July 15 began like any other day for Meera Devi, who was recently diagnosed with meningioma (a tumour that forms on the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord), at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
A resident of the Sanjay Colony jhuggi in Okhla, she collapsed in the bathroom on that fateful day. Her family found her found unconscious and frothing at the mouth.
“When I left for work, my two sons were getting ready to head out to college and my wife was stepping in for a bath. Nothing seemed amiss and no one was prepared for what followed. My sons heard a noise from the bathroom and when they opened the door they found their mother unconscious and frothing at the mouth. I rushed home after receiving a call,” said Ramji Singh.
Family living on loans
With her condition deteriorating with each passing day, Meera Devi is plagued by a continuous headache and vertigo. She is unable to stand or walk, often loses consciousness, has severe weakness and now has trouble even eating and drinking.
“She has fever and swelling in the throat. The pain is becoming unbearable,” says Ramji, who is the only earning member in the family and hasn’t been able to go to work since July 15.
“We are living on loans. I don’t know how long it will last,” he added.
AIIMS, however, dealt the family another blow.
“Doctors here told us that an operation is the only treatment, for which we have got a date in August 2018. I pleaded for an early date as only a miracle can keep my wife alive till then. We have approached the Delhi High Court for an earlier date. It is now a wait to see what comes first — death or a date for surgery,” says Ramji.
He went on to say that AIIMS has offered to perform a surgery in December if Meera Devi is admitted to a private ward, which will cost over Rs. 2 lakh.
“We can’t afford so much money,” says Ramji.
The meningioma tumour can be fatal if more than 2.5 cm in size. The primary treatment for malignant meningioma is removal through surgery or radiotherapy.
Too feeble to even speak, Meera Devi barely manages to whisper. “What will happen to my children if I die,” is all she manages.
Surgery is only way out
Her sons, meanwhile, are aware of the severity of the situation. “She needs support from both of us to even stand up. She can’t sit for too long. Even eating and drinking have become difficult. But I think that if she gets treatment on time she will be fine,” says Anil, the younger of the two brothers.
Advocate Ashok Aggarwal, who is helping the family with the court case, explained, “The petitioner urgently needs to undergo brain surgery to survive. She is not likely to survive till the date given for the brain surgery, unless a miracle happens.”
“Surgery under a private ward is available in December, but for a man who earns Rs. 9,000 every month and has a family to look after, it is out of the question. Dates for treatment should not be dependent on the financial capacity of the patient, but upon the urgency of treatment,” the advocate added.
In their petition, the family has said that being below the poverty line they are not in a position to afford the costly treatment.
“Treatment through brain surgery and radiotherapy is available in few private hospitals, institutes and government hospitals. It will cost lakhs at a private hospital. I don’t have so much money,” said Ramaji. He added that he took a loan of Rs. 5,000 to get an MRI done at a private laboratory.
“It is my prayer to the hospital and leaders to save my wife. Please save my family. Don’t punish us because of our helplessness and poverty,” he said.
