Gujarat: Crowdfunding helping shore up medical costs for many

When doctors told Harish Parmar that his 7-year-old daughter needs a liver transplant, the LIC agent in Vadodara thought it was the end of the world. Despite the mother of the little Dharini Parmar agreeing to donate her organ, the hefty cost of Rs 30 lakh for the surgery threw the family out of gear.

Now, Dharini is keeping well after eight months of the operation. Her family could afford the operation because of the generosity of some strangers.

"I borrowed some money from my friends and relatives. We also got help from the state government. But, it was still not enough. This was when I got in touch with an NGO who put up my case with a crowdfunding site," said Parmar.

Parmar's request travelled across various social media platforms and the site helped Parmar raise Rs7.5 lakh.

"I don't know the strangers who chipped in for my daughter, but I will always be grateful to them," said Parmar, who still struggles to finance the daily medication of his daughter. "The crowdfunding helped me pay for the transplant as well. But, my daughter requires blood tests and medicines every month which alone costs me Rs15,000 which I still struggle to cover," said Parmar.

If it was a crowdfunding site that came to Parmar's rescue, it was a Facebook post that helped Pareshbhai Ode, of Borsad, to arrange Rs10 lakh for his 22-year-old son Mehul's operation.

Ode sought the help of Mittal Patel, who works with a denotified tribe. Patel put up a post, detailing the cause of Ode and how he was in genuine need of money.

The post also gave the bank details of Ode's account, urging people to contribute whatever they can, however little it would be.

"Around Rs 4.70 lakh was collected for my son's operation after the post was uploaded. I could have never raised the money on my own," said Ode. His son required extensive surgery of the stomach, and intestine, following an illness. It required Rs10 lakh.

It wasn't just the social media crowdfunding that helped. Ode also sought help from his batchmates in school.

"They helped me raise around Rs3 lakh and his community also chipped in to help," said Ode. He says he is touched by the kindness of strangers who helped him when he was down and out.

ALL IS WELL

Now, Dharini is keeping well after eight months of the operation. Her family could afford the operation because of the generosity of some strangers.