SINGAPORE: A young Indian boy's fight against cancer has captured the hearts and minds of people in Singapore.
The expat community as well as locals have been coming forward to help Piyush on his road to recovery.
Seven-year-old Piyush Kolur has been spending his days in an isolation room in Mount Elizabeth hospital, for the past six weeks.
He came to Singapore for a cord blood transplant to treat his leukaemia because his parents said it could not be done in India.
Piyush needed the transplant as soon as possible because he was in remission.
The estimated bill for his treatment is S$415,000.
His family managed to raise more than 80% of the amount (S$340,000) before arriving in Singapore.
Piyush's father, Maltesh Kolur, had emailed friends in Singapore for help.
Just before treatment started, the family raised the remaining $80,000.
"We've not only had expats contributing, not only Indians contributing, non-Indian expats, even I would say a lot of locals to whom the email reached via our network... have also been forthcoming. So I think there's a huge amount of support that they've had," said a family friend, Shalini Sinha.
Another form of support can be seen in an apartment located within walking distance of the hospital. The family is staying there for free.
And volunteers are also making sure the family does not skip meals.
Volunteer Gayatri Sriram said, "Once Piyush checked into hospital for the stem cell transplant, it was imperative to get food across to the parents because Swathi would have to be with Piyush permanently and Maltesh would be going up and down."
Piyush also needed daily platelet and blood transfusions after the operation. And volunteers have come forward to donate blood.
But Piyush caught an infection, which slowed down his recovery, resulting in a longer stay.
Piyush's immune system is gradually getting stronger, but he will still need to stay in hospital for another four weeks.
After that, he and his family will need to remain in Singapore for another month for outpatient appointments.
Maltesh Kolur, Piyush's father, said: "We are really concerned about that point... because we are running out of money and treatment has to continue.
"The majority of the costs go to medicines. These drugs are very expensive."
The extended treatment and stay are expected to cost an additional S$300,000 to S$350,000.
Anyone wishing to donate can email Maltesh Kolur at
maltesh@rediffmail.com. - CNA/yy
