My Father Is In ICU, We Are Broke, I Need Help

I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you read what I have to say. As a son, I am compelled to write this and I know, if you faced a similar situation (which I hope you never do), you would do the same.

As I sit outside the ICU at the Global Hospital in Chennai these days, I wonder how we've managed to come all the way from a normal life in Hazra in Kolkata and made Chennai, or rather the Global Hospital, our second home. I am now beginning to grow familiar with the city, the food and people, but more than anything, I have grown accustomed to the familiar smell of the hospital.

This is the story of my father, Arun Udani who turned 64 in March. He's given his whole life to caring for his family. And I don't just mean his wife and children, but his parents and siblings as well. From an early age, that's what I grew up seeing, Papa taking care of his own father who was diagnosed with throat cancer. They say a child learns from what he is taught, but I do believe that a child becomes what he sees around while growing up. In my case, I saw that my grandfather was well taken care of till he passed away. How do some children abandon their parents especially when their parents need them the most? Would our parents ever do that with us?

Papa's downward spiral began with severe jaundice in August, 2016. Just a few months later, he was diagnosed with "a permanently damaged liver" and an end-stage "liver cirrhosis" at the Medica Superspecialty Hospital in Kolkata. Doctors told us it was fatal.

Only a liver surgery could save him. Papa would have to undergo a "liver transplant". But that brings up another issue, that of organ donations in India, which restricts one to finding a donor within the family. Either me or someone from within the family had to be the donor.

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The liver is a unique organ in the body that has a special capacity for regeneration, however, that doesn't make convincing someone for organ donation easy. Of course, I was the first willing donor, but unfortunately, Papa's liver did not match mine. I feared that time was running out. Finally, a month later, we found a ready donor. It was my father's younger brother's son, Akshay. My 21-year-old cousin was more than willing to donate a part of his liver. 

I realise now that it's not as easy for families to find a donor even within the family. It makes me grateful for the family I am part of and I have learnt to value it even more.

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"Liver cirrhosis" is an unaffordable disease for a salaried, middle-class person like me. I am the only earning member of my family. We ended up spending nearly 6 lakh rupees on the diagnosis in Kolkata. We then needed to arrange 26.5 lakhs more for the surgery in Chennai. Papa, a small businessman in Kolkata, was loved and respected by many and help soon flowed in from all quarters. We managed to collect 20.5 lakh rupees. An additional 8 lakhs was spent on medication - again, with the help of our friends and relatives.

This March, Papa finally underwent a 12-hour-long "living donor liver transplantation" at the Global Hospital in Chennai. The surgery was successful and the news brought us some relief. But the joy was short-lived. On Papa's birthday on the 29th of March, doctors discovered that he had developed severe spontaneous left-sided intracranial hemorrhage for which he had to undergo an "emergency life-saving surgery". However, his neurological condition worsened after the operation. Doctors called it a rare case. And on April 10, 2017, Papa was put through a second surgery.

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So far, we have spent a total of 40 lakhs on his treatment. I've given up my job to attend to him. Our money has run out.

Papa is still in the ICU, slipping in and out of a coma. He struggles to breathe and his body remains swollen due to fluid retention. As of today (May 10th, 2017), Papa still needs critical medical care that includes keeping him on ventilator/oxygen support thus requiring a prolonged stay in the ICU for another 2 weeks. This will cost us an additional 50 lakhs.

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My words are my everything now. Can you help? 

Note, as of Friday, May 12, this family had received 53 lakhs based on this appeal. It does not need more donations. Thank you for such immense generosity.

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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of NDTV and NDTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Note: This information has been provided/published on a good faith basis, without any commercial motive. NDTV does not vouch for the authenticity of the claims made by the intending donee, nor can we guarantee that the donations made by a donor will be used for the purpose as stated by the intending donee. You are requested to independently verify the contact information and other details before making a donation. NDTV and/or its employees will not be responsible for the same.