Mumbai infant who needed Rs 3k for medicines gets Rs 70k from readers

The 19-day-old infant is suffering from hypoglycaemia and severe infection; after mid-day reported the family could not raise money, help poured in from all over the country and even from abroad

On Friday, mid-day reported about the plight of a 19-day-old infant’s parents, who were finding it impossible to eke out Rs 3,000 for the treatment of their child.

The child is in the neo-natal intensive care unit of Dr D Y Patil Hospital

The infant had hypoglycaemia and severe infection, for which she needed high degree antibiotics. mid-day readers, however, have ensured that the child will have all the medicines she needs — and more — by sending in donations from across the country, and even nations abroad.

On Friday, mid-day reported on the 19-day-old infant, who is suffering from hypoglycemia and severe infection. (Please click here on on the above image to view the full article)

The child, who is yet to be named, was born on March 22 at Dr D Y Patil Hospital in Nerul. On Thursday, she started getting convulsions, and turned cold. Her parents rushed her to hospital, where she was put in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).

The distraught parents were told that the child had contracted a severe infection and would need drugs costing around Rs 3,000. While the child’s father, Anis Deshmukh, is an out-of-work auto driver, her mother Devi, who earlier worked as a house help, stopped working during her pregnancy. Anis had been running from pillar to post to raise money for the antibiotics, when mid-day ran into him on Thursday.

Moved by the family’s plight, this paper’s readers — from within the city and beyond — sent in contributions. Such was the generosity that the funds would now allow the family to not just purchase the drugs, but to bear the cost for the entire treatment.

“We have managed to collect close to Rs 40,000 in cash and over R30,000 through cheques. The child is also responding well to the treatment. We have not just been receiving calls from India, but from readers abroad as well, who want to help,” said a hospital official. Hospital authorities added that the money that remains will be handed over to her parents.

Anis said, “My daughter’s treatment has been taken care of.” One of the donors mid-day contacted said, “Seeing the baby in such a condition moved me. My immediate reaction was that I should help the little girl.”

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!