It was a big shock for 52-year-old Savita Kurhade, who lives in Pune, when her husband, who is retired, was diagnosed with blood cancer this August. “I just felt helpless and didn’t know what to do. His platelet count was low and blood tests showed he was suffering from blood cancer. We took out our savings, relatives helped us but still couldn’t afford the bone marrow transplant. That’s when our “Ladke “Brother-in-law” came to the rescue,’ said Savita, holding back tears.
Devendra Fadnavis’s first move after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday was to sanction Rs 5 lakh financial assistance to Savita’s husband Chandrakant Shankar Kurhade, 59.
‘This may be a drop in the ocean but I will never forget this gift given by my brother to my sister when I have to collect 30 lakh rupees for the bone marrow transplant,’ said Savita, who lives with him in Yerwada. three children.
“My husband was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on August 11 this year and since then he has been undergoing investigations and appointments at the hospital,” she said. Kurhade worked as a clerk in a private office before retiring.
His brother Dr Srikant Kurhade, a city-based gastrointestinal surgeon, said that his brother started feeling very weak and the family consulted him. “My brother is being treated with chemotherapy as the doctors treating him require a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, none of the families were a suitable match,” said Dr Kurhade.
When contacted, Dr. Kannan S, Consultant Hematologist of Sahyadri Hospital said that Chandrakant Kurhade has acute myeloid leukemia and a donor is being sought for bone marrow transplant. ‘A matching donor has been identified for transplantation,’ said Dr Sunil Rao, Chief Operating Officer of Sahyadri Hospital.
However, Savita said the expenses were appalling and the total amount came to around 30 lakhs. “We have been able to raise some funds and are applying to several charitable trusts. The Chief Minister’s announcement is an important step in our journey and I can only hope that my husband recovers soon,” she said.
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