Help Ram Muthukumarasamy - Fight Brain Cancer

Ten-year-old Tanishka and 14-year-old Sanjay Darshan noticed that their loving and playful dad was acting differently over the past few months. He became absent-minded and started forgetting things. They also noticed that he was losing strength in his right hand to do the day-to-day household chores. Ram complained to his wife Vinitha about frequent headaches, fatigue, and weakness on his right side, hands, and legs. In addition, his friends noticed that he was not displaying his naturally witty and cheerful personality in social gatherings.

The concerned family urged Ram to get a medical checkup for his symptoms. But unfortunately, to the family's dismay, he was diagnosed with Astrocytoma ( Type of Brain tumor, Grade 4), a life-threatening cancerous tumor in the brain. Astrocytoma Gr 4 is a malignant and aggressive form of brain cancer that affects 200,000 adult patients between the age of 50 and 80 every year in the US. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and clinical trials.

Ram was a healthy, 45-year-old dedicated husband and father and worked as an IT professional in Fremont, CA, until he got this devastating news on July 04, 2022. The family had to go through trauma and sadness and had no options for a second opinion from other doctors. Within a week, he had to undergo extensive surgery to remove the tumor as it blended with tissue and to further stop the spread of cancer cells. No one in his immediate family has a history of brain cancer. Ram is being treated at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center(UCSF), a world-recognized hospital for treating all types of brain cancer. Ram has been unable to work since his diagnosis, and his wife Vinitha is managing to work when she gets time away from caring for Ram and the kids. Ram's aging and devastated parents traveled from India to care for their son. The children attend school even though the psychological burden of their dad facing a life-threatening illness makes it hard to focus on their studies.

Surgery cannot altogether remove the tumor, and malignant cells have spread to the surrounding brain tissue. Ram is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy and showing signs of health deterioration. The stress became so extreme that it started taking a toll on family emotions, mental and physical health, and life savings. Thousands of dollars go for out-of-pocket expenses from hospital stays, MRIs, blood tests, and x-rays. The family is also exploring UCSF-suggested clinical trials using experimental medicines which are not covered by insurance and look like a promising treatment.

Ram and his family need financial support for medical expenses, clinical trials, and medications. On behalf of friends and family, please help Ram and his family during this challenging period while he is fighting brain cancer, and pray for his speedy recovery!!