are visiting a big city like Bengaluru. Sadly for my daughter, her first visit to the city is to get treated for cancer. We’ve rented a small house on the outskirts of the city. After selling everything we’ve had back home, every rupee we spend now is pushing us into debt. We don’t know what we will do in the future, but all that we want for now is to see our daughter cancer-free,” says Gowramma, who whose eyes well up when she sees her daughter.
How can you help?
You can help this family by contributing how much ever you can to save their daughter.
For UPI payment: givetolaxman@yesbankltd (You can send money to this ID using BHIM, PhonePe or any UPI app).
You can also do a bank transfer to the below mentioned account:
Account number: 80808080101037803
Account name: Laxman
IFSC code: YESB0CMSNOC
You can also help by referring a friend, a hospital, an NGO, a college, a pharma company, or the CSO of a company who can help them.
If you know anyone who can provide them a place to stay or employment for the parents, do connect with them.