MILAAP SUCCESS STORY · CHILDHOOD CANCER
Carried in His Father's Arms for Months, He's Walking Again After Cancer
A few months ago, I was working hard to support my family as its primary earning member. I had recently helped arrange my sister’s marriage and was looking forward to returning fully to work. I never imagined that my own health was quietly failing.
6 Cities
Travelled across, from Sitapur to Delhi, in search of a diagnosis and treatment
₹20,000
All that was left, borrowed from relatives, by the time the family reached Varanasi
6 Mos
Spent moving between hospitals before a diagnosis was finally confirmed
An ordinary fever that never went away
Our son is our only child and the centre of our world. Like every little boy his age, he loved going to school, running around with his friends, and playing all day. We never imagined that before he even turned seven, he would lose the strength to walk because of a disease we had never even heard of.
It all started with what seemed like an ordinary fever. At first we thought it was typhoid. But gradually he became weaker, started losing weight, and cried constantly because of the pain. He stopped going to school and stopped playing with his friends. Then there came a time when he couldn’t even walk without support.
We went from one doctor to another in Sitapur and Lakhimpur for nearly six months, but nothing helped. We travelled to Jalandhar looking for work and better treatment, where an ultrasound suggested a tumour. From there we rushed to Lucknow, where doctors confirmed that he had cancer, and we were eventually referred to Varanasi, where his treatment finally began.
“I kept folding my hands and requesting the doctors to please save my child. I told them that even if there were no guarantees, we wanted to keep fighting.”
— Father
Selling everything we owned
Before looking outside the family, my relatives, neighbours, and well-wishers helped however they could. Some contributed ₹1,000, some ₹5,000, others ₹10,000. Visitors who came to see me often left behind whatever they were able to give. There were times when even our household expenses became difficult to manage, and I had to buy medicines on credit because the money had simply run out.
A family with a working income can absorb a hospital bill of a few thousand rupees. It cannot absorb the cost of a serious illness while its only earning member is the one who is sick. That is the gap my family fell into, and it is the same gap most families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis fall into: government aid rarely covers the full cost, and personal networks alone rarely stretch far enough. Community fundraising became the only route left for us.
How I found Milaap
It was during this difficult phase that doctors introduced our family to Milaap. Until then, we had never imagined that complete strangers would become such an important part of our journey. Through Milaap, people from across the country came together to support our son’s fight against cancer.
Every donation became more than financial assistance. It became hope. It became reassurance that we were no longer facing this battle alone. Without this support, continuing treatment would have been nearly impossible.
“There were times when we had nothing left except hope. We had sold everything we owned, but we never stopped believing that our son could recover. Because of the kindness of so many people, we were able to continue his treatment.”
— Father
Where my son is today
Compared to the early days of treatment, my son has made remarkable progress. There was a time when I carried him everywhere in my arms because he could not even stand. Today, he can walk again. He even moves around the house on his own.
While his treatment is still ongoing and he continues travelling regularly to Varanasi for follow-up appointments, seeing him regain his strength has been one of the happiest moments for our family. Those first few steps felt like a miracle after months of fear and uncertainty. Both my wife and I have returned to work in Jaipur to support his ongoing medical expenses, and whenever he needs treatment, we travel directly to Varanasi for his appointments, determined to complete every stage of his recovery.
Facing your child's cancer treatment with nothing left to sell?
Childhood cancer treatment often stretches across many months, long after land, savings, and personal loans have already been exhausted. We help families reach a wider circle of support so treatment does not have to stop.
Frequently asked questions
How much does childhood cancer treatment cost in India?
Costs vary by cancer type and stage, but treatment involving surgery, chemotherapy, and travel between cities for specialised care commonly runs into several lakh rupees over many months. This family had already spent around ₹70,000 before even reaching Varanasi for definitive treatment.
Why do families travel far from home for childhood cancer treatment?
Specialised pediatric oncology care is often concentrated in a small number of hospitals, so families in smaller towns frequently need to travel to larger cities for diagnosis, surgery, and ongoing treatment, adding travel and accommodation costs on top of medical bills.
Can crowdfunding help once a family has already sold everything they own?
Yes. Crowdfunding is often most valuable exactly at this point, when land, savings, and personal loans have already been used and treatment still needs to continue. It allows a family to reach people well beyond their immediate circle who are willing to help.
How do I start a fundraiser for my child's cancer treatment?
You typically need a diagnosis report and a treatment cost estimate from the hospital, along with identity proof for the parent or guardian raising funds. 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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