Save A Baby...Save His Smile

The baby boy's name is Prateek. He is 6 months old. One month back he was found to be anemic by the doctors in Vizag and when the blood tests were done it was found that his blood count was low and the doctors said there may be a problem in the bone marrow and asked us to get the bone marrow test done.

Then we came to CMC (Christian Medical College, Vellore) where the baby is currently admitted. The doctors in CMC have done the bone marrow and other tests and finally diagnosed that the baby has Aplastic Anemia which is a rare occurrence in 6 month old baby. The treatment for this is Bone Marrow Transplantation. The cost of this transplantation is likely to be around 30-50 lakhs. Moreover, as the baby's platelet counts are low, the treatment should start in 4 weeks of time. So we don’t have much time left. The parents of the baby belong to lower middle class family and can no way afford to arrange such a huge amount that too in such a short notice of time.

So, we appeal to all the concerned people, to kindly render any financial assistance for the cause. No matter how little the contribution is, it can make a big difference. More importantly, any small gesture of support would go a long way in boosting the morale of the family members.

Details regarding the ongoing treatment for the baby at CMC, Vellore:

Baby's no at CMC: 992988D
Doctors:

Dr. Biju George, M.D, D.M, Associate Professor, Dept of Clinical Haematology, CMC haemat@cmcvellore.ac.in,
and
Dr. Indira Agarwal. Professor, Dept. of Child Helath, child2@cmcvellore.ac.in

Reports:

Doctor's Reference Letter: 

Master Prateek:

What is Aplastic Anemia?

Aplastic Anemia is a condition where bone marrow does not produce sufficeint new cells to replenish blood cells. The condition, per its name, involves both aplasia and anemia. Typically, anemia refers to low red blood cell counts, but aplastic anemia patients have lower counts of all three blood cell types.

Aplastic anemia can be moderate, severe or very severe. People with severe or very severe aplastic anemia are at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding. Although aplastic anemia can appear at any age, in any race or gender, it is diagnosed more often in children and young adults.

About Bone Marrow Failure

Inside our bones is  a soft, spongy tissue called bone marrow. It is the “factory” that makes blood cells. Bone marrow contains special cells called stem cells. These blood-forming stem cells grow and mature into three types of blood cells:

•  Red blood cells which carry oxygen to tissues and organs
• White blood cells which help fight disease and infections
• Platlets which help blood clot to stop bleeding

If the bone marrow “factory” breaks down and fails to keep up with the body’s needs for the production of healthy blood cells, the result is called bone marrow failure. Aplastic Anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria are bone marrow failure diseases.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone who are willing to help the baby and his family can contact on the below numbers:

Srinivas    - +91 9989812505  (EMail: srinivasdusi@gmail.com)

Padmaja   - +91 9866280789

Pavan        - +91 9553875007

Murthy     - +91 9945671139

Shyam       -  408 431 4027 (USA)

Kishore     -  206 369 2732 (USA)
Anji Kumar- +44 75505 38140 (UK)

Present Condition of the baby:
Update: 15th October 2011
I dont know how to put this, i was struggling for the past two days to put this but my strength has failed me to tell you all that Prateek is no more. He had a large bleeding in the brain on last sunday which was not detected early by the doctors. when they detected it he was put in ICU that night.They couldnt operate and remove the clot form the brain as his platelets were low. So he was given platlets but the situation didnt improve, he developed seizures( fits) in the ICU and the respiration
became difficult. He was put on a ventilator but the bleed in the
brain has done lot of damage and his pulse started coming down. He really struggled hard as his pulse was fluctuating. To see the baby struggle so much in front of your eyes is something tht shoudlnt never happen to any body. On the 4th day it got really down and by the aftrnoon it was all over.Prateek breathed his last at 12.45 pm on 13th. The most unfortunate thing is that the donor has been found after he was admitted to ICU but the baby couldnt make it.  I dont know what to say to the sea of humanity which supported us, despite thousands of people praying for him, god has let us all down. On the15th,  his last rites were performed inVellore. 


Update : 13th October 2011 

The condition of the baby is critical and is in ICU since 2 days. There was bleeding in the brain and the baby is shifted to ICU for treatment. The donor was found 2days back, but unfortunately this has happened. Doctors have not yet given any positive information about the baby's condition.

Please pray for PRATEEK. 

Update 1: 09/21/2011

Prateek is doing well. The sample (The 10-Factor HLA report) that was sent a couple of weeks back to US for required medical tests has come. Based on that report search for a donor (unrelated) has been initiated. Initially the Indian and German bone marrow registries are being searched. After this the US bone marrow registries will be searched. Once the donor is found, further medication will start. Doctors are giving platelets to the baby as and when required.

Till date, there is generous response for our appeal for help and we are greatful for that. So far the collected amount stands at Rs.10,58,985. he donations details are being updated regularly.The condition of the baby will also be updated weekly from now on. This will help the donors all around the world to know the present status (financial as well as the health of the baby). 

Collected Amount:
    
    --  Prateek Donations (Paypal, US, UK, EU)
    --  HDFC Account (INDIA)