Alike many farmers in India, Anant Ramchandra Haridas, lives in a home that is setup of dried cow dung floor, stacked brick walls with hay and unbaked tiles to the ceiling cover. Anant and his family (wife, 2 children and mother) own a small piece of land where they grow grains and vegetables. They are self sufficient in the sense that they produce enough for their own consumption as well as to sell and make about Rs 5000 to 6000 every month for other expenses. That includes the odd day jobs he has to pursue to steadily maintain the monthly income. Certainly everything seems merry, until something gruesome and an unfair disease called Cancer strikes. And it strikes hard.
Anant was diagnosed of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in February 2014. The Cancer is detected to be in its second stage and treatable, he needs to undergo chemotherapy and complete blood function tests every 3 months. The doctors recommend that the treatment would continue till Anant’s blood function improves, 4 sessions split over 6 months. More if required. And then tests every 6 months for the next 3 years.
We seek financial assistance in the order of 2 lac rupees, a one time donation to the patient to take care of his medical bills. This is the figure we pre-empt as of today, considering today;s reports & charts and the course of treatment undertaken, but only time can tell if we will need to spend more.
karmanye takes up his case because it seems extremely unfair and unreasonable for a disease like Cancer to actually challenge a family financially. Else if illness had to strike hard, it could have rather taken up Anant’s life. But the suffering of going through the disease, knowing that you can be healed, but you just can’t help it, because you got no money, feels frustrating.
This 48 years old adult is the karta of his family. The future livelihood of the whole family depends on his health and lifespan. We are not just helping Anant survive the Cancer, but in fact helping the family retain its only source of income. The amount we seek as donations is not significant. If many hands join the cause, we should be able to raise the sum pretty quickly. We earnestly request all donors to get in touch with us to take this further.
More case papers: Click here
More on Anant & his family:
Anant has 1 daughter (younger) and 1 son (elder). His son is pursuing 12th Arts and wants to start working soon to yield some income to the family. His daughter is pursuing 11th, Science, scored 77% in the 10th boards; won scholarship for higher education, though not enough. Future education is unplanned, because it depends on family’s financial position. Whereas she dreams of pursuing the B.Pharm course, again, to make her eligible to get a job where they live.
Anant’s wife has been a ailing person. 6 months past their marriage, she was diagnosed of TB. They spent nearly their entire savings on its treatment. 6 years later after their children were born, her TB struck once again, though milder the second time. While Anant was being treated about 4 months ago (MAR 2014), his wife was detected with a problem of muscle contraction of the wind pipe. She gets severe attacks of asthma and intense breathlessness and has to be administered medicines for the lungs immediately. They have held-up her advanced treatment, because they can treat either Anant or the wife, with the kind of funds they have.
Anant’s mother gets pension, against which they have already drawn loan for this treatment, Rs. 25,000. Anant has also drawn loan from bank 90,000 at 12% for payment of hospital bills. EMIs have already started with penalities. So far they have spent about 1.2 lacs on various tests, hospital admissions, and mostly on medicines & therapy. His extended family (2 sisters, married) help them with day to day expenses, including providing ration, kiraana etc.
Anant stays about 2/3 hours from Kolhapur, interior regions of Sindhudurg, so for every chemotherapy session he needs to visit the hospital and stay over for a night. We have already spoken to Dr. Vijay Hirani and he has been quite co-operative in this case. The hospital is already providing the medicines to Anant at 60% of MRP, ordering directly from the companies. The doctors have already waived their own fees immediately after they realized the situation.
In conclusion, Anant and his family, have been struck with misfortune. The extreme of it.
Our prayers reach out to him and his family and we sincerely hope our efforts can help him in any manner possible.
Many families in India, or possibly all over the world, like that of Anant’s might be suffering in disgust. It is so disturbing to know how helpless life could make you feel. Its enraging, frustrating, saddening, and so much more, at the same time.
Donate directly to the patient:
We always insist and encourage all donors to contribute their sum to the karmanye team (DONATE), in order to control the disbursal of funds on procuring correct receipts from hospital for treatment and medicines. But you could always donate the sum directly to the patient. If you do so, please do just let us know the amount that you would have donated (name, address, date, amount). It helps us to keep records and let everybody know when we have enough and when we may not need more.
- Anant Ramchandra Haridas
- SDC co. op. Bank Sindhudurg Branch
- http://ifsc.bankifsccode.com/HDFC0CSINDC
- IFS code : HDFC0CSINDC (NEFT available)
- A/c no. 0304000004531
- Outstanding bank loan: Rs. 100,000, from HDFC, at 12%, EMIs have started
- Outstanding loan from relatives: Rs. 35,000 (as on 13th August 2014)
- Outstanding loan against pension: Rs. 25,000
- Medical bills already incurred: Rs. 1,33,000 (as on 13th August 2014)
Donation: Chasing target: Rs. 2,00,000
Please talk to Anant and check on his health, recovery progress and family members: Phone: +91-95617-13651 – certain, that monetary help is important, but what words of compassion can do, nothing else can
List of donors and funds collected – Click here to view
🙂 Thank you so much ! 🙂
Donation update: 13th August 2014
We thank all contributors for their generosity and kindness! God Bless You!
Funds collected: 85500
Funds donated to Anant: 50000 (balance 35500)
Funds promised, yet to arrive: 20000
Funds deficit: 94500
Cancer treatment update: 13th August 2014
Dear Friends,
By the grace of almighty, all of your prayers and well-wishes, Anant is doing much better. Now, down with all 4 chemotherapy sessions, Anant is looking positive and on a (close to certain) path to defeat Cancer. His last bout of heavy dosage of medications and admittance for chemo is dated on 27th August, after when we shall publish his latest reports for everybody’s knowledge.
Anant last visited Dr. Hirani on 2nd August, his dosage of medication remains unaltered. He takes 3 tablets (details mentioned below) every day which gives him heavy nausea, blisters on the hands and face & occasional vomiting. He had asked the doctor to change the medication if possible. But the doctor insisted him to bear on for another 3 weeks since the tests look positive. WBC count has reached 5500, though not completely stable to change in dosage / strength of meds. Platelet count is in control nearing 2,20,000 (note: WBC count on 5th March 2014 was 2,33,000. Platelet count was 4,54,000) This in all means is a good enough reason to Thank God for helping Anant to cope up with his treatment.
Anant has about Rs. 28,000 left from the amount donated to him. His extended family has been helping them as always. His son has found a job at a SSI in Sawantwadi, that pays him 4,500 per month.
Another appeal going out to all you beautiful people – please look out for any kind of employment options for Anant and his family members (or families like Anant) – they are ready to work hard, but the Sindhudurg does not offer them enough opportunities to earn a comfortable living.
Good wishes to everyone, Stay healthy, Stay Blessed!
Regards – KT
**Dosage**
Imatinib Ibatkin 400mg (1 every day post lunch)
Zevit Zinc (1 every day post lunch)
(monthly expense Rs 4500)
The MRP on Ibatkin is 2817/- for 10 capsules
The hospital rebates them at 50% of the price
In turn Anant spends 4200 per month just on Imatinib
Donation update: 18th August 2014
We thank all contributors for their generosity and kindness! God Bless You!
Funds collected: 110500
Funds donated to Anant: 50000 (balance 60500)
Funds deficit: 89500
*Additional case papers, bills, hospital papers have been added [here]
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B42CvR3rv2CxR3haQUNmQng4N3M&usp=drive_web
Cancer treatment update: 27th August 2014 / 12th Sept 2014
Dear Friends,
We are delighted to inform that the doctor has lowered the chemotherapy medication for Anant. And only because of your good wishes and prayers, this has been possible. The antibiotics dosage still continues, but the cancer medicines have slowed down. The medication has not entirely been removed because the rate at which platelet count is increasing, it still needs to be made under control. This will be evident in a bone marrow test scheduled in NOVEMBER. Anant has been taking extreme care of himself and his family is being very supportive of the same.
His latest reports show all the positive signs. Anant has been asked to come over for tests once again after 1 month to assess if there would be any need to change the treatment. But everything looks progressive as on today. Anant’s latest case papers are available HERE
Please do go through his latest blood reports, doctor’s prescription and note that unlike other cancer patients, Anant’s liver function is miraculously NOT disturbed as much. Anant is free of other vices and has never indulged in alcohol or tobacco consumption. We take pride is supporting such an individual who is rare to be found within the community that he lives in. Anant’s son has completed 45 days with his employer and is happy that he is able to bring in some money to the house. Anant is still struggling to get back to normalcy and minor work routine but gets exhausted very easily. He is trying his best though he is frustrated being restricted by doctor’s strict advisory.
We cannot thank enough all the donors who joined hands for this cause. God bless each and every one of you!
We have donated the entire amount collected so far Rs. 1 lac, to Anant, out of which he has used 50,000 to return the loan to the bank considering its higher rate of interest and have kept the rest of use. The updates on donors’ list is available HERE
Regards – KT
**SPECIAL SALUTE TO TRUPTI UDAY DESHPANDE**
Trupti, is Anant’s younger sister and youngest of all the 4 siblings in the family. She has not only offered a friendly loan to Anant for his treatment but is also bearing {ALL} the expense to educate Anant’s daughter. Anant’s daughter is much above average in studies and wishes to pursue Pharmacy as her specialization in order to quickly get employed at hospitals or clinics. The expenses include hostel fees, tuition fees, college fees, books, other minors. But {ALL} is covered, thanks to Trupti.
In an age of known sibling rivalry, Trupti offers an excellent example who has stepped aside of her own financial challenges and is helping her elder brother and his family financially to regain a life of independence, health and happiness.
karmanye team salutes the kind soul that Trupti is!