On Valentine’s Day gifts are presented to loved ones to show affection. Anuradha Tandon, a 34-year-old professor from an engineering college in Mumbai, has decided to gift ‘life’ to her husband Gaurav this Valentines. Helping her realise the dream are her students.
Gaurav, 34, a manager in an IT firm, was detected of acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of the life-threatening blood cancer, in November last year. Gaurav urgently requires a bone marrow transplant to survive the ailment or at least prolong the illness. Tandon, a professor of the electronic and telecommunication branch at Kandivili-based Thakur Engineering College, has vowed to help her husband fight the cancer.
The transplant is the only possibility of a cure, doctors at Hinduja, where Gaurav is undergoing chemotherapy treatment, have said. An identical bone marrow (of the same genetic match) is needed for a transplant. In Gaurav’s case, the marrow of one of his siblings, half matches that of Gaurav’s diseased marrow (50% match). Tandon has been visiting hospitals to trace an unrelated donor with a 100% marrow match, but all her efforts have been in vain so far.
Just when she was about to lose hope, a mail from Israel rejuvenated her quest. Upon a query, Dr Shimmon Slavin, a bone marrow specialist from Israel, wrote to the family, stating that he was equipped to perform a transplant on Gaurav. He added that the bone marrow of Gaurav’s sister, Mona, which was a 50% match, will prove sufficient for a transplant.
While this brought a smile on Tandon's face, the strain of arranging finances for the travel to Israel has burdened her.”We will need at least Rs1.5 crore for hospital expenses, travelling and boarding," Tandon said.”I won't be able to raise the amount even if we sold our flat and other assets," she said.
The tutor has, however, found messiahs in her students. Students from Thakur Engineering College have taken up the responsibility of raising the amount. Apart from personally contributing and raising funds internally, the student volunteers are going house to house to raise funds.”Anuradha madam is our favourite teacher. We plan to collect Rs1.5 crore by February 15,” said Ganesh Pawate, a final year student. Tandon says Rs45 lakh have been raised so far
A website helpgaurav.com has been floated by Gaurav's friends. Want to help Gaurav, call Anuradha at 98204 55833, or Ganesh: 9773357221.
