MILAAP SUCCESS STORY · Kidney Transplant
When Both Kidneys Fail and You're the Sole Breadwinner: How Strangers Funded a Transplant Journey
I was my family’s sole breadwinner when both my kidneys failed without warning. My creatinine level had reached 23. What followed was a race to arrange a transplant my family could never have paid for alone, and a fundraiser that changed everything.
₹12–13L
Estimated cost of transplant and related treatment
23
Creatinine level at diagnosis, a stage doctors called life-threatening
1
Living donor, Parvinder's aunt, who came forward to donate a kidney
A headache that would not go away
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.
It began with headaches that would not go away. For nearly three months, I relied on paracetamol just to get through the day. Frequent fevers followed, then loss of appetite, until there were days I could barely eat a single roti. My body grew weaker, my blood levels dropped, and my skin turned pale. Even then, I never suspected the real cause.
A medical checkup changed everything. After a series of tests, doctors told me that both my kidneys had failed. My creatinine level had reached 23, a level the doctors said many patients do not survive. I was admitted to the ICU, dialysis began immediately, and doctors advised a kidney transplant as soon as possible.
“I spent countless nights worrying about how I would manage such a large expense. Every day I would wonder how I would arrange the money needed to save my life.”
— Parvinder Singh
When a family's own resources run out
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 ₹12–13 lakh for a transplant 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 kidney transplant in India fall into: government aid rarely covers the full cost, and insurance, where it exists at all, is usually exhausted early. Community fundraising became the only route left for us.
How I found Milaap
A neighbour named Sukhinder had once raised funds through Milaap for his son’s cancer treatment. His son recovered, and he encouraged me not to lose hope. Around the same time, I connected with a member of the Milaap team, who guided me through obtaining medical estimates and starting my fundraiser with support from my hospital.
Soon after, donations began arriving from people I had never met. Many donors went further than a contribution, reaching out personally to ask how I was doing. Those messages gave me emotional strength on the days fear felt overwhelming.
“No matter how difficult the situation seems today, don’t lose hope. Seek help when you need it, trust the people supporting you, and keep fighting. There is always hope for a better tomorrow.”
— Parvinder Singh
Where I am today
My treatment has become more intensive since my diagnosis. I continue regular dialysis at a local hospital while my transplant-related evaluations are carried out through Apollo Hospital in Delhi. My transplant preparations are moving forward, and my aunt has stepped forward to donate one of her kidneys, giving me the chance at a healthier future.
My fight is not over, but because of donor support, I am closer than ever to the transplant that could transform my life.
Facing a kidney transplant cost your family cannot cover alone?
Stories like Parvinder’s are common in India, where a kidney transplant can cost upward of ₹10 lakh and savings, loans, and personal networks rarely stretch far enough. We help families raise funds quickly through their own community and ours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a kidney transplant cost in India?
Costs typically range from ₹6 lakh to ₹15 lakh or more, depending on the hospital, the city, and whether complications arise. Parvinder’s family was quoted ₹12–13 lakh for his transplant and related treatment, a figure that does not include the months of dialysis leading up to surgery.
Can crowdfunding really cover the full cost of a kidney transplant?
Many families use crowdfunding alongside personal savings, loans from relatives, and any employer or government assistance available to them. It rarely replaces every other source, but it is often the difference between starting treatment on time and delaying it.
What documents are needed to start a kidney transplant fundraiser?
You typically need a diagnosis report, a treatment cost estimate from the hospital, and identity proof for the patient or the person raising funds on their behalf. Our team helps applicants gather and verify these before the fundraiser goes live.
How long does it take to raise funds for a kidney transplant?
This depends on how widely the fundraiser is shared and how urgently treatment is needed. Some families raise a meaningful portion of their target within the first few weeks through their immediate network before wider donor support builds momentum.
Story shared with permission · Written by Milaap
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