A family in Anuradhapura is seeking urgent financial assistance for a bone marrow transplant to save the life of their only child, who requires lifelong, regular blood transfusions to counter the declining levels of haemoglobin.
Residing in Meegassa Gama, Shashika Umayanga, 13, has been undergoing blood transfusions every month since he was six months old. Although the monthly blood transfusions at the Kurunagala hospital are free of charge, related expenses for the procedure amount to about Rs 20,000.
“My son has to undergo a bone marrow transplant before he is 14 (next year), according to doctors. My husband makes name boards for shops, and I am a homemaker. We don’t have a regular income, and, therefore, it is impossible for us to raise funds for this surgery which needs to be done at a private hospital as it is not available at government hospitals,” the mother of the child, Sagarika Udayangani said.