On July 3, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team received an email from Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad requesting financial aid for Gowtham Phanitej’s kidney transplant. He was a patient of CKD stage V-ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease) on maintenance Hemodialysis, Dilated Cardiomyopathy.  At this stage of CKD, the opportunity to treat a patient with drug therapy is almost lost. Hence, the doctors affirmed that kidney transplant is the only option for improving Gowtham’s heart function. Gowtham belongs to a poor family and the kidney transplant was required on an urgent basis and therefore the hospital took the responsibility to raise financial support for the transplant.

Anudaan Team was contacted by the hospital. After thorough discussion with the transplant coordinator at Kamineni Hospitals and Gowtham’s family members, Anudaan team decided to support the transplant and encouraged the hospital team to offer a discounted rate for Gowtham’s kidney transplant. MOHAN Foundation contributed Rs. 50,000 as the family had also raised some money through their friends and relatives. Gowtham successfully underwent kidney transplant on August 25, 2021.

Hailing from Kheratabad, Hyderabad, Gowtham Phanitej, age 32 is a true fighter whose strong will to survive and live his dreams again, made it possible for him to endure the transplant. He got married recently and was enjoying his new life with his spouse, K. Shyamalatha, when the news of his kidney failure turned the couple’s life upside down. It came as a big shock as Gowtham did not have any symptoms that indicated an imminent kidney failure. He even lost his job because of his deteriorating health condition. The burden to run the family came on Shyamalatha’s shoulder and she became the sole breadwinner in the family. She works as a Telecom Engineer in a private company, earning Rs. 25,000/per month.

In June, 2021, Gowtham started feeling pain in his lower abdomen and had persistently foamy urine. They went to ShriKanth Kidney Care situated in Vanasthalipuram, Hyderabad. After doing several tests, it was found that Gowtham’s creatinine level went upto 2.9 which was very high than normal level. He received further treatment and medicines from ShriKanth Kidney Care till February, 2021.

By the end of February, 2021 he was critically ill and was immediately admitted to Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad, where it was discovered that his creatinine level had gone up to 10 and both his kidneys had failed. This information stunned the couple. The doctors decided to put him on dialysis for some months with a hope of improvement in his health. He was on dialysis till August, 2021. Since no improvement in his health was observed, the doctors informed the couple that kidney transplant was the only option available for them in order to save Gowtham’s life. 

A huge part of the family’s money was already spent on Gowtham’s regular dialysis, pre transplant health checkups and other expenses of hospitalisation. It was difficult for them to pay the balance money to the hospital at the time of discharge. That is when; Gowtham’s wife, K. Shyamalatha and the hospital approached MOHAN Foundation for financial aid.

Gowtham is slowly resuming a normal life. As he lost a lot of time battling with chronic kidney disease, he is now determined to find a job and wants to be a successful executive in a reputed firm. 

Family testimonials:

“It is my honour and pleasure to thank MOHAN Foundation’s life-saving initiative Anudaan from the bottom of my heart for supporting my husband financially during his kidney transplant. You are the only Foundation that came forward and helped us financially when we were in dire need. It means a lot to us. All of us are now very happy only because of your support. MOHAN Foundation gives hope to many people and we strongly wish that your foundation continues its kind support to many people in future. I wish your Foundation reaches greater heights”- K. Shyamalatha, spouse

“My sincere heartfelt thanks to MOHAN Foundation for their financial help during my son’s kidney transplant. Our family was very fortunate that we received your valuable support at the times when our family was in a most tragic situation. With your support, my beloved son’s kidney transplant was done smoothly. Our family will always be thankful to your Foundation”- K. Nagamani, mother 

On July 13, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team received an email from Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai requesting financial aid for Rohit Singh Rajawat’s kidney transplant. He was suffering with chronic kidney disease. Rohit belongs to a poor family and could not have afforded the urgent kidney transplant that he was in need of, so the hospital took the decision to raise financial support for the transplant.

Anudaan Team contacted the hospital and Rohit’s family. After thorough discussion with the transplant coordinator at Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre and Rohit’s family members, Anudaan team decided to support the transplant.  As part of the core principles of Anudaan, the team believes in collaborative efforts by the treating hospital, applicant’s family, other NGOs to support underprivileged people. Hence, Anudaan team encouraged the hospital team to offer a discounted price for Rohit’s kidney transplant. MOHAN Foundation contributed Rs. 1 lakh. The family had also raised some money through crowd funding (Impact guru). Rohit successfully underwent kidney transplant on July 30, 2021.

‘No matter how hard life is, don’t lose hope’ – The saying stands true for 33 year old Rohit Singh Rajawat, a resident of Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. His father, Mr. Jagatpal Singh Rajawat is a farmer, earning approx. Rs. 60,000/per year. Farming is the only source of income for the family. With family’s meager income, his father could not afford the cost of son’s transplant which was initially Rs. 8.4 lakhs but thankfully was reduced to Rs. 4 lakh with efforts of MOHAN Foundation and with help from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Mumbai. For a farmer, Rs. 4 Lakh is a huge amount to collect and give to the hospital. Hence, Rohit’s father had to borrow money from his relatives/friends and sold some part of his land but unfortunately, a huge part of the money was spent on Rohit’s regular dialysis, pre transplant health checkups and bed charges at the hospital. That is when; the hospital approached MOHAN Foundation for financial aid.

Rohit is passionate about computer hardware work and programme coding. Pre Transplant, he used to run cyber café and to get Annual Maintenance Contracts form the local companies for hardware installation, programme coding etc.  A father of twin sons and a daughter, he was living a beautiful life with his family until he heard about his kidney disease which completely changed his life.

In July, 2020, he started feeling uneasy. He was having breathing problem and coughing. His legs and hands started to swell. During that time, novel COVID-19 had hit India for the first time and everyone in the family suspected it to be COVID. He was immediately taken to Pariwar Hospital Multi Speciality & Research Center, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. After several tests, the doctors informed the family that it was not covid but chronic kidney disease. This information of course came as shock for Rohit and the family.

Since Rohit’s health condition was not improving, the family members took him to SMS Hospital, Jaipur. But they had to return from there as SMS was not doing any elective transplants given their rising COVID load. Disheartened family returned back to Gwalior unsure about future course of action.  

One of their relatives suggested them to take Rohit to Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre.  Rohit was immediately admitted when he reached there. He had to start regular dialysis as his kidneys were no longer functioning. He was on dialysis till July, 2021.  The doctors counseled the family and advised them for kidney transplant which was the best option for Rohit to live a normal and happy life again. The family was informed about living kidney donation. After several tests, Rohit’s mother was found suitable to donate one of her kidneys. She gladly came forward to donate her kidney as it was a matter of her beloved son’s life. 

Both Rohit and his mother are now doing well. 

A post graduate in Masters of Commerce and a trained person in hardware networking, Rohit, now wants to fulfill his dream that is to become a successful businessman in the field of computer hardware and networking.

“My family and I thank MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan Team for supporting us in the time of adversity and helping us to get through the tough time. Our family will always be grateful to them.” – Rohit Singh Rajawat 

On June 28, 2021, Anudaan- “Making Transplants Affordable” team received an email from Star Hospitals, Hyderabad requesting financial aid for 21 year old Sandya Debbati, hailing from Nizamabad, Telangana. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, stage 5 and was on maintenance hemodialysis and required an immediate kidney transplant. Sandya belongs to a poor family. Her family could not afford to pay the huge cost of kidney transplant so the hospital decided to seek financial support for the transplant. 

The total cost of kidney transplant was Rs. 5.3 Lakhs, out of which, the family could initially manage to contribute Rs. 3.5 Lakhs which they borrowed from their relatives and friends. As the family was determined to save Sandya’s life, they managed to collect Rs. 80,000 more from their friends.  Still, raising the balance amount for the transplant became a major challenge for the Hospital. They approached MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team to help them in contributing additional funds. 

Anudaan team contacted Transplant coordinator at Star Hospitals and Sandya’s brother who shared that they could not afford the transplant as his father, Mr.Chinna Sailu Debbati works as a daily wage laborer earning Rs. 10,500 per month. He could hardly feed his family with his meager income. The disheartened family requested Anudaan team to support and save the precious life of their beloved Sandya.

After thorough discussion with the family members, Anudaan team decided to support Sandya’s transplant. She successfully underwent kidney transplant on June 30, 2021.

Sandya Debbati is a trained singer in classical singing. She loves music. Pre Transplant, she was pursuing Bachelor Degree in Arts. Being a hardworking young girl, she aspires to be a renowned singer since her childhood.  Her misery began in July, 2019 when she suddenly fell down on the floor, having breathing issues. She was immediately taken to Star Hospitals, Hyderabad where she underwent several tests. She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and was on dialysis for a very long time. 

In June, 2021, Sandya’s health condition got critical. The doctors at Star Hospitals informed the family members that she needed an urgent kidney transplant to live and there is no other option. Her mother was the suitable donor who happily donated her kidney to her loving daughter. MOHAN Foundation contributed Rs. 1 Lakh for Sandya’s kidney transplant.

Both Sandya and her mother are slowly resuming a normal life. Sandya is planning to continue her studies as well music classes soon so that she can fulfill her ambition. 

On June 7, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s “Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable” team received an email from Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru requesting financial aid for Kaminiben Parmar’s Liver Transplant. 

Anudaan team also received an email from Mrs. Sherryna Contractor from Ahmedabad, Gujarat requesting help for Kaminiben as she is the daughter of one of her employees, associated with her for a long time. The generous family of Mrs. Sherryna had been supporting Kaminiben’s family in the time of need. 

Kaminiben’s father, Mr. Shankarbhai Parmar informed Mrs. Sherryna about the failing health condition of her daughter and how there was no improvement in her health despite treatment from many hospitals. He told her, “What life is this for our girl?’ She vomits blood and is extremely weak. She is losing her best years to a failing liver and we are unable to save her life due to our financial status. The pain and fear filler in her eyes are a constant reminder of how we are failing as parents.” Disheartened and confused Kaminiben’s family was losing all hope. 

Mrs. Sherryna’s family decided to help Mr. Shankarbhai’s family and started contacting other big hospitals for Kaminiben’s better treatment. After visiting many hospitals, she was taken to Zydus Hospital, Ahmedabad, where her treatment and liver biopsy was done. That’s when, the family received the shocking news that Kaminiben would die if she did not get a liver transplant at the earliest.

Kaminiben Parmar, age 23 belongs to Dohad, Gujarat. Her father works as a driver in Mrs. Sherryna Contractor’s house. He earns Rs. 15,000 per month which is the only source of income for the family. 

Kaminiben’s heart-rending story started when she was studying in 7th standard. One day, after waking up in the morning, she suddenly started vomiting blood and had a gnawing pain in in her stomach. She was then immediately taken to Gastro Care Hospital in Vadodara, where her CT scan and liver biopsy was done.  The family was informed that Kaminiben was suffering from a perilous liver disease, which is a rare genetic disorder characterized by excess copper stored in the liver. The family was in shock to hear this information. She was then referred to Zydus Hospital, Ahmedabad for further treatment and tests. 

In March, 2021, Mr. Anil Srivatsa, Managing Trustee of Gift of Life Adventure Foundation met and spoke to Kaminiben’s family making them aware about living donation and advised them to contact Dr. Sonal Asthana from Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru. This positive discussion gave hope to the entire family and many of them stepped up to donate a portion of their liver to save their beloved Kaminiben’s life.  After consulting Dr. Sonal Asthana and conducting few diagnostic tests, it was confirmed that the mother was a suitable match. 

Though Mrs. Sherryna’s family supported the family with travel expenses from Gujarat to Bengaluru, pre transplant hospital charges and medical expenses but to support Kaminiben’s liver transplant, which cost Rs. 15 Lakh, was beyond their limits. That’s when Aster CMI Hospital and Mrs. Sherryna approached MOHAN Foundation for financial aid.

Anudaan Team looked closely at the request and after receiving the required information and the obligatory documents, decided to support Kaminiben with her liver transplant. MOHAN Foundation motivated the hospital to give some discount in transplant cost as the family’s economic condition is poor. MOHAN Foundation contributed 2 lakhs and with support from other NGOs, Kaminiben successfully underwent a kidney transplant on June 22, 2021. Both surgeries of mother and daughter were successful. Each new day has found her stronger and healthier. Kaminiben has developed a good appetite and is eating well. Her mother is also recuperating. 

MOHAN Foundation wishes for their speedy recovery so that they can embrace the new life awaiting them, especially young Kaminiben. After receiving the gift of life, she has decided to continue her bachelor’s degree in Arts as she aspires to be a lawyer in future. She is now committed to fulfill her dreams.

“I would like to thank MOHAN Foundation from the core of my heart for giving me a second chance to live and to fulfill my dreams.”– Kaminiben Parmar

 “A young girl, who had to let go of all her dreams, her education, aspirations of a career, of marriage, of a future family just because she suffers from a rare liver condition. We were aware that Kaminiben was fighting a rare liver condition. We have been supporting her medical treatment. Unfortunately, her health condition worsened and she required a lifesaving liver transplant. The cost of the transplant was something beyond most families reach and Mr. Shankarbhai could not have afforded the transplant. We approached MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team for help and we are so grateful for their financial aid. Thank you so much for helping Kaminiben dream again”– Mrs. Sherryna Contractor

On March,2, 2021, Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable” team received an email from Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore requesting financial aid for 21 year old Sujatha Chowgule, hailing from Selcete, South Goa diagnosed with decompensat liver diease (Autoimmune hepatitis). Sujatha belongs to a poor family and was in need of an urgent liver transplant and hence the hospital took the decision to find financial support for the transplant. 

The total cost of Liver Transplant was Rs. 15 Lakhs, out of which, the family could only manage to contribute Rs. 2 Lakhs. So, raising the rest amount for the transplant became a major challenge for the Hospital.  To begin with, Aster CMI Hospital started a crowd funding on KETTO for Sujatha’s transplant. At this time, they approached MOHAN Foundation’s Anudaan team to help them in raising additional funds. 

Anudaan team contacted Mr. Somnath N. Chowgule, Sujatha’s father who shared that they could not afford the transplant as as he was a poor man and worked as a civil contractor in his village. Due to COVID 19, he was not getting much work. He could hardly feed his family of 6 members with his meager income. He had somehow kept aside one Lakh from his savings borrowed one Lakh from his family members. The family had no means of raising the balance Rs. 13 lakhs that they had been quoted for the transplant. The disheartened father requested Anudaan team to support and save his daughter. 

Anudaan team also contacted Sanika Chowgule, age 23, elder sister of Sujatha. She informed that Sujatha had been a fighter and stayed positive and strong since the day, when she heard about her liver disease. Though, she was aware that the family could not afford her transplant, she never lost hope. She kept telling us “ Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I am not going to die.” Sanika said it was her strong will power, which gave hope to all the family members. 

After thorough discussion with the family members, Anudaan team decided to support Sujatha’s transplant. The team coordinated with Transplants Help the poor Foundation, one of the Anudaan’s partner, and they committed their support towards Sujatha’s transplant. The Praveen Aggarwal Foundation also decided to provide financial aid for the transplant. MOHAN Foundation raised Rs. 2.5 lakhs. Through this collaborative effort, Sujatha successfully underwent liver transplant on April 19, 2021.

Sujatha is a hardworking and determined young girl. Since her childhood, she has an ambition to be a Fashion Designer. Sujatha has now returned to her hometown and is slowly resuming a normal life. She has restarted her studies and looks forward to becoming financially independent so that she can support her family. 

On February 10, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s “Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable” team received a mail from one Ms Shirisha Guntaka from Houston, USA requesting help for a young 27 year old woman, J. Susmitha, requiring a kidney transplant. She had come to know about Susmitha as they both hail from Telangana. Moved by the plight of this young girl, Shirisha set up an online fundraiser. “I got their case as a request for donation. Looking at their condition & after studying their financial issues, I started a fundraiser for them, but was unable to rasie the money needed for surgery. I anyway told them to go ahead with the surgery and promised them that I will personally pay if I am unable to get donations.” This Good Samaritan had raised 40% of the surgery cost on the online fundraising campaign on ‘gofundme” but had hit a block thereafter. That’s when she reached out to MOHAN Foundation.

Anudaan Team looked closely at the request and after receiving the required information and the requisite documents, decided to support Susmitha with her transplant. MOHAN Foundation contributed 2 lakhs and also worked closely with the hospital to bring the transplant cost down and Susmitha successfully underwent a kidney transplant on April 1, 2021. 

1. Susmitha hails from a small village called Aagapet in Telangana.  She is a housewife and mother of a 5 years old son. Susmitha is a Bachelor of Arts in literature (Telugu) and wishes to be a teacher but her dreams are on hold currently because of health problems. While they lived in the village, she had to go to Warangal for dialysis thrice a week. She was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease which started due to Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH). They lost their child at 7 months of pregnancy which is the first time Susmitha got high BP during pregnancy. While she lost the baby, she herself survived but with failed kidneys. 

Susmitha’s husband was an employee at an airport but he had to quit his job when he learned that his wife was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and needed to be taken for dialysis thrice a week. The family has obviously been undergoing financial struggles. When the doctor advised an immediate Kidney Transplant, her mother happily came forward to donate kidney to her beloved daughter. But due to their poor economic situation, the family could not have borne the entire expense of the transplant. That is when they started reaching out to friends and relatives and the word spread.

Both she and her mother have recovered and are slowly returning to a normal life. “I would like to thank MOHAN Foundation from the bottom of my heart for giving me a second life.”-  says Susmitha

Somani Jatothu, Susmitha’s husband says, “I am very happy now. With support from MOHAN Foundation, the transplant went very smoothly without any fear. MOHAN Foundation is truly God’s gift to us.” He now feels confident about returning to a full time job.

After the transplant, Shirisha wrote to the Foundation saying, “We can’t thank you enough for your kind donation! This is a moment where expressing gratitude is beyond words. In addition to helping by donating, you had also sincerely requested hospital management to reduce the surgery cost & got the estimate revised to 8.8 lakhs. You also worked with the transplant coordinator directly and showed that the family is not alone. MOHAN foundations presence and support has made a big difference in making the hospital management understand Susmitha’s financial background & need to reduce cost.”

On January,21, 2021, MOHAN Foundation’s ‘Anudaan- Making Transplants Affordable’ team received an email from Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Hyderabad requesting financial aid for Baby Aaradhya, who was admitted to the hospital on January 11, 2021 with the diagnosis of fulminant liver failure due to Wilsons Disease. The family was given the option of liver transplant and Aaradhya’s mother volunteered to donate a part of her liver.

Anudaan Team contacted Mr. Winner Akunuri, the father of Aaradhya. He was in despair and shared that as if the agony of knowing that his 6 year old daughter had to undergo a liver transplant and that his wife was to donate a portion of her liver, they had the added distress of raising an exorbitant amount 18 lakhs for the transplant. After selling a piece of an ancestral land, asking friends & relatives and dipping into his savings, he had managed to raise 7.5 lakhs. This desperate father also set up an online fundraiser on MILAAP and raised another 2 Lakh.

The Anudaan team could hear the fear and desperation in the father’s voice, but at the same time, there was a firm determination to save his daughter. After connecting with Mr. Akunuri, Anudaan team decided to support the transplant of his daughter. The team approached Transplants Help the poor Foundation, one of the Anudaan’s partner, and they committed 2 lakhs towards Aaradhya’s transplant. MOHAN Foundation also connected with Mrs. Bhavna Jagwani, Convener of MOHAN Foundation Jaipur Citizen Forum (MFJCF), who garnered more support through her network of family and friends. Anudaan team approached Gleneagles Global Hospitals and motivated them to give some concession on the total cost of the transplant as the family’s economic situation was very poor and the child needed an immediate transplant. The hospital then offered a discount on the transplant.

MOHAN Foundation managed to raise 6.5 lakhs for Aaradhya through Anudaan. Through this collaborative effort, the transplant successfully took place on January 16, 2021.

Baby Aaradhya, hailing from Sirsapalli village, Huzurabad, Telangana, belongs to a low-income family that could never afford such an expensive transplant, without the support provided by ‘Anudaan ‘ Making Transplants Affordable’. Mr. Winner Akunuri was working as an executive in a small company near his village. He had to quit his job so that he could take care of her daughter. The family’s journey till Aaradhya’s transplant was very sad and heart- wrenching. The family was living a very happy and smooth life until they heard about Aaradhya’s liver disease. In November, 2020 Aaradhya had mild fever which went on for 2 weeks. Mr. Akunuri then took his daughter to the local pediatrician and took medication for 5 days. Unfortunately, the child’s health condition was not improving and her stomach started swelling. On December 12, 2020, she was found unconscious on the bed. She was immediately taken to a hospital in Warangal, which is 40 kms away from their village. As her health condition was critical, doctors’ referred the child to Rainbow Children’s hospital, Hyderabad. After treatment and observing Aaradhya for 2 days, the doctor informed the family that she was diagnosed with fulminant liver failure and needed liver transplant and that was the only way to save her life. The family was shocked after receiving this information and to hear that the liver transplant would cost around Rs. 20 Lakh. They could have never imagined that this young, ever-smiling child would be diagnosed with such deadly disease.

Because of the poor economic situation of family, the child was then shifted to a Government Hospital called ESI Hospital, Hyderabad where Aaradhya could not receive proper treatment and care. She was admitted there for 20 days but no improvement in her health could be observed. Her health condition was getting worst day by day. In desperation Mr Akunuri asked the doctors, ‘How can I save my daughter? Tell me where should I go to save her life??‘ But he did not receive any response. But he was determined to save her daughter’s life and decided to be strong and never lose hope. That is when, he started seeking help and information from his relatives and friends for Aaradhya’s transplant. He then heard about MOHAN Foundation from one of his seniors in the company where he used to work. He immediately contacted the Foundation’s team in Hyderabad. Aaradhya was admitted to Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Hyderabad and Anudaan came into action.

‘I thank everyone who worked round the clock to bring back smiles to our family. We will always be grateful to MOHAN Foundation, MFJCF and Transplants Help the poor Foundation’. Says Winner Akunuri, Father of Baby Aaradhya.

Both Aaradhya and her mother have recovered and slowly started living a normal life. Mr. Akunuri is a very good father. He is currently taking care of his two children as his wife is unable to look after children as she needs enough rest.

Aaradhya is very happy to receive a new life. She can be seen playing with her younger brother or doing her favourite activity that is drawing & painting. After a long health battle, she has been gifted with her precious childhood, when she can laugh, play, study and achieve her dreams. While she was admitted to Gleneagles Global Hospitals, the surgeon lovingly asked her- ‘What do you want to become in future?’ With a bright smile,she replied- ‘I want to be a liver transplant surgeon so that I can also save lives of many people like you’.