Stories

Meet Zainab who is from Charminar, Telangana. She comes from a joint family and has an elder sister and younger brother. In all of them, she was incredibly adorable and witty. She is quite brave in any situation as a little child.

Zainab’s medical history began with a viral fever. Her parents consulted her with a doctor, where her condition temporarily improved. During the investigation, the child developed nodes near her neck and armpit. Initially, she was not in pain, but her parents were shocked and worried about the child. Day by Day she was losing her appetite and weight.

Meanwhile, they consulted her in various hospitals to understand what was wrong with their daughter. During numerous investigations, they discovered that their child was infected with dangerous disease. They were taken aback and were unable to accept that their child was suffering from such a serious condition; everyone in the family was devastated. Parents met the biggest oncologist in city to get their opinion, the doctor has recommended him about SIPCC center, though most of them discouraged the family from pursuing treatment and gave no grandiose for life.

Finally, they sought Dr. Sudha's opinion on the child's treatment plan. Before arriving at SIPCC, Zainab and her family visited 9 hospitals. Dr. Sudha introduced her clinic and described the child's treatment. Parents inquired about the center; they had a million questions about the process; they spoke with every staff member at center; they understood the treatment process; and, ultimately, they decided to seek treatment at SIPCC.

The child finished the three-month treatment; so far, the child is responding and doing very well. The SIPCC center is highly appreciated by the entire family.

Meet Shivam who is from Nagpur, Maharashtra. He comes from a middle-class family and has an older brother who is mentally disabled and was at a high risk. Since Shivam’s childhood his parents have always fought at home, and they have always had issues. So, Shivam was shifted to his mother's home at village and taken care by his uncle, his mother's brother. Shivam always blamed his mother for not taking a proper care of him and disliked being at his mother's village.

From a few years ago, Shivam suffered from a constipation. In his mother's hometown, he received treatment using a healthy diet and herbal remedies. Finally, he was returned to Nagpur. Since then, complications have arisen in his health. Shivam used to be very picky about his diet and very arrogant towards his parents, and he was never satisfied with how things were at home and how he was being cared for at home.

One day, he was fainted and got admitted to the hospital. The entire investigation was conducted in Nagpur. Finally, doctors discovered that his blood test revealed cancer cells. They recommended that the child be transferred to a well-known and big hospital in Mumbai. His father could not afford to pay the amount, while his uncle told him about a person who had blood cancer as a child and was cured at SIPCC center. So, he connected the family to the child who had been treated by Dr Sudha at SIPCC.

After coming to SIPCC, Shivam initially complained about the food at home and how his mother didn't care about him. He never had a peaceful and pleasant life in his mother village. This could be one of the reasons for developing cancer. Family members are all very aggressive and unable to compromise with one another. It was difficult for children and parents to connect in the center. In the beginning, the family caused a lot of problems for the doctors and staff at the Center. Finally, after much counselling, the parent changed their way of thinking and communicating with others. Shivam began receiving treatment and has been doing well.

Meet Vijay who is from Hyderabad, Telangana. He comes from a small household and has a elder brother who is pursuing his degree. He was always a very quiet boy who possessed great intelligence, creativity, and a strong enthusiasm for sketching. He was an active member of the church, and he never gave up any theme to be practiced for a week.

Vijay’s medical history began with fever and vomiting. His parents consulted him with a doctor at his village, where his condition temporarily improved for a week, He had a lifelong fascination with animals. He used to play with pigeons, chickens, dogs, and rabbits, so his parents assumed he got an infection from playing with the pets.

The child was admitted to the hospital for 20 days to be treated for dengue; things became very serious. The child was referred to a large hospital, but the family was unable to cover the costs. Parents were distraught because they had no idea what was going on. There was no day without prayers. His condition deteriorated day by day, but he was also weak, unable to lift his legs or move his body. For any emergency, the child was carried by his father and mother.

After thorough examination, they one day discovered cancer cells in the blood test. Seeing their financial situation and child’s health, the doctor has recommended him about SIPCC center and they brought the child for treatment. Vijay and his family visited a total of 7 hospitals before reaching SIPCC. The treatment for the child has begun at SIPCC. His three-month SIPCC treatment is successfully over. The child's health has greatly improved, and the parents cannot express enough gratitude for the care received at the SIPCC centre.

Sanjay is a 4 year old boy who used to be very active. He would also help his father who is a driver and 10 year old brother in household chores. However, tragedy struck 6 months ago and his beloved mother passed away. This affected Sanjay a lot and he used to miss his mother and cry during the nights.

Suddenly, Sanjay fell sick with fever and head ache. Over the course of the illness, he consulted many doctors and took lot of medication. The symptoms would be back in a span of 2 weeks.

Sanjay’s father was very worried with his son’s degrading health but couldn’t do much as the reports seemed normal. Most doctors attributed the ill health to the child missing his mother.

One day, while playing Sanjay fainted and hit his head on a stone which caused bleeding. His father was away on driver duties and by the time he got back, Sanjay was admitted to hospital. Meanwhile blood tests were performed and cancer was diagnosed.

Sanjay was shifted to a reputed hospital in Hyderabad where he was asked to pay a deposit of 1.5 lakhs to start investigations. Realizing that this was beyond his means, Sanjay’s father discharged him and shifted him to another corporate hospital. Luckily he came across IMPACT organization and brought the child to SIPCC.

Sanjay is now in the 3rd month of treatment and hopeful of making a full recovery with the support of his family and the team at SIPCC.

Shivani is a 13yr old from an economically backward and difficult family background. Her mom is a daily laborer and she has 2 siblings. Her elder sister is married and has 2 kids and her younger brother is 9 years younger to her. Her father is addicted to alcohol and doesn’t look after the family.

At the tender age of 12, Shivani was forced to give up studies and join her mother as a daily laborer to make a living. She used to carry heavy construction material and make quick work of plucking cotton from the field at the rate of 1 acre in a span of 2 days which made others envy her.

A while ago, Shivani’s father hit her hard on the head in a drunken stupor. This caused her to have headache frequently and she had some tests done which were inconclusive. After some time, she developed fever and it was found that her blood count was very low. Further, after a visit to the child specialist blood cancer was confirmed and she was admitted to the hospital.

Initially she was admitted in the ICU of a reputed corporate hospital where the family had to spend a lot of money as she was in a very bad condition. Then seeing the family’s financial condition, doctors referred her to SIPCC.

Her treatment began in SIPCC and she is extremely happy and positive. She never thought that she would feel better in such a short period of time.

4 year old Manyatha is the apple of her fathers eye. She is from a loving middle class family and is very naughty and playful. She used to complain that her elder sister wants to be like a mother to her and not a sister.

One day, she complained of fever and swelling on the right side of her face. Eventually she became very sick and quite often she had fever. One day her mother felt that she was suffering from some problem as her behavior and talking had changed a lot. She immediately took her to a family friend and pediatrician in her village. The doctor performed investigations, consoled the family and sent them home. After receiving the test results, doctor immediately called the family to inform them that Manyatha was suffering from cancer.

On learning this news, Manyatha’s father took her to Hyderabad and consulted with different doctors about the disease. He was in great confusion to take the next step. Many people including close family discouraged him from going for chemotherapy due to the side effects like hair loss etc. During a conversation with friends, someone suggested a herbal medicine from Karnataka. Manyatha tried the medicine for a week but with no improvement.

Her father reached out to friends to find a good place for her treatment and somehow, they came to know about SIPCC. They visited the center with their entire family and the father was counseled to take an informed decision regarding the child’s treatment.

He clarified all his concerns until he was in a position to take a decision and agreed to bring the child for treatment to SIPCC.

Pooja, a 14-year-old girl from Hyderabad, is the eldest child in the family. Her family consists of her father who is a daily wage labourer, mother who is a housewife and one sibling. She is a lovely child and deals with her younger sibling calmy. Unfortunately, she was recently diagnosed with blood cancer after experiencing symptoms of fever, and swelling in her legs. Her family consulted a paediatrician at their village hospital, who referred them to a private hospital for further clarification of her symptoms. After a series of tests, the doctor at the private hospital concluded that Pooja had blood cancer.

Pooja's family was shocked and devastated by the news. They spent a week in disbelief before her father mustered the courage to bring her to Hyderabad for further treatment. There, they consulted with Dr. Satish, who referred them to Dr. Sudha. After consulting with Dr. Sudha, the family decided to start treatment immediately at SIPCC.

Throughout Pooja's treatment, her family had many doubts and questions about her condition. They sought out multiple opinions from oncologists in the city to ensure they were making the best decisions for her care. Despite the challenges they faced, Pooja's family remained strong and supportive throughout her journey.

Pooja's treatment involved several rounds of chemotherapy, which was a difficult and painful process for her and her family. However, with the support of her family and the medical team at SIPCC, she was able to successfully complete her treatment.

Pooja's journey with blood cancer was not easy, but it serves as an inspiration to others who may be facing a similar situation. It is a reminder that cancer is a formidable and challenging disease, but with the support of loved ones and the medical community at SIPCC, it is possible to overcome it.

Neeraja is a 12-year-old girl from Chevalla, Telangana who has been on a journey to recovery from blood cancer. Neeraja is the youngest child in her family of 4 members, with one sibling, Chandra Shekar, who is 17 and studying in intermediate. The family's economic situation is challenging, with the father being a daily laborer and earning 15000 per month.

Neeraja's medical journey began when she started experiencing fever, and swelling in her legs. Her parents initially thought it was just a viral fever and that her loss of appetite was causing her to lose weight. They consulted with three different hospitals in Chevalla, but it wasn't until they were referred to an Oncology Hospital in Serilingampally that they received the devastating news of Neeraja's blood cancer diagnosis.

Neeraja was immediately admitted to the hospital for treatment, and her parents were informed of the risk factors involved in the treatment process. In order to pay for Neeraja's treatment, her father had to sell his property. Neeraja's condition became critical during her induction phase of treatment and she went into neutropenia. Her parents were prepared for the worst, but after two and a half months, Neeraja slowly regained consciousness and began to recover.

Despite the difficult journey, Neeraja's parents were determined to continue her treatment. Neeraja was referred to Dr. Sudha for further treatment, and later to SIPCC where she completed her treatment and is currently on maintenance therapy. The family wishes to see Neeraja in a better position in the future, and although they do not have any support system, they are aware of Neeraja's illness and are adjusting to it. We at SIPCC wish Neeraja and her family all the best on their journey to recovery.

Kusuma is a brilliant 13-year-old girl who had always aspired to receive a quality education. She is the eldest of three children, hailing from a family of farmers who struggled to make ends meet. Despite the numerous hardships, Kusuma managed to secure a coveted spot at the prestigious Gurukulam School in her hometown.

However, shortly after starting at the school, Kusuma began to rapidly lose weight, and her teachers and wardens were concerned that the pressure of exams was taking a toll on her health. Little did they know that the true cause of her weight loss was something far more dire: cancer.

The news of Kusuma's diagnosis was devastating for her family, and they immediately sought treatment at a private hospital. The exorbitant cost of treatment was beyond their means, and they were forced to bring Kusuma back to their hometown, where the medical facilities were inadequate to address her condition. Her family felt lost, alone, and in despair.

In their search for a solution, Kusuma's family made several trips to Hyderabad, each time incurring significant expenses for travel and treatment. It was during one of these trips that they were introduced to Dr. Sudha, who suggested they consider seeking treatment at the SIPCC.

For a family that earned a meager 27000 rupees a month, the cost of treatment was overwhelming. But the SIPCC provided them with unwavering and unconditional support, guiding them through the complex and overwhelming world of cancer treatment. Over the course of the next six months, Kusuma received the best care and treatment possible, and her condition greatly improved.

Kusuma is now in the maintenance stage of her treatment and is faring well. Thanks to the dedicated and compassionate team at the SIPCC, Kusuma has a promising future ahead of her. Despite the many obstacles they faced, Kusuma's family never lost hope and with the help of the SIPCC, they were able to give their daughter the chance to make a full recovery.

Shireesha is a bright and cheerful 5-year-old who brings joy to her family's life, despite their struggles as farmers with a fluctuating income. However, over a period of time, her parents noticed she was frequently falling ill with a fever and losing her energy. They took her to the local paediatrician, Dr. Santhosh, who suspected something was wrong with her system. After getting the test results, the family was devastated to learn that Shireesha had blood cancer.

Dr. Santhosh referred them to Dr. Sudha, who directed them to SIPCC, a cancer treatment center. After initially admitting her in SIPCC, the desperate family turned to a private hospital and spent all their savings, nearly 1.5 lakhs, on treatment, but it didn't help. They finally consulted with Dr. Sudha, who again advised them to join SIPCC for treatment. Despite their poor decision-making skills and bad financial state, the family finally had a good understanding of their child's disease and held onto hope for her recovery.

With their emotional support, Shireesha bravely underwent treatment at SIPCC. It was a difficult journey, but she slowly began to make progress. Her family never gave up hope and finally, after months of treatment, they saw a light at the end of the tunnel. Shireesha's cancer was in remission and her family was overjoyed with the treatment. This story is a testament to the power of hope and love in the face of hardship.

Meet Kannaya, a 4-year-old boy from Hyderabad, Telangana. He comes from a small family with a younger sister in pre-nursery. Before his illness, Kannaya was known to be a very playful and active child in his family.

Kannaya's medical history began when he started experiencing fever and vomiting frequently. His parents took him to a pediatric doctor in Uppal, where his condition temporarily improved. However, his symptoms persisted, and a blood test revealed a high white blood cell count. He was then referred to another hospital for further diagnosis and treatment.

Kannaya's condition was reviewed, and he was sent for a bone marrow slide. Once the results were received, Kannaya was shifted to a local hospital for treatment. The treatment process was difficult for Kannaya, as he struggled with low counts and ulcerations during his induction phase. He completed his first month with great difficulty, spending 45 days in the hospital before being discharged. However, he fell ill again during his second and third months of treatment and struggled a lot. The entire treatment process took around one month for recovery.

Kannaya's father came across the SIPCC center in Eenadu paper, and they brought the child for treatment. Kannaya and his family visited a total of 5 hospitals before reaching SIPCC. The family is well aware of Kannaya's disease and prognosis and are providing him with the necessary care and support. Despite the challenges, Kannaya's family is supportive and hopeful about his recovery.

Uzair, a 4-year-old boy from Mehdipatnam, has been on a difficult journey to recovery from blood cancer. His symptoms began with fever and breathing complications a few months ago, and his father initially thought it was just a result of playing in the water and getting cold. However, one day Uzair suddenly fell and was taken to a private hospital in Charminar for treatment. The doctors there found that Uzair had a very low haemoglobin count and immediately transferred him to the ICU. Further investigation revealed that Uzair had blood cancer with high wbc counts.

The family was in a desperate situation and did not know where to turn for help. That's when Uzair's father came across the SIPCC, a centre dedicated to treating children with cancer. The family was impressed with the scope of knowledge and the positive impact the treatment would have on Uzair's recovery, and they decided to seek treatment at the SIPCC.

Uzair is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy and will soon move on to maintenance treatment for 2 years. The family is very hopeful and grateful for the support they have received from the medical team at SIPCC. Uzair's journey to recovery is not over yet, but with the support of his family and the dedicated care of the medical team at the SIPCC, Uzair's future looks bright. The family is aware of Uzair's illness and is adjusting well to it. We wish Uzair and his family all the best on their journey to recovery.

D. Ashwath is a four-year-old boy from the small village of Uppal in Hyderabad's district of Telangana. Coming from a middle-class family, Ashwath's father works as a software employee and his mother, who had resigned her job soon after his birth, was expecting another baby.

One day, while playing with his father, Ashwath got hurt in his leg and was admitted to the hospital. After an investigation, it was found that Ashwath had cancer. During treatment, Ashwath developed complications and was admitted to the ICU.

Ashwath's father faced the difficult situation of a sick child and financial constraints. Luckily, he heard about the SIPCC from family members. At SIPCC, Ashwath's father met Dr. Sudha and found a solution to his problems. Ashwath completed the induction at SIPCC and, despite a seizure, was able to recover with the support of the center.

Throughout the treatment process, Ashwath's family faced numerous challenges, including the loss of his mother's pregnancy. However, they were able to overcome these difficulties with the support of the family and the care provided at SIPCC.

The family has a good understanding of Ashwath's disease and prognosis and are hopeful about his recovery via treatment. The family also has a good support system with awareness of the illness among family members and a well-supported adjustment to the situation.

The story of D Ashwath highlights the importance of support and care in overcoming the challenges that come with a serious illness, particularly for families facing financial difficulties. The SIPCC center played a crucial role in providing the necessary assistance for Ashwath's recovery and the well-being of his family.

At SIPCC, we are dedicated to providing the best possible care for children suffering from cancer. One of our patients, Vyshnavi, is a shining example of the positive impact that our center can have on a child's life.

Vyshnavi is a four-year-old girl from a financially backward family in Warangal, Telangana. She had been suffering from prolonged fever and body pain after a fall. She was crying loudly, was unable to fold her knees and had a pricking sensation all over her body. Her family initially believed that black magic was the cause of her illness and performed rituals in order to alleviate her pain. Her mother had to fight with elders to take the child to Hyderabad to provide her with proper medical care.

It was only after consulting with a pediatric doctor from Hyderabad that Vyshnavi was diagnosed with leukemia. She was immediately transferred to our center for further treatment.

Vyshnavi's journey to SIPCC was not an easy one. Her family had to navigate a referral chain that included both district and private hospitals, and they faced many obstacles along the way. However, despite the challenges they faced, Vyshnavi's family never gave up hope.

Once Vyshnavi arrived at SIPCC, her condition began to improve. She received the care and treatment she needed to overcome her illness, and she is now smiling and telling her story of recovery. Her family is grateful for all of the assistance that we provided.

Vyshnavi's case is just one example of the impact that SIPCC can have on a child's life. We are dedicated to providing the best possible care for all of our patients, and we are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of children suffering from cancer.

Mouli, who is 4 years old, lives with his younger brother and parents. He has always been a naughty child. He brightens everyone's day. He is his grandmother's pet and had a happy childhood.

Mouli’s medical history began with a fever and lymph nodes near her neck. Parents suspected it was due to excessive ice cream consumption and consulted a paediatrician in his hometown, who advised them to undergo a few neck node investigations.

The child was diagnosed with blood cancer and was advised to seek treatment as soon as possible. Parents couldn't believe it; they were completely taken aback. Someone in the village suggested they look for herbal medicine, so they did. Parents gave him a two-week herbal medicine course, but nothing changed; the child became weaker, and nodes on his neck grew.

Mouli's father boss once recommended him to meet one of his closest friends, a doctor. Mouli’s father went to meet the doctor along with all the medical reports. The doctor persuaded the family that the child had a dangerous disease that required immediate hospitalisation. He explained the treatment costs and recommended Dr Sudha in Care and her new SIPCC centre. This was an amazing news but also scary to the parents as it brought new decisions for his treatment.

Following all of the investigations, his parents decided to have him treated at SIPCC with gleam of hope. After finishing the first cycle of chemotherapy he has been responding well. His parents and everyone else could see that he was getting better. thanks to the SIPCC's top-notch care and treatment.

11 year old Sai Eswar is known for being obedient and mature beyond his years, understanding his parents financial situation and adjusting accordingly. He was a live wire prior to being afflicted by cancer.

He was suffering from fever for two weeks and was admitted in district hospital near his hometow. He was diagnosed with Low wbc Count but he recovered and was fine for a week before falling sick again.

The prolonged illness took a toll which manifested in the form of weakness and weight loss. After repeated trips and investigations, he was diagnosed with dengue and treated in a private hospital. It took 3 weeks for him to recover, yet he was unable to perform basic activities even 2 weeks after the recovery. This prompted his parents to take him back to hospital where doctors advised further tests. This time, unfortunately, the blood test report revealed presence of cancer cells.

The father, a welder by profession was shattered by this diagnosis and fainted in the hospital. He was unable to take the news having already lost his father to advanced stage cancer.

Sai Eswar was then taken to a corporate hospital where further investigations were done. His wbc count was low and a transfusion had to be given. He continued to suffer from high fever and was admitted to the ICU as his condition worsened.

The worried father feared the worst as he was unable to bear the steep deposit of 4 lakhs which was required at the corporate hospital to start the treatment. He found a ray of hope as he heard about SIPCC. After a lot of interaction with the staff, he decided to shift the child to SIPCC.

Sai Eswar reached the center and he was treated successfully. He responded well to chemo therapy and recovered in a span of 3 months thanks to the excellent treatment and care at the SIPCC.

Satvika, A two year old girl was presented to us with high counts of white blood cells. She was diagnosed with ALL (Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia), two months before coming to us.

Initially she was treated in a Government cancer hospital, where they got her started on chemotherapy. Subsequently she developed pneumonia and sepsis due to which she was shifted to Government children hospital for ICU care. During this process, she lost her vision as a result of persistent thrombocytopenia leading to vitreous haemorrhage. After two months, they came to know about our centre SIPCC (Sivananda IMPACT Paediatric Cancer Centre) and got admitted for further treatment.

Having gone through the trauma, parents were reluctant to chemotherapy, as they were apprehensive of the side effects. But after many counselling sessions, they agreed to start from the first phase of chemotherapy.

Within no time, Satvika became the cynosure in the ward with her infectious smile and her cute mannerisms, strolling around in the ward totally oblivious to the intensive chemotherapy in addition to her complete loss of vision.

Satvika has completed the intensive phase of chemotherapy and now started on maintenance chemotherapy which will continue for the next 2 years.

Also, to the delight of everyone involved in caring for Satwika, she has got back her full vision after a successful eye operation.

Satvika is doing well and will be visiting us monthly for chemotherapy. We shall be left with many enduring memories of the time she spent in SIPCC over the last 9 months when she brought out the best in every one of us including the oncologists, nurses, lab technicians, counsellors, nutritionists, duty doctors, housekeeping staff, many visitors, donors etc... indeed, our multi-disciplinary team that knows how to best take care of patients with paediatric blood cancers, left no stone unturned and utilized every component of our ecosystem of care to ensure the care given is optimal and the outcome is the best that could be.

It surely takes an entire ecosystem of care to treat a child with cancer. For us at SIPCC, Satvika’s treatment and care epitomizes this very strong conviction in our holistic model of care where as Satwika herself epitomized the extraordinary fighting spirit and resilience in the face of adversity.

FAMILY HISTORY

Mariyamma is an only child studying 6thclassin Ongole. Both her parents are daily wage earners and cannot go to work due to Mariyamma's intensive treatment regimen. They want to stay with heruntil is cured and have received the support of family members for the last two months.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Two and a half months ago Mariyamma started feeling a pain in her legs while at school. Her parents took her to an RMP doctor but the pain did not subside, so they took her to a government hospital in Guntur. There the doctors told her parents that Mariyamma has a small tumor in her stomach. She was admitted for fifteen days after which she was referred to Nilufer Hospital in Hyderabad. She stayed there for another 25 days where a biopsy was done to confirm cancer. Next Mariyamma was referred to MNJ where routine tests were conducted again. At present Mariyamma is suffering from pain and swelling in her legs and is under the MNJ Palliative Care Treatment. For the past two months her parents have left their jobs to be with her. They know about the PNET diagnosis, and are hoping that it will be cured.

FINANCIAL ISSUES

Both of Mariyamma's parents work but both of them have left their jobs to be support her recovery. Her father sells ice-screams and her mother is a coolie. The family depends on their relatives for financial support.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

Both the parents fully understand the illness and are worried about their daughter's condition. Earlier Mariyamma was a very active child who happily attended school, but all of a sudden she was attacked by cancer. Now both her legs are swollen and she has to depend on her parents for every little thing. Her parents are extremely worried about Mariyamma's condition.

Mariyamma understands her diagnosis. In the past two and a half months she's been moved around toseveral hospitals making her anxious and unsure about being cured.She feels lucky that both her parents are very helpful and caring but feels bad that she has to depend on them for even the smallestthing.It's hard for her to see other patients in the hospital suffering. She explained: "When she was in 3rd standard, my mother left my father and went to my maternal grandma's place. From then on my father and my paternal grandmother took care of me. Now I'm in class but my mother only visited me twice in the mean time. My parents had some misunderstanding and got separated. But after my mother came to know about my illness, she came back home to live with my father. In one way I'm happy because my illness brought my parents together again."

CONCLUSION

Everyone is happy with Mariyamma's treatment and progress. IMPACT provides financial help for them to cover their travel expenses and medications.

FAMILY HISTORY

Suresh is from East Godavari and has aone and a half year oldyounger sister. Seven months ago Suresh's mother moved back to their maternal grandparent's house where they stay together with his uncle's family.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Suresh was doing well for the past five years but one day he was suddenly unable to walk. They consulted a doctor at Kakinada Hospital and the usual investigations were done. A surgery was also done to remove the tumor on his backbone. When the final report came,the doctors recommended that Suresh be taken to Hyderabad, or Vizag, or at least Vijayawada. His parents took the initiative to bring the child to MNJ Hospital in Hyderabad where they consulted with Dr. Jayanthi who advised that Suresh be admitted. She clearly explained to the family about his Ewings Sarcoma condition. When they reached back home Suresh supposedly got bedsores and his mother contracted chicken pox.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

Suresh's mother says that she's obsessed with her son. From her childhood until now she has never experienced any health problems. She got married to one of her relatives but could not build a good relationship with her new husband. Due to misunderstandings in the family, she left the husband. Even as a daily wage earner she fully supports her family. She says she's not worried about her daughter, but extremelyconcerned about her son.Even in her sleep she dreams only of her son. Her mother even questioned her about her attachment to Suresh.

CONCLUSION

Suresh's mother says: "As long as he's with me, I'll look after him. Even though he may not get better, I feel satisfied when I'm next to his bed. My son wanted to become a police officer and wanted his younger sister to become a doctor. I want to fulfill this wish."

FAMILY HISTORY

Ram Charan is three years old and lives with his six year old brother and parents in Guntur. His father is a mechanic and owns a shop and his mother is a homemaker. For reasons unknown Ram Charan's father suddenly left the family.His mother waited for him for nearly three months but was unable to bring up the children alone so she shifted the family to her mother's place. Here Ram Charan's uncle was the only source of income but he supported his sister and children through this time. The transition took close to a year and in the meantime Ram Charan fell ill. For the sake of supporting her son's treatment Ram Charan's mother has stayed at the hospital for the pastthree months.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Four months ago Ram Charan got a fever and his mother gave him some medicines from a small clinic. Unfortunately the fever didn't come down so they took him to a government hospital in Guntur. All the usual tests were done and the family was told that some tablets were administered due to a low blood count.Unhappy with the allopathic treatment the family sought a folkremedy. After that Ram Charan started vomiting so they returned to the pediatrician who advised that the boy undergo a blood transfusion. They were again referred to the government hospital in Guntur. The child was readmitted for three days and all the tests were repeated. They then referred him to Nilofer Hospital in Hyderabad. As usual he was admitted and all the routine tests were done again over four days. After seeing the bone marrow report he was referred to MNJ Cancer Hospital. Here the doctors confirmed a diagnosis ofALL cancer and began treatment.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

Ram Charan is three years old and very active. Understandably, he's moody when he has a fever, any physical discomforts or special treatments like a blood transfusion or IV medication. The rest of the time he wants to play and mingle with the other kid. Ram Charan's mother stays all alone in the hospital from morning to night. Her own mother and brother are busy taking care of Ram Charan's elder brother. Unfortunately, neither the husband nor any of his family members are supporting her. Rama Charan's mother was married when she was eleven years old. For ten years she lived a happy married life. It was only in the last year that her husband started drinking and beating her. One day he simply disappeared, leaving the family completely alone. After she shifted her family to her mother and brother's house, Ram Charan's father reappeared and said he would earn enough money to take his family back. He also found out that Ram Charan has cancer but even then he's not there to help them. As for Ram Charan'smother, she is smiling for the sake of the child, but inside she's shattered.

CONCLUSION

At present the child is progressing well even though he's only undergone thirty days of treatment. This is largely due to the fact that both Ram Charan and his mother are very cooperative with the staff.

FAMILY HISTORY

Srinath lives in Sholapur (Karnataka) and has one elder brother and two elder sisters. His father is an auto driver and his mother is a bidri worker. One sister is married and his elder brother is studying Intermediate. Srinath's father is taking care of him in the hospital so his mother and sister are working hard, both day and night, to earn enough money for the treatment. Srinath always feels that his family is struggling hard for his betterment. Even before reaching Hyderabad they spent nearly Rs. 50,000 for his treatment.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Srinath started his treatment for a fever and headache in a civil hospital in Sholapur, Karnataka. They referred him to Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. The parents refused to go to Mumbai and brought Srinath to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad from where they were referred to MNJ Hospital. Srinath was admitted to this hospital and treatment was started. In the process, his condition became critical and he went into a coma. After going into the coma our counselors explained the situation to Srinath's parents and asked them to take him back home to Sholapur. Counselor Sunitha was on call to track Srinath's condition from afar. After four days he opened his eyes and started moving slowly from the bed. His parents informed the counselor about the condition, so she asked them to bring back the patient for further treatment. They came back after one month. After reaching here the bone marrow test was done and it was found that the AML condition has improved. He completed his full course of treatment and will come back in three months for a review.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

The child has always feels that his parents blame him for something. They sometime think he's going to die so why waste money on his treatment. Srinath feels that only his mother is a bit supportive, she's also with him at the time of treatments. Srinath's father blames Srinath for having to waste so much of money on blood products and other treatments.

CONCLUCION:

Srinath went back home with a full spirit to continue his studies. He's now in class 9 and wants to become a police office. He's working hard to achieve his goal.

FAMILY HISTORY

Sonia is from Adilabadand has one younger brother. Her father expired ina lightning storm and her mother works as a dhobi in a shop. Their family stays together with their grandmother.

MEDICAL HISTORY

In the beginning Sonia had swelling in her thigh so they administered some herbal remedies. Afterwards a tumor formed in the stomach (NHL) so they quickly took her to Gandhi Hospital. An operation was done, and after seeing the report she was referred to MNJ Hospital. There she wasput on a chemotherapy regimen, and within just one cycle of treatment the tumor began to shrink. IMPACT has helped Sonia with both transport and nutrition.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

The only support for Sonia's mother was her brother, who in return was the only income earner for the whole family. He took care of his sister and his niece like a caring father. Sonia's mother wanted to send her children to an English-medium school, but due to financial constraints they are going to a government school.

CONCLUSION

Sonia studies well in the school. Despite the lack of financial support, she wants to work hard and become a doctor. Her family always remembers the good things in life like the love given to them by Dr. Sudha Sinha, and the service provided by the other staff members who take great carein looking after the patients and their families.

FAMILY HISTORY

Chandu is the only son of Rajendran and Rajitha. Both husband and wife are daily wage earners. They stay in a rented house in Warangal.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Chandu had a Germ Cell Tumor (GCT) near his pelvis and used to get frequent fevers. The family initially took him foran herbal treatment that included the burning of the tumor. Even after that the tumor continued growing in size. The wound finally burst and Chandu had a high fever. Next they took him to a nearby RMP doctor who suspected cancer after examining the child. They also recommended that Chandu should get a surgery. A biopsy was done and Chandu was sent to Hyderabad with the reports. From Zaffargadh they referred the child to Rainbow Hospital in Hyderabad.With the help of a relative they reached Hyderabad Rainbow Hospital, but the hospital authorities demanded a huge fee of ten lakhs to treat the child. They stayed for four days and paid Rs. 40,000, but the authorities were not satisfied and demanded more money from the parents to continue treatment. Finally some friends helped them come to MNJ where they consulted the MNJIORCC Medical Oncologist Dr. Sudha Sinha. She in return advised them to get admitted at Nilufer Hospital. Even then the child had a fever for twenty days, but they stayed back and took the treatment for nearly for 8 months. During these days Dr. Sudha Sinha helped the family in many ways, providing the family with nutritional food and helping them financially for their medical needs. The family says they are forever indebted to Dr. Sudha Sinha for the help she has given to them.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

In order to pay for the treatment, Chandu's family sold their land that was worth Rs.2 lakhs for a meager amount of Rs. 50,000 and came to Hyderabad for the treatment. During the surgery they were also given the impression that Chandu may die. They were anxious and confused but were greatly comforted by the IMPACT team.

CONCLUSION

The family always remembers the kindness they received in this hospital. In return they tried to help the staff and doctor whenever they could.

FAMILY HISTORY

Sameer Pasha has an elder brother and an elder sister, both studying degree, and a younger sister in 8th class. Sameer is planning to study further after his completion of 10th class. His father is a businessman in Kadapa and his mother is a homemaker. His father has been working hard to pay for his treatment. In Kurnool they spent a huge amount, as much as 5 lakhs, and one time almost Rs. 80,000 for medicines alone. Sameer's family sold all their land and property for the sake of the treatment.

MEDICAL HISTORY

Sameer's blood count was very low and when he developed a fever he was taken to Kurnool Hospital. He was admitted for a period of ten days and then discharged. After just three days, the fever came back and he was taken to the hospital again where he was advised to have a BMA test. After the test results came back he was referred to MNJ. There they consulted the medical oncologist Dr. Sudha Sinha who admitted him to the male ward for ALL. Sameer and his family stayed for three months and then returned home. They continued the treatment by getting radiation and chemotherapy treatments for the next three months. Since then they have been coming for the past three years.

PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES

In the beginning Sameer suffered from the smell of death that surrounded him in the ward. He used to get repeated fevers and was unable to eat anything. He says that nobody bothers him till 12PM in the male ward, and that no one is there after the sisters leave. He informed Dr. Sudha who got himshifted to children's ward. Here the sisters care for him twenty-four ours a day, and help out whenever he's in need.He feels good here, just like at home. He also enjoys playing in the playroom.

CONCLUSION

He says that he wishes to study, finish his 10th class exams, and finally be an Air Force officer.

Family History

Srikanth is from Kakinada and is studying in 6th class. He has an elder sister who is studying in 9th class. His father is a carpenter and his mother is a housewife. They had owned a home, but for the sake of treatment they sold their house and land. At present they are staying in their grandmother's house.

Medical History

Srikanth was suffering from a swelling in his cheek for one week. He was taken to different hospitals in Kakinada but no one was able to diagnose his illness. Later they removed water from his body and conducted some inconclusive tests. The doctors suggested he needed a bone marrow (transplant) due to his tumor and referred him to Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. After the (transplant), Srikanth was referred to MNJ Hospital. After coming to MNJ Hospital, all the tests were redone and the diagnosis of Blood Cancer (ALL) was confirmed. Srikanth is now under treatment at MNJ Hospital and has finished two months of treatment.

Financial Issues

There are four people in Srikanth's family and his father is their only source of income. They've sold all their property for the sake of his treatment, nearly Rs. 1, 50,000. At present, Srikanth's grandmother is the family's only support.

Psychosocial Issues

Srikanth was very anxious about the treatments that he underwent in various hospitals in Kakinada. He had a feeling that he would die very soon and was unable to bear the pain during his treatments. After reaching MNJ Hospital, he gained some courage by seeing other children with cancer. Now he is very happy to be here for treatment and is confident that he'll be alright given that he continues with the treatment.

Srikanth's parents were in tears when they first learnt that Srikanth had blood cancer. They only brought him to MNJ Hospital as a trial, but after starting the treatment, they gained courage. They were also encouraged by MNJ's supportive social workers and hospital staff. As the parents saw the changes in Srikanth's health they grew happy and confident in their son's recovery.

Conclusion

Srikanth feels very now happy after completing two months of treatment at MNJ Hospital. He does all his work without anybody's help. He is active and moving forward with full confidence that he will get better soon.

Dhanunjay is a 12 year-old boy suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of childhood cancer. He began cancer treatment at MNJ Hospital and initially showed positive signs of improvement, but unfortunately, as his condition improved, support from his familyrapidly decreased.

In the beginning, both of Dhanunjay’s parents used to accompany him to check-ups and month-long hospital visits, but for the last month his father has all but abandoned him, refusing to even visit him in the hospital. Dhanunjay’s mother has become his sole caretaker andhas been forced to enlist the help of her elderly parents. She is finding it hard to cope with the joint burden of managing the medical care of a sick childand running a household. She has another younger child back home and there is no one to take care of him. Dhanunjay will require continuous treatment and diligent care for at least three whole years. She doesn’t know how long she can continue this way or who she can turn to for help.

Situations like this are extremely common and highlight the need for hospitalsand cancer treatment programs to support families as well as patients. In Dhanunjay’s case, IMPACT provides transportation costs for both mother and son, along with supplemental funds for food, blood products and medicines when needed. Most importantly, our specialized CARE Team of counselors and volunteersprovide essential support to both mother and son bycreating a loving and supportive environment for healing.IMPACT’s mission is to alleviate Dhanunjay’s mother of all possible financial and social burdens so that she will continue to bring her son back for treatment. This gives the patient and their families the strength, hope and faith necessary for a successful recovery.

Hosanna comes from a below-poverty level family in Prakasam District, AP. He lost his father nine years ago and the only family support he has is his mother and elder sister. None of his other relatives have come forward to help and his mother works as a daily labour and to take care of the family’s daily needs.

Hosanna had been suffering with a serious fever for three months when his mother took him to various government and private hospitals in their hometown, and eventually to Guntur Government Hospital.Hosanna’s fever persisted and his condition was getting progressively more serious day after day.

While staying in the Children’s Home Hostel, visiting foreigners came forward to help for Hosanna’streatment in a private hospital in Guntur. They spent Rs. 215,000 for the treatment and finally were able to confirm that Hosanna was sufferingfrom blood cancer and needed immediate treatment. They shifted him to Vijayawada and reconfirmed the diagnosis with a bone marrow test. Immediately they shifted him again to MNJ Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad. Here they consulted the doctor, conducted diagnostic tests and finally declared that Hosanna was suffering from blood cancer (AML). At MNJ he is currently receiving chemotherapy and other forms of cancer treatment…

There are only three members in Hosanna’s house and no one elseis aroundto support or help their family. Hosanna’s mother approached her in-laws for help but they ignored her at first and then accused her of lying about her son’s illness. She desperately needs money for her family’s survival and for Hosanna’s treatment. Due to her son’s intensive treatment she can not work all day. She sold their property and worries about her family’s future. And even though she knows that her son’s disease is incurable, she hasn’t stopped struggling to keep her family happy.

Ranganna is the youngest child in his family. He has one elder brother who’s studying in 1st class. Both his parents are coolie workers who earn about Rs. 100/day during rainy season and half that much during the summer. During the monsoon they labor in their village near Kurnool but inthe winter they shift to Guntur for the sake of work. When the season is over they return to their village.

In the beginning, Ranganna suffered from a fever, as well as swelling on one side of his face which later lead to paralysis of his face. His parents consulted doctors in Kurnool Government Hospital but they weren’t able to help him. Next they shifted to a different hospital in Kurnool, took out a large loan and spent nearly two lakhs in medical costs. Finally Ranganna was referred to NIMS Hospital, Hyderabad. The family stayed there for one week where a small surgery was performed on his head. Ranganna and his family also sought treatment at Sarojini Eye Hospital and L. V. Prasad Eye Hospital, but they were rejected everywhere due to Ranganna’s worsening condition. After one month they returned home.

Finally they confirmed that the child had cancer and were referred to MNJ Hospital. After admitting the child they left the hospital for a month due problems created by their relatives in their village. Upon returning to their village Ranganna’s condition became severe and the family decided to bring him back to MNJ child for treatment. He started the necessary treatment for blood cancer (AML). Ranganna responded well to the medicines.

Ranganna’s parents are suffering because their elder son is now also sick. Even after taking him to various hospitals the bleeding from his nose has not improved. When Ranganna was being treated for cancer, the family left his older brother with family members. Unfortunately all the relatives are coolie workers and unable to help him financially. Ranganna’s parents are in serious debt and fighting for the health of both their sons. His mother says there’s no happiness in life, and with tears in her eyes, asks why god has punished her family so much.

Tarun is a thirteen-year old boy who lives in Amberpet. He has one elder brother, two elder sisters and one younger brother. Among them one is mentally retarded.His father works as a coolie, suffers from a mental disorder, and is addicted to alcohol. Sadly, he is not interested in his family. Tarun’s mother works as a household maid in three houses and lives in rented house.Hiselder siblings are both married; they live separately and have taken no interest in looking after the family.

When Tarun’s mother brings him for treatment, there is no one at home to provide financial or moral support. His mother is constantly depending on someone at home or in the hospital for assistance.

Initially Tarun had jaundice and was given an ayurvedic treatment. When he didn’t recover, friends advised that he be taken to a fever hospital.  There they consulted a pediatrician and had some tests done. Not satisfied with the results, they again consulted a private hospital in Narayanaguda. More tests were done therethat finally confirmed the diagnosis as blood cancer.

The doctorsfurther explained the course andexpenses(2 to 3 lakhs) involved with cancer treatment. As the family has no ration card or Aarogyasree card they were advised to take Tarun to Nilopher Hospital; from there the case was referred to MNJ Hospital.

When the family reached MNJ Cancer Hospital Pediatric Ward, the counselors there learntabout the family’s troubled home life and economic situation. Thankfully the MNJ management team came forward to help the family with blood products, nutrition services and transportation. Tarun’s doing better and feels comfortable staying in the ward. He does all his work without any help and remains active.

When Tarun’s family learnt that the had cancer they were extremely disturbed and disappointed. They were already dealing with many issues at home, including a mentally retarded child and an unstable and potentially abusive father. Tarun’s mother is the sole provider in the family and is unable to meet daily expenses, let alone hospital fees.

She leaves her children in the ward when she goes for work and is desperately struggling to support her family. She has lost all hope and cries as she asks why God has given her such a life.

Jyostna was just a year old when she developed a tumor behind her right ear. Initially her parents ignored it, but as the tumor started to grow they visited the local RMP. At the time Jyostna also had a high temperature due to an infection, so the RMP advised them to take the child to a private hospital. They went to Kodada Hospital where they stayed for ten days to conductroutine checkups. With no conclusive results, they were directed to Khammam Hospital where a biopsy was done and confirmed a diagnosis ofSpiral Cell Sarcoma. Next they weresent to MNJ in Hyderabad where all the tests were done once again.

Jyostna is an only child from a very poor family. Both her parents are daily-wage workers and they have no savings to speak of. There are not well educated and have had difficulties understanding the prognosis of Jyostna’s cancer. But as every caring parent, they are anxious and deeply concerned about the well being of their child.

Jyostna is now three years old and has been admitted for only twenty days. It is very early on in her treatment, making it difficult to predict an outcome, but she has been given top most priority at MNJ.

Vignasai a six-year old boy from MedakDistrict, AP studying in the first class. He’s the eldest child in his family and has two younger brothers. His father is privately employed and his mother is a housewife.

Vignasai suffered from a high fever for three months before his parents took him to private hospital in Veldurthi (Medak District) for treatment. They stayed there for ten days but Vignasai’s condition did not improve. He was referred to Nilofer Hospital where stayed for seven days before being sent to MNJ Hospital where he was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma.

Vignasai’s families extremely poor. His younger brother is also dealing with medical problems (anus) and has undergone surgery at LOTUS Hospital. The family has travelled to many hospitals and has encountered several problems with receiving proper treatments.They feel very anxious about their two children. Vignasai’s blood cell count is very low and he suffers from fever, constipation and pain. Recently the hospital management shifted him to the ICU. Vignasai’sfamily wasintensely disturbed by their son’s condition.

After five days in the ICU, Vignasai’s blood cell count has increased and he has responded quite well to the treatment. Now his family members look much happier and commend MNJ for the excellent treatment they received in comparison to other hospitals.

Yadavayya is an eleven-year old boy from Srikakulam. He has one elder sister and one twin sister. He lost his father when he was eleven months old and his mother looks after the family even as she toils as a daily-wage worker.

Initially, Yadavayya had a fever and a swollen stomach. He wastaken to a hospital where tests revealed that the child had a tumor in the stomach. The medicines provided were ineffective, the hospital refused to treat the child further, and referred him to Vizag Hospital. There again the routine investigations were done but a diagnosis was inconclusive. Next Yadavayya was referred to Nilofer Hospital where the usual battery of tests wererepeated. This time caner was confirmed as cancer and he was finally referred to MNJ.

After the death of Yadavayya’s father, his mother began working as a coolie and struggled hard to bring up all the three children. It was during this time that Yadavayya fell sick and his mother had to take him to different hospitals in their hometown.

Relatives were unable to help them financially or otherwise. Yadavayya’s mother had to borrow money to meet the expenses of the hospital. Sadly, both of her daughters, aged eleven and thirteen, had to stay home and take care of themselves, cook, cleaning and going to school on their own.

Yadavayya’s mother literally lost all hope after learning about her son’s disease and chances of survival. Thankfully she has gained confidence after receiving a lot support from IMPACT, not only from the skilled doctors, nurses and counselors, but also from the financial assistance given for blood products and food. She can also visit her home with her son and see her family because of IMPACT’s help with transportation costs.

Kusuma Nandini is the only child of a widowed mother, her father passed away when she was just nine months old. She and her mother are cared for by her maternal grandparents. Her grandfather has three more daughters and a son to take care of and has struggled to take care of his family. He is a daily-wage worker at a quary and has managed to take care of such a bug family with his meager earnings.

When Kusuma Nandini was a baby of just ten months, her mother felt a hard tumor on her baby’s stomach while giving her a bath. Shocked and afraid, the family immediately took her to Kurnool Hospital. The usual routine of tests wereconducting but the results were inconclusive and the doctors couldn’t make sense of the reports or prescribe a proper treatment.

For a second opinion the family went to Nandyal Hospital where situation was just the same and the doctors could diagnosis the ailment. From here Kusuma Nandini was referred to MNJ hospital where detailed tests and scans were conducted leading to a confirmed diagnosis of Hepatoblastoma. Kusuma Nandini soon underwent surgery. She calmly cooperated with the nursing staff, doctors and surgeons who treated her and responded extremely well for young baby under such intense trauma.

Kusuma Nandini is now four years old and very healthy. We are very proud to report that she has been cured fully. After undergoing many hurdles and health challenges as a baby, she has grown up to be an active, playful child.

Nandini is the youngest child in her family and has an elder brother studying in seventh class. Her father is a lorry driver and her mother is a housewife.

Initially, Nandinichild had a fever and leg pains. After few days she developed a swelling in her stomach. She was taken to a local hospital, and then referred to Warangal. After that she was admitted to a hospital whereseveral testswere conducted, including an analysis of her bone marrow.  Upon seeing the report the doctors referred her to MNJ Cancer Hospital.

Nandini’s condition was critical when she finally reached MNJ. They consulted Dr. Sudha, who informed the family that Nandini’s situation was very serious, a possibility that she may not live much longer. After starting treatment, Nandini’s condition improved significantly but there were many ups and downs and she remained in the hospital for forty days.

After her discharge, Nandini’s family took her home but soon shedeveloped an infection in the eyes that forced them to return to MNJ for immediate consultation. [They took to sarojini (?) and continued the treatment in MNJ.] For six months Nandini was unable to walk. Her family stayed with her at MNJ and after six months of treatment Nandini was able to begin walking.

During this time, Nandini’s family was under greatstress and mental trauma. They could not work or pay for the hospital expenses and had to take out loans to meet their financial demands. They were encouraged as their daughter improved but soon enough her condition would grow serious again. They couldn’t imagine that their child would live for very long time but they put all their trust in MNJ and Dr.Sudha.

Now Nandini is in fifth class, studying well and inspiring everyone around her. She still comes to MNJ for regular visits.

Revathi is a twelve-year old girl from Guntur. She is the eldest daughter of Srinivas, a carpenter, and Sridevi, a homemaker. She also has a brother Venkatesh who is studying in third class.

Some time ago, her family found a lump near her ear. They had some tests and were told she had an infection. She was taken to Guntur Government Hospital where they waited for one week for the reports to come in. Later they took her to a private hospital where further tests were conducted leading to a diagnosis of TB.

For three months Revathi was treated with TB medicines. The doctors found no improvement, in fact the lump spread all over the neck. A biopsy was done, tests repeated and finally her condition was confirmed as cancer. After almost five months, Revathi came to MNJ and consulted Dr. Sudha Sinha.  The usual battery of tests were repeated again, the cancer was confirmed and treatment was started. Dr. Sinha explained the disease to Revathi’s parents who were disheartened thatGovernment Hospital at Guntur could not make the proper diagnosis.

Revathi’s mother was scared to come to the hospital alone, so she used to bring her mother along with her. Unfortunately Revathi’s father was reluctant to stay in the hospital with his family. Only when his daughter’s condition grew grave did he visit the hospital. Since then he’s never returned. Sadly, Sridevi is dealing with a drunkard husband who always complains about Revathi’s dreadful disease.

Thankfully, Revathi has completed twenty-one months of treatment and is now completely cured and happy. She is planning to resume her studies soon.