Kids We Support

Month and Year of Birth: December 2013

Manikya Shetty was born in December 2013 and was presented to us via Narayana Nethralaya early November 2014. The parents had consulted a hospital in Udupi, where they hail from and was he was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma and they were asked to go to Bangalore for treatment.

His parents are financially not well off, father Mr. Ashok Shetty is working as a sports instructor in confident group of companies, Kolar and his mother Mrs. Veena Shetty is a housewife.

The child initially required an MRI and examination under general anesthesia before deciding what treatment was to be given.

His left eye had to be enucleated and a false eye put in. He has had several rounds of Chemotherapy and is reacting well. The child would have to come in for routine checkups every 3 weeks for a few visits, before which we can take a call on how he is doing.

He has just started to walk and was busy exploring the halls of Narayana Nethralaya during his visit early Feb.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.