Help Little Jishu Fight for a Chance at Life

Jishu, an eight-year-old from Premigao, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, is missing out on his childhood. He is bedridden, fighting every day against a disease that has stolen not only his childhood but also his family's peace.

Jishu was just a year old when disaster struck: an awful hit with a pipe wounded his delicate head. His parents soon discovered that he had Gross Hydrocephalus, a disorder that occurs when too much fluid accumulates inside the brain, causing the head to grow abnormally large and causing severe pain and disabilities. His head has become so heavy and bloated that he cannot move on his own.

His father, Vijaypal, was able to get him operated on at AIIMS soon after the accident. The procedure gave the family a glimpse of hope. However, the relief was short-lived. Treating hydrocephalus is not a one-time event; it demands ongoing medical treatments to remove the fluid. Every time, the family had to choose between food on the table and their son's care. Eventually, their savings ran out. Loans and debts accumulated. Finally, this year, they had to discontinue Jishu's treatment since they could no longer afford it.

Jishu is currently unable to walk, sit, or feed himself. He can't speak. He can't even get rid of a fly that settles on his face. He is completely dependent on his mother, who spends every waking hour by his side, feeding, cleaning, talking to him, and keeping his spirit alive. His younger brother, who is just six years old, also helps in small ways: chatting with Jishu, playing with him, and secretly praying that one day they will be able to run around together like other brothers.

Vijaypal works as a daily wage labourer, bearing the burden of his family's dreams on his worn shoulders. Every rupee he earns is spent on medicines and basic care for Jishu. But the family requires much more than love and care: 9 lakhs for a life-saving procedure to drain the water gathering in Jishu's head. Without it, Jishu's condition would worsen, and his pain would only deepen.