Arnav GuptaIn November, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s “Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable” team received an email from Niramaya Charitable Trust, Gurugram, Haryana requesting financial aid for Mr. Kashi Nath Dixit’s corneal transplant.
Mr. Kashi Nath, age 70 belongs to a poor family in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. He is a retired serviceman who used to work as a support staff in a private firm. His story began in the month of November, 2020. One day, he realized something was really wrong. He started feeling pain on his left eye, cloudiness and burning. His family contacted an eye specialist in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh and was shocked after hearing the news that Mr. Kashi Nath was suffering from serious corneal perforation which is an anomaly in the cornea resulting from damage to the corneal surface. A corneal perforation means that the cornea has been penetrated, thus leaving the cornea damaged. The doctor informed the family that Mr. Kashi Nath’s eye condition was critical and he was in an urgent need of corneal transplant. Thus began his journey through not one, but three excruciating corneal transplants in his left eye.
The family initially opted for eye treatment and medicines to get rid of his eye pain but unfortunately, Mr. Kashi Nath’s eye condition was not improving. So, the family decided to visit another affordable eye hospital. Mr. Kashi Nath’s eldest son, who works as an auto driver in Faridabad, Haryana was informed about Ahooja Eye & Dental Institute (AEDI) in Gurugram for better treatment of his father.
By the time, Mr. Kashi Nath underwent his first transplant in June, 2021 at AEDI, he was experiencing pain and vision deficiencies demanding that his life revolve around his worsening eye condition. The pain was constant and he experienced daily headaches and eye exhaustion. His eye condition touched every facet of his life: his personal life, his children, his job, his social life and his ability to remain physically active. He was anxious to have the procedure, get through the recovery and return to living his life the way it was before.
Two weeks after surgery, Mr Kashi Nath’s family was informed by the doctor that his new cornea was not responding or functioning as expected. At two months post-surgery, his transplant was deemed unsuccessful and a second transplant procedure was recommended. In August, 2021, he underwent his second corneal transplant at AEDI. Thus began his second round of recovery complete with multiple applications of anti-rejection eye drops and high hopes for success. Unfortunately, Mr. Kashi Nath’s left eye vision was not improved and he again suffered from eye pain and irritation.
After taking medicines for some months, it was decided by the eye specialist at Ahooja Eye & Dental Institute that Mr. Kashi Nath had to undergo another transplant. By that time, the family’s budget for the treatment had finished and they could not afford to pay for the third transplant. That is when, they discussed with the doctors that they did not have money to pay for the transplant and they needed financial support. Ahooja team then connected the family to their trust, Niramaya Charitable Trust, where they could receive some help. Niramaya team informed the family about MOHAN Foundation’s life-saving initiative Anudaan-“Making Transplants Affordable”. The family and Niramaya trust approached Anudaan team for financial Aid.
Mr. Kashi Nath Dixit was supported for his third corneal transplant. Anudaan contributed Rs. 20,000 for the transplant which was successfully performed on 06-11-2021. Mr. Kashi’s left eye vision is slowly getting better and the new cornea is clear with no cloudiness, best of all, no pain! He is hopeful for his future and to do things which he likes the most after he recovers such as watching news & cricket and doing agricultural work.
‘Thank you so much MOHAN Foundation to support my corneal transplant and changing my life forever.’- Mr. Kashi Nath Dixit
‘I have no words to express my joy and gratitude. With support of MOHAN Foundation, my father underwent corneal transplant. I want to congratulate the foundation for their life-saving work. May the foundation continue its extraordinary work and supporting underprivileged people like us.’- Sailesh Dixit, elder son of Mr. Kashi Nath