Several Mumbaikars came forward to extend a helping hand after mid-day highlighted a young couple’s desperate plight to save their son, who is in dire need of affordable specialised care. Within just 24 hours of the story being published, over Rs 92,000 was raised through UPI payments by generous citizens.
Since morning, I have received many messages and calls from several people who are willing to help. And everyone has sent me the photo of the mid-day report to reconfirm if the number printed was correct and if they could send money on the same number via UPI,” said Ganesh More, the father of the boy. While donors transferred Rs 500, others have transferred as much as Rs 25,000.
DonorSpeak
“We keep seeing many such stories on social media and other sources. But considering that this one was featured in a newspaper, it felt authentic. So, I messaged the number mentioned to confirm if I could send money to the same number. Once I received confirmation, I sent him the money. I pray that the baby survives and is discharged from the hospital in a healthy state,” said a person who donated Rs 10,000.
Cama and Albless Hospital, near CSMT, where a neonatal ICU bed has been reserved for the infant. FILE PIC
Another person, who donated Rs 2000, said, “After reading that the baby, born two months before the mother’s due date, was already in so much agony, I could not stop myself from contacting his parents. Though I am not in a position to donate a lot, considering I have just started my career, I gave whatever meagre help I could.”
An organisation that donated Rs 25,000 told mid-day, “It’s a duty of every human being to help as many living beings as they can. It just took us one formal discussion to understand how much we can chip in, and that’s it. We sent the parents the money via direct bank transfer.”
Bed reserved
Though transferring the baby from Howard Newborn Centre, the private facility in Malad where he is receiving treatment, is a tricky task, Cama Hospital in Fort has kept a bed reserved for the child. “We will keep the bed reserved for as many days as we can. Unless an extremely critical case comes, the bed will be made available to the family,” said Dr Tushar Palve, medical superintendent of Cama Hospital, which has kept the bed reserved since the night of Saturday, July 12.
Ganesh and Asmita More, the parents of the boy, in 2021. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Family’s dilemma
Despite having a neonatal ambulance available and a bed waiting at the government hospital, it’s not easy to shift the baby, considering his critical condition. “If we shift him to Cama Hospital, someone needs to stay in the facility round the clock. My wife is still in post-partum pain and is finding it difficult to pump out milk due to stress. So, she cannot stay in the hospital. If we move him, she will not be able to see him every day, considering the distance and her poor health. Also, it is difficult for any of our family members to stay there around the clock as everyone is working and cannot afford to take leave often or have to bear with pay cuts, especially now when we desperately need money. In this hospital, we do not need to stay 24 hours. Our baby has had the best possible care since he was born on June 29 at Howard Newborn Centre. Now, for the next few weeks, we do not wish to take any risks. Though he is more stable than on Sunday (July 13), shifting him is still very risky. I am thankful that Cama Hospital has still kept the bed reserved. But we are unable to decide whether to shift him or not,” said Ganesh, who appealed to readers to continue helping the family ensure the survival of the child.
