Kids We Support
Johan
Month and Year of Birth: Jan 2012
Johan was born on Jan 2, 2012. His mother is blind from birth and his father had retinoblastoma in both eyes and is also blind. Johan's sister Helen was also diagnosed and treated for retinoblastoma and is now at a foster home. Johan was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma and his right eye had been removed due to the advanced tumor on 21 May 2014 and need to undergo chemotherapy and laser therapy for the left eye. His father Mr. George is working for ideal foundation where he teaches music and is part of the rhythm group. His mother Mrs. Jayakodi used to work as a receptionist and ever since her husband had to undergo some more sessions of chemotherapy to take care of cancer, she has stayed at home and is a housewife. Johan is surprisingly energetic and bubble and has an infectious smile. Iksha foundation has agreed to support the treatment of Johan.
Bhavyashree
Month and Year of Birth: September 2010
Bhavyashree is 3.5 years old, found out that she had RB on her bday in 2013.
Her mother said that she elated when she had a baby girl but was heartbroken when they found out about the problem Bhavyashree has.
They live in Arsikere and the dad travels every alternate day to come to Bangalore, drive a bus (he works for BMTC) and then heads back to Arsikere.
Bhavyashree has undergone 2 sessions of Chemotherapy and the third session is planned for 12th June.
The family had managed to pay for the first session of chemotherapy and were seeing their savings dwindling away and were unsure how they would pay for the treatment. We at Iksha have taken up supporting this child as well as of May 2014.
The family has a second child as well now who was born 16th May 2013 and the mother mentioned that they had got the second child for a checkup and everything checked out ok.
Bhavyashree started off being very tentative and nervous about meeting the folks from Iksha, but slowly began getting comfortable, smiled and even Hi 5'd us. We hope to make a significant change in this child's life by ensuring she is able to live as normal a life as any other child.
Irfan
Month and Year of Birth: April 2008
Irfan was around 1 year old (in 2010) when he first came to Narayana Nethralaya. By then cancer had spread and left eye could not be saved. Irfan underwent regular chemotherapy at Narayana Nethralaya for his right eye. Irfan's mother Asma Banu says Irfan was born healthy and that they were unaware of cancer that was growing within until he was a year old. She noticed redness and swelling in his eye and it was constantly watering. She took him to Narayana Nethralaya where it was confirmed that he had retinoblastoma. Providing for Irfan and his brother's basic necessities is a big challenge for Asma and her husband, let alone treatment for cancer.
Asma sometimes wonders why God is punishing her innocent child for their shortcomings. Asma says "so what if my child has lost one eye. My child will still go to school and study".
Asma and her husband are very grateful that the burden of the treatment is being borne by Iksha Foundation. Thanks to Irfan's fighting spirit and continuous treatment, Irfan has responded well and is now cancer free. Irfan now comes every 5-6 month for a checkup.
We have seen him grow from a shy quite baby to a bold, brave and active boy. Irfan likes motorcycle toys very much now and has started going to school.
Hemanth
Month and Year of Birth: August 2009
Hemanth is one of our star performers. He has been recognizing and is friendly with the Iksha folks. He turns 4 in August and has undergone several rounds of treatment and had been diagnosed with Retinoblastoma in his right eye, which had to be removed right when treatment started in order to prevent further spreading of the cancer. Just last week, one of our trustees got a call from Hemanth's dad. Hemanth was on the phone and wanted to talk to “uncle”. He speaks fluently in Kannada and mentioned that he had come to the hospital and was heading back home.
His father mentioned that they had undergone some MRI tests earlier that day at a lab in Jayanagar and that the results showed that the cancer was very much under control and that the visits to the hospitals only have to be once in 3 months!
Hemanth has been going to a convent school 3km from their home and a bus will pick and drop him. His father was very excited that all the running about from their village near Bangalore to the hospital has worked out well for them. His mother also wanted to talk and expressed her gratitude to all the folks who had helped in the donations to Iksha, which has helped save her child's life.
Tejas
Month and Year of Birth: August 2013
Tejas is a 6-month-old boy and has been diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma.
One of his eyes would almost definitely have to be enucleated (removed) and a false eye put in. MRI tests are planned for 12th April 2014 and based on the results, further action would be taken.
There are traces of cancer in the second eye as well and we hope that vision has not been hampered greatly and that we can ensure that the child has a normal life.
Aleena
Month and Year of Birth: July 2010
Aleena is a 3 year old girl diagnosed with retinoblastoma in one eye. Her left eye was enucleated on 3rd march 2014 and a false eye has been put in. She wears spectacles as her eye sight is not perfect and has gone through two sessions of chemotherapy.
As with any chemotherapy patient, she is loosing hair but is bright and cheerful.
Her father works as a daily labourer and her mother is a house wife. Iksha has told the parents that we will offer full financial assistance for the treatment.
The estimate for the first year is around one lakh Rupees.
Jhanvi
Month and Year of Birth: August 2013
Jhanvi was just over 5 months old when she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma and came to Narayana Nethralaya for treatment.
Her father works as a clerk in a bank in Belgaum and her mother is a housewife. The doctor's estimate is that we might need to enucleate 1 eye and put in a false eye, would need several rounds of laser treatment to ablate cancer and also have up to 6 rounds of chemotherapy. MRI and other tests would also be needed to eliminate the possibility of the cancer being spread to other parts as well.
The support needed or Jhanvi this first year along would be a little over one lakh Rupees.
Manjunath
Month and Year of Birth: April 2011
Manjunath was born on 7th May 2011. He was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma and required removal of his left eye because of an advanced tumor. He was examined under general anesthesia and enucleation on Wednesday(27.11.2013). His parents are financially not well off, Manjunath's father Mr. Yogesh B is working as a lower primary school teacher at Belthangadya thaluk government school and mother Mrs. Chandrakala is a housewife.
Iksha is supporting the treatment of Manjunath at Narayana Nethralaya.
Ananya
Month and Year of Birth: March 2013
Ananya came in for treatment when she was 6 months old and had to have one eye removed as the cancer was large and had the potential to spread. She then underwent several sessions of Chemotherapy and has completed all of her chemotherapy sessions. The chemo sessions have helped significantly reduce the tumor in the other eye and will need constant observation (once in 2 months) to ensure that cancer doesn't surface again. They have been regular on their follow-ups and come to Bangalore once in 2 months to undergo Laser therapy.
She is active and enjoys the interaction with all the hospital staff. They hail from HD Kote and her father is a farmer, who takes time off and ensures that he is present everytime they come in for treatment.
The photo below is of her latest visit to Bangalore for treatment - end of March 2015.
Ashwin Barwa
Month and Year of Birth: July 2011
Ashwin was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma and required removal of his right eye because of the advanced tumor. He underwent enucleation on Wednesday(29.05.2013). His further treatment will be decided only after the pathology report comes.
His parents are financially not well off, Ashwin's father Mr. Prakash Babu is working as a cook at a restaurant near Koramangala and mom Mrs. Reetha Barwa working in a saloon at Koramangala. They are looking for financial assistance.
Bhumika
Month and Year of Birth: September 2012
Bhumika was diagnosed with unilateral retinoblastoma when she was 11 months old.
Her right eye was removed due to advance tumor. She is undergoing chemotherapy as the pathology report says that there is metastatic risk.
Her parents bring her for checkups regularly and she is a healthy child.
Padmesh
Month and Year of Birth: Feb 2011
Padmesh was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma when he was 2 months old baby.
He received 6 cycles of chemotherapy and now is undergoing focal laser therapy every few weeks. His tumor has been inactive since the last treatment sessions. The doctors are right now monitoring his eyes very closely for recurrences. He has now grown up to be a handful for his parents! But, all his naughtiness will be forgiven when he flashes his now famous smile. In this video, Padmesh learns how to wink
Gayathri
Month and Year of Birth: September 2010
Gayathri lost her right eye to retinoblastoma. Her left eye has been treated with chemotherapy and laser therapy. She comes in for laser therapy once a few weeks and all trace of the cancer seem to be reducing well. Her tumors have been inactive for a few months. If she continues this way, we anticipate that she will be cured in the months to come.
Pavan
Month and Year of Birth: March 2011
Pavan was a year and a half old when he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma.
He has completed all cycles of chemotherapy and radiation. His last bone marrow tests and MRI are showing no tumor activity. His parents gave birth to a baby girl and his sibling is free of the tumor so far. Pavan is very protective of his little sister.
Omer Aiden
Month and Year of Birth: June 2009
Master Mohammed Omer Aidan was 2 yr 4 months old boy when he came in for a check up at Narayana Nethralaya. His parents consulted OEU Institute of Ophthalmology, Manipal where he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma in the right eye, and were referred to Narayana Nethralaya for further treatment.
His parents are financially not well off, father is working as a driver in Mumbai and mother is a housewife and requires support for the treatment. He underwent chemotherapy and lasers to try and save the eye. The eye lasted less than one year, after which the tumors recurred. On further chemotherapy, the tumor did not respond and the family made a decision to remove the eye. After the surgery, the child has been tumor free for the past few months.
