“When Sushila became pregnant, we hoped that we had a daughter. When we finally welcomed our baby girl, we knew our prayers were answered. But now when I look at her struggling to breathe even if she catches a small cold because of the growth on her nostrils, I feel she will be taken away from us before we have fully enjoyed parenthood,” expressed Kundan, Shanti’s father.
Baby Shanti could hardly breathe through one nostril. Shanti, the first-born and only child of Kundan and Sushila, was born with some extra flesh in front of her nostrils. While Sushila was pregnant, the first-time parents were convinced that they were going to have a healthy baby. Little did they know that Shanti would barely be able to breathe once she was born.
Relatives often asked Kundan why he wanted to go to such lengths to save a girl child. But he couldn’t be bothered by such questions; she is his baby, and he wants to save her. Now she can only breathe through one nostril. When she catches a cold, she can’t breathe at all. Every time she gasps for breath, we die a little inside.”
Although a happy baby, Shanti’s rare condition is gradually pulling her towards death. After Sushila’s sixth month of pregnancy, the baby in her womb seemed to move abnormally at times. The condition could be brought under control only after Sushila was given injections. Doctors never suspected any severe condition. Now, Shanti will not make it without urgent corrective surgery. If this is not done, she will stop breathing at any moment. “When Shanti was born, her condition wasn’t this grave as it is now. With every passing day, she can barely breathe. Although she doesn’t cry much and is a happy baby, we are scared that the happiness our bundle of joy has brought will be snatched away from us.”
Seeing her baby struggle to breathe makes Sushila feel guilty. Being a mother for the first time, Sushila blames herself for her baby’s condition. She feels guilty for not being able to create a safe and pain-free life for her baby. It becomes difficult for Kundan to tell his wife that Shanti’s pain is none of their fault. The parents are desperate to save the life they have brought into the world.
“Not only that we have very few relatives and friends, the ones that we have are also not well off. They are ready to help us with Rs 500 to 1000, but that is not enough to save our little baby. All Sushila and I want is that our baby can live.”
