Born too soon, but it’s not too late to save the newborn.

"It breaks my heart to watch my baby struggle," says Rupali, mother of a newborn fighting for life. “Those who help will help us save our baby. The only future I think about is of my baby returning home healthy." 

Rupali had no idea that the first time she saw her kid would be through the glass of an incubator, with tubes around his small, delicate body. Rupali's baby was born two months premature and weighed only 800 grams, which was hardly the size of his mother's hand. He couldn't seem to breathe on his own and was sent from a minor hospital in Malegaon to a larger facility in Nashik. Since then, he has been struggling for every breath on a ventilator after being diagnosed with Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia, an extremely dangerous illness in newborns that can lead to serious problems if not treated immediately.

This is hardly the kind of motherhood Rupali envisioned.

The past 18 days have felt like a blur. Sleepless nights, ongoing fear, and continuous trips between hospitals. Every beep from the monitor, every pause in her son's respiration sends shivers down her spine. Her husband, an ordinary labourer, sleeps outside the hospital. Rupali, separated from her own family following a love marriage, is residing in a women's room at the hospital that costs Rs. 600 per day, which they can barely afford. Yet, they hold on. Because hope brings life.

Doctors have informed us that the baby will recover, but she will need to be in the NICU for at least another two months. The anticipated cost of his treatment is ₹10 lakhs. As of now, his father has borrowed ₹2 lakhs from his boss. With a monthly income of around ₹10,000-15,000 and no savings to fall back on, the last ₹6 lakhs feels out of reach. They pay rent to live. The parents are surviving on the meals served at the hospital canteen. The parents still pray and believe that their infant son will make it through.

This young couple seeks your kindness and support. Maybe you can help Rupali's baby get the care he requires before time runs out. Every rupee you give helps improve his life by an hour, a day, or a week, moving him closer to being held safely in his mother's arms once more.

Certain stories deserve to have a happy ending. No parent should be forced to choose between poverty and the life of their kid. Please contribute today. Help save Rupali's baby. May your kindness be the reason he opens his eyes to the world.

Every little action matters. Please share if you are unable to donate. You could help someone who can hear this story.