Does Crowdfunding Help? Brave Cancer Survivor & Mother of Two Shares The Truth

“When my then 9-year-old daughter used to visit me at the hospital, she would wipe away my tears and say, ‘Don’t worry, Amma, God saved you 2 years ago, he will come to your rescue once again.’ 

… My son was only 7 and he didn’t understand the seriousness of my illness, but was impatiently awaiting my return. I knew then that I wanted to live for my kids. I wanted to hold them in my arms but my cruel disease separated me from my 2 little angels.”

• 30-year-old Shabana about her blood cancer journey

Shabana, before Blood Cancer diagnosis. | Source: ImpactGuru

It all started 2 years ago with sudden bouts of cough and weight loss. Shabana was diagnosed with blood cancer when she was only 26. The warrior mother that Shabana is, she fought cancer with all her power and might. Meanwhile,  her husband was steadily working two jobs as a taxi driver and fish vender to make ends meet and pay for his wife’s treatment costs. They eventually had to sell their jewelry to be able to afford her treatment. 

… And Shabana emerged victorious! She walked out of the hospital cancer free and could be home with her kids after 7 painful rounds of chemotherapy and multiple treatment sessions. 

But that wasn’t it, Shabana’s blood cancer had relapsed..

“Our world fell apart, once again. I was separated from my kids and family, once again. After 2 years my blood cancer had relapsed. The doctors asked me to get a Bone Marrow Transplant at the earliest, as that was the only cure to save me.”

When Shabana was re-diagnosed with blood cancer, there was no source of income in the family since her husband had to stay full time with her at the hospital. They were not left with a single penny to afford her life-saving treatment worth Rs. 17,25,000 including a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy sessions. 

And then ImpactGuru entered their lives!

Shabana’s husband started a fundraiser on a fundraising company in India by the name ImpactGuru, seeking help for his wife. ImpactGuru helps patients raise funds for their treatment costs with the help of online fundraising. 

Reunited with her kids. | Source: ImpactGuru

Donors at ImpactGuru ensured that Shabana could be home with her kids. ImpactGuru’s generous donor community raised Rs. 13,68,547 to save her precious life. Due to their abundant love and support, Shabana not only received a bone marrow transplant but she was also able to receive all the necessary post-operative care and prolonged hospital stay for full recovery! 

ImpactGuru donors are the reason why today, Shabana’s kids can run into her arms and receive their mother’s love. The stress of managing the hospital bills had worn her husband down, but the selfless support came as a huge blessing in this family’s life. 

Finally, cancer-free. | Source: ImpactGuru

Real life impact stories like such are the reason why we so wholeheartedly believe in the power of love and kindness. Crowdfunding as a concept allows people to receive help anonymously online. It channels the power of the people. Through crowdfunding, ImpactGuru has helped thousands of patients with the help of generous donors from all around the world. It is a way of people coming together to help each other.

To help similar and more patients who can’t afford healthcare due to various reasons, ImpactGuru came up with an initiative called ‘Give Every Month’ (GEM). GEM is all about the act of giving. It provides the opportunity to monthly donate an amount every month to critical patients in India. 

Read more about GEM (Give Every Month) here.