Daily wager in need of aid for daughter’s cancer treatment

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, february 16

Cancer affliction has not only threatened to cut short cruelly the life of a daily wage labourer's daughter, it has also effectively robbed him of his livelihood, making the family dependent on charity, both for treatment and sustenance. Surinder Pal, the Jalandhar-based worker, is now trying to raise funds to ensure treatment for his daughter.

Surinder Pal's seven-year-old daughter Henna is suffering from blood cancer and he has spent more than Rs 5 lakh on her treatment so far. However, Henna who has now started going to school, thanks to some improvement in her condition, has now developed liver-related complications due to an overdose of medicines.

"I have spent more than Rs 5 lakh on my daughter's treatment so far. She showed a lot of improvement while being treated for cancer. But she then developed a constant stomach ache. We consulted experts at the PGI after it was diagnosed to be a liver complication. After some local TV channels highlighted her plight, we were able to get Rs 50,000. The government had also helped with Rs 1.5 lakh under the CM's Relief Fund for my daughter's treatment. Now owing to the liver complication, the doctor has told us to arrange an additional Rs 2.5 lakh for treatment."

Surinder Pal manages to earn about Rs 5,000 per month, sometimes even less, by doing odd jobs. His work also gets affected as he has to be in Chandigarh whenever his daughter has an appointment with a doctor or has to undergo medical tests. Surinder Pal's wife Manjit Kaur is a homemaker. "I was working as a contractor, but quit due to my daughter's treatment. Because of the long absence from work, I lost out on lucrative contracts and my work suffered." Surinder Pal also has a second child, also a daughter, Manisha (5), who studies in LKG.

Those willing to extend help can contact Surinder Pal on his mobile phone number 84277-52235.