When Pramila Kavar first held her son Neeraj in her arms, everything seemed perfect. He was a healthy baby, feeding well and growing normally in their small village of Chinchore in Maharashtra’s Nashik district.

Like any young mother, Pramila dreamed of watching her child grow stronger with every passing month.

But when Neeraj was around nine months old, those dreams began to fade.

Each time Pramila tried to introduce solid food, a little khichdi, a soft morsel meant to mark a new stage of growth, Neeraj would vomit violently.

What began as an occasional episode soon turned into a frightening routine. Feeding time became a moment of anxiety, followed by tears and helplessness.

Over the next few months, Neeraj’s condition worsened. He started losing weight instead of gaining it. His tiny body weakened, and repeated chest infections took over.