A five-year-old boy's battle with life started two years back, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He beat the disease a year later, but another tragedy struck him. During the course of treatment for cancer, he developed dilated cardiomyopathy - a disease affecting the heart muscles that could lead to its failure. Now, his survival solely depends on a heart transplant. Doctors treating Jayneel Manglesh Vasaikar at Fortis hospital in Mulund said his condition is critical, as his heart is functioning at only 5-10 per cent instead of at least 60-65 per cent. He is currently on ventilator support. Jayneel, whose blood type is O+, needs a heart from a donor who is brain dead.

Cancer diagnosis in 2019
Jayneel's father, Constable Manglesh Vasaikar from Nandurbar, told mid-day, “My son was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer on November 15, 2019, and we admitted him to a local hospital in Dhule. Doctor there advised us to admit him to Fortis hospital, so we brought him here in November last year. Doctors detected an eight-centimetre lump which was removed after chemotherapy. However, the radiation affected his heart.”