Sometimes, life changes in one quiet moment. For us, it was the day the doctor said, “Anurag’s liver is failing.” I remember holding his hand at Dr. Rela Institute and Medical Center, Chennai, trying to look strong while my heart sank. My husband, Anurag, 47, was formerly an office executive at an educational institution. Now, he struggles just to breathe.

He was first diagnosed with Grade 1 Liver Cirrhosis a few years ago. Back then, we thought with medicines and care, he’d recover. But slowly, the disease began taking more from him - his energy, his strength, his smile. And then came the second blow: Hepatopulmonary Syndrome. The doctors explained it simply that his liver is so damaged that it’s making his lungs weak. His body can’t get enough oxygen anymore.

Now, breathing is hard for Anurag. Walking a few steps feels like climbing a mountain. He often gasps for air, his lips and fingers turning bluish from low oxygen. His appetite is gone, and he’s grown weak from malnutrition. Still, he tries to smile, saying, “I just want to walk again without stopping to breathe.”

The only cure is a liver transplant. Without it, his condition will keep getting worse. They’ve advised registering for the cadaver transplant list immediately, as the waiting period could take 6 to 8 months. Ideally, the surgery should happen within the next 3 to 6 months to give him a real chance.

We’ve spent everything - more than ₹15 lakhs already. ₹8-9 lakhs went into his treatment at Rela Hospital alone. We’ve sold gold, drained our savings, and are managing with help from our extended family here in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. I left my job to care for him full-time. Our daughter, 26, works as a school teacher, and our son, 21, is still in college. My daughter is the only one earning now.

We still need around ₹40 lakhs - ₹5 lakhs for registration, ₹27.5 lakhs for the surgery, and about ₹10 lakhs for post-surgery care. It’s a number that scares me, but what scares me more is losing him.

He dreams of standing again, going back to work, watching our son graduate, and living a simple, peaceful life. That’s all he wants - another chance.

Please help us reach that chance. Every bit of support brings him closer to breathing freely again.

How to help:

Donate: Click on the ‘Donate Now’ button and contribute to Anurag’s treatment.

Share: Share Anurag’s story with your friends and family and support further.

कभी-कभी ज़िंदगी एक शांत पल में बदल जाती है। हमारे लिए, वह दिन था जब डॉक्टर ने कहा, "अनुराग का लिवर खराब हो रहा है।" मुझे याद है, चेन्नई के डॉ. रेला इंस्टीट्यूट एंड मेडिकल सेंटर में मैं उनका हाथ पकड़े हुए, और दिल बैठा जा रहा था, जबकि मैं मज़बूत दिखने की कोशिश कर रही थी। मेरे पति, 47 वर्षीय अनुराग, पहले एक शैक्षणिक संस्थान में ऑफिस एग्ज़ीक्यूटिव थे। अब उन्हें साँस लेने में भी तकलीफ़ होती है।

कुछ साल पहले उन्हें पहली बार ग्रेड 1 लिवर सिरोसिस का पता चला था। तब हमने सोचा था कि दवाओं और देखभाल से वे ठीक हो जाएँगे। लेकिन धीरे-धीरे, इस बीमारी ने उनसे बहुत कुछ छीन लिया - उनकी ऊर्जा, उनकी ताकत, उनकी मुस्कान। और फिर दूसरा झटका लगा: हेपेटोपल्मोनरी सिंड्रोम। डॉक्टरों ने साफ़-साफ़ बताया कि उनका लिवर इतना क्षतिग्रस्त हो गया है कि उनके फेफड़े कमज़ोर हो रहे हैं। उनके शरीर को अब पर्याप्त ऑक्सीजन नहीं मिल पा रही है।

अब, अनुराग के लिए साँस लेना मुश्किल हो गया है। कुछ कदम चलना भी पहाड़ चढ़ने जैसा लगता है। वे अक्सर साँस लेने के लिए हांफते रहते थे, कम ऑक्सीजन की वजह से उनके होंठ और उंगलियाँ नीली पड़ जाती थीं। उसकी भूख मर गई है और कुपोषण से वह कमज़ोर हो गया है। फिर भी, वह मुस्कुराने की कोशिश करता है और कहता है, "मैं बस बिना साँस लिए फिर से चलना चाहता हूँ।"