MILAAP SUCCESS STORY · ACCIDENT RECOVERY
80% Recovered: A Mother's Two-and-a-Half-Month Vigil by Her Son's Ventilator
My son Devansh had only recently started working when a severe accident left him completely dependent on us for his care. He spent nearly two and a half months on a ventilator while I sat beside him through the most frightening days of my life.
22 Hrs
Years old, and only recently started working before the accident
₹2.5 Mos
Spent on a ventilator following his accident
80%
Recovered today, according to his doctors, though the road continues
A life interrupted in a single moment
When Devansh met with a severe accident, we had no idea how long his recovery would take. The accident changed everything for my 22-year-old son, who had only recently started working at a private firm. He had been looking forward to earning and helping me, but after the accident, he became completely dependent on our family for his care and treatment.
The first few months were especially difficult for me. With Devansh on a ventilator and multiple tubes and medical equipment around him, even shifting him for scans became a frightening experience. During these transfers, he would sometimes start bleeding from his throat, leaving me terrified about what might happen next.
“During those transfers, watching him start bleeding from his throat left me terrified about what might happen next.”
— Vandana, Mother
Borrowing at high interest, just to keep going
I had already been struggling financially, and arranging money for Devansh’s treatment became one of my biggest worries. Before seeking outside support, we relied on interest-based borrowing to meet the expenses. This is the gap most families facing a prolonged ICU stay fall into, the longer a patient depends on a ventilator and specialised care, the further a family’s own resources and even high-interest loans are stretched.
How I found Milaap
During this difficult period, Milaap became an important source of support for our family. I learned about Milaap through a friend who had seen the platform before. Devansh himself was also aware of Milaap and knew that it helped people raise funds for medical emergencies.
The support we received through the fundraiser helped us continue Devansh’s treatment when we were struggling to manage the expenses ourselves. I was able to communicate our treatment requirements to the campaign team and receive funds when hospital expenses became urgent.
Without Milaap, I don’t know how we would have managed. I remain deeply grateful to every donor who stood beside us.”
— Vandana, Mother
Where Devansh is today
Today, Devansh has made significant progress compared with the condition he was in after the accident. He is around 80% recovered, although he still faces difficulties with walking and speaking. He also continues to struggle emotionally and is currently dealing with depression, something we are working through alongside his physical recovery.
After spending months watching my son lie on a hospital bed and depend on machines for survival, seeing him recover to this stage has given me hope that he can regain more of his independence with time and continued care. Devansh still has a road ahead of him, but his condition today is very different from those frightening days on the ventilator.
Facing a prolonged ICU stay and the cost that comes with it?
Extended ventilator support and critical care can quickly outpace what savings or personal loans can cover. We help families reach a wider circle of support so treatment doesn’t have to stop.
Frequently asked questions
How much does prolonged ventilator support and ICU care cost in India?
Costs vary depending on the length of stay and complications, but extended ICU care involving ventilator support commonly runs into several lakh rupees over weeks or months. Devansh’s family relied on interest-based borrowing before turning to crowdfunding to manage nearly two and a half months of ventilator care.
Why can shifting a ventilator-dependent patient for scans be risky?
Patients on ventilators are often connected to multiple tubes and monitoring equipment, and moving them can risk complications such as bleeding or dislodged equipment. Hospitals typically take extra precautions during these transfers, but some risk remains, which is often frightening for families to witness.
Is it common for accident survivors to experience depression during recovery?
Yes, emotional and psychological effects are common after a serious accident, especially when recovery involves a long road back to physical independence. Many families find that addressing mental health alongside physical rehabilitation is an important part of a fuller recovery.
How do I start a fundraiser for a family member's accident recovery?
You typically need a diagnosis report and a treatment cost estimate from the hospital, along with identity proof for the patient or the person raising funds on their behalf. Our team helps applicants gather and verify these documents before the fundraiser goes live.
Story shared with permission · Written by Milaap
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