Arnav Gupta

On September 22, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s “Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable” team received an email from Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi requesting financial aid for Master Aryan Kumar’s Liver Transplant, who was suffering from liver cirrhosis and needed an urgent liver transplant.   

Master Aryan Kumar, age 6 months, belongs to a poor family in Shahbad Dairy, North West Delhi. His father is the sole breadwinner in the family, who works as a field boy in a private company, earning Rs. 7,500/per month. With the meager income, it is very difficult for him to keep the family going as well as bearing the huge medical expenses of his son. The father donated a part of his liver which was transplanted to his only beloved son.

Aryan’s mother is the real hero of the tragic journey of her son undergoing a successful liver transplant. She used to work as a sales executive in a private firm but she had to quit her job after the birth of her son. “Aryan is our first and only child. We had been waiting excitedly for his arrival for months. I thought the day he was born would be the happiest of my life.”-mother said. Unfortunately, the newborn had to go through lot of suffering and pain.

A few days after his birth, Aryan’s whole body started getting pale. The nurses had noticed that his skin and eyes were pale so they took him to be tested for jaundice.  “I had barely got any time with my newborn when he was taken away from me. I prayed that his condition wouldn’t be serious and the doctors assured me that it was common for newborns to be diagnosed with jaundice.”-mother said with fear. Aryan was shifted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). After carefully examined and intense treatment, he recovered and was discharged from the NICU after a few weeks. 

However, Aryan’s condition was deteriorating again. His eyes were still pale yellow and his stomach was slowly swelling more and more each day. He was just 21 days old when he was again admitted to a local hospital but his health was not improving. The parents decided to take their child to a prominent child specialist in Delhi with a hope that their child would receive better treatment and his sufferings would come to an end.

The parents were disappointed again when Aryan showed no sign of improvement. His health condition was getting worst day by day and the parents were terrified and confused about their son’s life. But they did not lose hope especially the mother. She was determined to save her son’s life. After some discussions with friends and relative, the parents took Aryan to a big hospital named Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital, where the doctor revealed that Aryan had biliary atresia, a blockage in his tubes and it had caused liver cirrhosis. The parents were told that their child urgently needed a liver transplant. Without it, he would lose his life. “I was devastated. I could hardly believe my ears.”- mother said with extreme sadness.

Aryan was referred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in his health and doctors could not find any way to save his life. Then one of the doctors at AIIMS suggested them to visit Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi. “Aryan is so little and ever since his birth, he has known nothing but suffering and pain. No child deserves such a fate.”

Dr. Vikram Singh, one of the finest Pediatric Liver Transplant Surgeon at Max Super Specialty Hospital gave a new lease of life to Aryan as well as to his parents who left no stone unturned to save their child’s life. Master Aryan had to go through 13 hour long surgery which was successfully completed on September 29, 2021. Due to poor economic situation, the parents could not afford to pay the huge cost of the transplant which was very high i.e, Rs. 16.5 Lakhs. “My husband barely earns Rs 10,000 a month. We spent all our savings on getting him proper treatment and medication up to this point. Now we have nothing left and nowhere to turn to.”- mother said. Dr. Vikram and his team informed the parents about MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team for financial aid for Master Aryan’s liver transplant. 

The liver transplant was made possible by the collaborative efforts of MAX Hospital who gave discount on the transplant cost, MOHAN Foundation and few other NGO’s financial contribution. Anudaan Team contributed Rs. 2.5 lakh towards Master Aryan’s transplant. 

Both the father and son are recovering well and slowly resuming their normal life. The mother is very happy to see her son smiling and free from all the sufferings. She is finally learning to enjoy her motherhood unburdened of her constant anxiety. She wishes to work hard and to give Aryan good education. Her dream is to see her son becoming a liver transplant surgeon so that he can save many underprivileged children’s life without any hustle and greed.

“Aryan is my first child and he is so special. Thank you MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team for supporting my child’s liver transplant and saving his life”- Mrs. Pinki Kumar, Mother.

“I am very happy now to see my child free from suffering and pain. When my health condition would improve with God’s grace, I would like to donate fund to MOHAN Foundation to support their lifesaving and noble work”- Mr. Devender Kumar, Father.