Dear Reader,
Every second counts, and your help today can give my little boy a chance to live and be cured from blood cancer.
My name is Debanjit Debnath Polok. My first and only son, Shoccho Debnath, is 2 years and 2 months old. We have raised him with immense care since his birth.
On November 12, my son developed a fever of 98 to 99 which initially seemed normal. However, after three days, we consulted a doctor. Given the high prevalence of Dengue in Bangladesh, the doctor ordered a CBC test. Although the Dengue result was negative, the blood report showed abnormal levels of Hemoglobin, ESR, WBC, and Platelets. Critically, his WBC count was an extremely alarming 220,460/cumm.
Due to this highly abnormal finding, the doctor initially suspected Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). With Shoccho's Hemoglobin dropping to 7 and the rapid increase in his WBC count (reaching 31,000/cumm in one day), we urgently admitted him to Bangladesh Neonatal Hospital. There, the Head of Neonatology at the ICMH informed us that Shoccho was likely suffering from blood cancer. Over two days, he received RBC transfusions to increase his Hemoglobin, but the WBC count remained excessively high. Dr. Md Mozibur Rahman informed us that a team meeting would be held to decide on the diagnosis and the best course of treatment, requesting three more days.
Anxious to start treatment as soon as possible, we transferred Shoccho on November 15 to Ahsania Mission Cancer & General Hospital under the care of Dr. Lt. Col. Rubina Yeasmin (Retd.). She confirmed his condition was High Risk and required immediate treatment. Without hesitation, we admitted him. Although Dr. Rubina Yeasmin is a highly skilled and excellent doctor, her physical presence at the hospital was limited to only three days a week. We were disappointed with the overall quality of care for a two-year-old child. By November 18, Shoccho had three cannula failures, and the nursing management was poor. Furthermore, critical, high-profile cancer-related blood tests were not available at Ahsania. This forced me to rush between the hospital and other private institutes with referral papers and blood samples, significantly delaying the commencement of the actual treatment.
Given the critical situation and delay, I immediately contacted the Hematology Department at Bangladesh EverCare Hospital. Dr. Abu Jafar Mohammed Saleh advised that as of November 18, the specific type of Leukemia had not yet been identified, but it could be determined at EverCare within 6 hours, allowing for rapid treatment. I admitted Shoccho to EverCare on November 18 without a second thought. Despite the difficulty in finding a vein due to his previous treatments, the EverCare team provided OT service the very next morning (November 19) to insert a cannula, push platelets, and install a Chemo Port for long-term treatment.
The diagnosis was confirmed as B-cell precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). The doctors initiated the B-ALL, BMF-2009 cancer treatment protocol. According to this protocol, Shoccho initially received DEXA steroid for three days. Although the protocol schedules 8 days of DEXA, Shoccho's steroid response after 3 days was equivalent to the expected 8-day response. Consequently, the Day 4 to Day 8 treatment phase began, and today, November 25, Shoccho received his first Chemo Therapy, marking his Day 11 of treatment.
It is still too early to definitively say whether my son's condition is improving or worsening. However, the doctors assure me that this disease is curable, and EverCare has a reported 90% success rate for such cases.
As a father, I am determined to see this entire treatment through. I am a private service holder, and my life savings are insufficient to cover the entire cost of the extensive treatment. I humbly appeal for your financial support to help save my son's life. With your kind assistance and the grace of God, if I can save my son, I will be eternally grateful.
I appeal to you with folded hands for your financial assistance.