Heena and Khushpreet, both four years old are unaware of the bitter truth that they are living with deadly leukaemia (blood cancer) since their birth. These tiny toddlers are fighting silent death in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, with little or no financial help.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a life threatening cancer and needs treatment with chemotherapy over a period of three years. The cost of the treatment, in Advance Pediatric Center of PGI, is approximately Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
However, parents of both this children are daily wage workers and even after their days long hard work they are unable to collect enough money for their treatment. They have applied for financial help from the Punjab Government under the Mukh Mantri Raahat Kosh Scheme, but the formalities will take time.
Surinder, Heena’s father said, “All I want is my daughters’ life. But her treatment has taken a toll on my work and her mother can hardly leave her side. Doctors have said that if I discontinue the treatment, her life will be in danger. I don’t know what to do.”
Dr Marwaha who is treating them at PGI said that the treatment will take time and it is costly. When all doors of hope have been closed for the helpless parents, they are now seeking assistance to carry on the treatment of their wards.
Anyone who wants to help can contact Surinder (Heena’s father) on his mobile number 7355043309 and Naib Singh (Khushpreet’s father) on his mobile 8196041569. Any help will be highly appreciated by the deprived parents.