Chennai: It’s been a year since G Vijyalakshmi and her husband made their way from Andaman to the Hospital of Government Children at Egmore to seek medical help for their children, who were diagnosed with stomach cancer.
For parents, who have struggled to meet, what is taking a real financial toll is the number of diapers they have to buy regularly for their children.
“On the usual day we run it through four or five diapers a day.
And when he has chemotherapy, he gets a loose movement, and we need a lot more.
We have lost a count of how much we have to buy in one month, “Vijyalakshmi said.
“While he gets free treatment, we have to mortgage jewelry to meet our other expenses and struggle to raise money to buy diapers because he can’t live without it.” For family help like that from Vijyalakshmi, Ilayugam trust has just launched a diaper drive, asking people to donate or sponsor diapers for children in the hospital cancer ward.
“One of the volunteers contacted us for help.
When we visited the hospital, we found that there were many families there who needed help.
Many of them come from other districts from Tamil Nadu and there are several other countries, “said Alexander Athisayanathan, Director, Ilayugam Trust.
“While children get free drugs, parents must spend around Rs 70 days in diapers.
And it’s difficult because many of them cannot work because they tend to their sick children.
” Celine Mary, who has volunteered with hospitals for the past six months, said that people often don’t realize how many parents have ended up spending just in diapers.
Trust has succeeded in distributing 2,500 diapers so far.
“But we need more because there are many families who need every day,” Athisayanathan said.
“People who want to help can donate diapers or direct money or trust.” Vijyalakshmi said donating diapers would really help families who were struggling.
“We have received diapers from Trust three times.
Each regular package contains 10 pieces, the latter is about one day, and bigger will last a few days, “he said.
“It will really help many children here.” People who want to donate can contact iLayugam trust at 8072467559 or email ilayugam.org@gmail.com.