The last five months have been excruciating for the family of P Swapna, a 16-year-old student from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. After months of pain in her left leg, she was diagnosed with bone cancer earlier in July. Swapna is the only daughter of Venkat Ramudu, who is a lorry driver, and Aruna, a daily wage earner.
Until May this year, the family, who was surviving on their daily earnings, had no apprehensions about their daughter’s future as she was doing academically well. Swapna fell ill a few times but she managed to pass her Class 10 examination with distinction. She also received A and B certificates in the National Cadet Corps (NCC), and nurtures the ambition of joining the Indian Armed Forces one day.
It was in June when she started complaining of severe pain in her bones. At the time, she was taken to a local hospital in Anantapur. With no relief from the pain, her parents took her to a hospital in Hyderabad in July, where she was diagnosed with third-stage bone cancer, much to the shock of her parents.
Since then, Venkat and Aruna have been spending whatever little amount they have been saving for tests and medicines. They also borrowed about Rs 3 lakh from near and dear ones. After four sessions of chemotherapy at Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad, doctors said that Swapna needs to undergo surgery by next week, for which around Rs 6 lakh is required.
With no one to turn to, Swapna’s family is now opting for crowdfunding to save their daughter.
Speaking to TNM, Venkat Ramudu said, “The hospital said that the treatment doesn't come under the Andhra Pradesh government-sponsored Aarogyasri scheme. We are unable to see her suffering. As the days passing by, we are scared.”
The family has to pay Rs 6 lakh for the surgery by November 5. Friends and wellwishers of Swapna have started a fundraiser on Milap.
“Please do contribute or do something to save our daughter,” Swapna’s father appealed to the public.
For details on how to help Swapna, click here.