India’s Young Cancer Warriors: The Silent Battle Inside Hospital Walls
As childhoods are interrupted by chemotherapy and hospital stays, these four children fight for their lives while families run out of time and money.
New Delhi | June 25, 2025 — Beyond the noise of city life and behind the sterile curtains of hospital ICUs, there exists another world—one filled with pain, courage, and the relentless will to survive. It is the world of children battling cancer. Four of these young warriors, Mallela Varun Kowshik, Sneha Yadav, Sekh Izaz, and Shriyaan Kurve, represent thousands of Indian children quietly enduring a daily war against time, disease, and poverty.
These stories are not just about sickness. They are about love, hope, and the urgent need for community support.
From Karate Champ to Cancer Patient: Varun's Story
Until recently, 9-year-old Mallela Varun Kowshik was known in his village as the boy who won karate medals and danced with unmatched energy. His parents, who run a modest salon in rural India, thought his sudden fever was just dengue.
But the diagnosis was far worse: blood cancer.
- Symptoms started: With fever and fatigue
- Diagnosis: Blood cancer
- Treatment: Chemotherapy (3 cycles completed)
- Complications: Severe infections, ulcers, hair loss
"Walking a few steps leaves him breathless. His body is not what it used to be," says his father. Chemotherapy has taken a harsh toll. His parents, despite trying everything, are now out of funds.
"We don’t have anything left to sell. But we can’t watch our child die," they say.
Varun’s will to survive is strong, but without immediate financial aid, his treatment may be cut short.
Sneha’s Brave Smile Hides a Rare Battle
At 9 years old, Sneha Yadav should be playing or drawing with crayons. Instead, she struggles to lift a pencil.
Sneha has been diagnosed with Mixed Phenotypic Acute Leukemia (MPAL), a rare and fast-spreading blood cancer. Her family has left their home in Betul, Madhya Pradesh, and moved to Delhi for her treatment.
- Cancer Type: Mixed Phenotypic Acute Leukemia
- Chemotherapy rounds completed: 5
- Next Step: Bone marrow transplant
- Complication: Severe swelling, loss of motor strength
Her father is a half-match for the transplant she needs. But the cost of the procedure runs into lakhs of rupees, which the Yadav family simply cannot afford.
"I just want to make my parents smile again. They cry because I’m sick," Sneha whispers.
Izaz’s Fight Is Not Over Yet
Three-year-old Sekh Izaz had beaten cancer once. But the disease returned, cruelly. He now struggles to breathe, supported by pipes and machines. He doesn’t understand why he’s still in the hospital.
"When will we go back home, Ma? What are these pipes?" he asks repeatedly.
- Age: 3
- Condition: Lung complications post-cancer
- Status: Dependent on ventilator support
His parents, who are daily wage earners, are in deep emotional and financial distress. "We were told he was cured. We believed it. We were wrong," his mother says.
Now, Izaz is fighting not just cancer, but also time.
Shriyaan’s First Words Might Be ‘Hospital’
Still learning to sit and walk, 11-month-old Shriyaan Kurve is already battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). His fragile body is hooked to machines most of the time.
"It breaks my heart when he holds the ventilator to his nose like it’s a toy," says his mother, Pooja Kurve.
- Age: 11 months
- Diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Treatment Needed: Intensive chemotherapy, possibly a transplant
- Family status: Struggling to afford escalating treatment costs
"We want to see him in a park, not a hospital. But now, every rupee counts," she adds, tears in her eyes.
India’s Childhood Cancer Crisis: A Growing Concern
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), over 50,000 children are diagnosed with cancer annually in India. Many cases go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and access. For those who do make it to hospitals, the treatment is expensive and prolonged.
The top types of cancer among children include:
- Leukemias (blood cancers)
- Lymphomas
- Brain and central nervous system tumors
Despite being highly treatable if detected early, the survival rate in India remains low compared to developed countries due to delayed diagnosis and unaffordable treatment.
How You Can Help: ImpactGuru Crowdfunding Appeal
The parents of Varun, Sneha, Izaz, and Shriyaan are fighting on all fronts. Their children need urgent financial support for chemotherapy, transplants, and continued hospitalization.
ImpactGuru.com, a trusted medical crowdfunding platform in India, has initiated verified fundraisers for each of these cases. Donations can directly fund:
- A cycle of chemotherapy (starting at Rs 20,000)
- Hospital stays and ICU support
- Bone marrow transplants (costing upwards of Rs 15 lakhs)
Visit ImpactGuru.com to support any of these children.
Even the smallest contribution can:
- Pay for life-saving drugs
- Reduce a family’s debt burden
- Give a child another shot at life
Reader Takeaway: A Call to Humanity
Cancer does not discriminate. It affects families from all walks of life. While these four children are being treated in India’s top hospitals, their families face a harsher battle outside the ICU: the financial cost.
Let’s not let money decide a child’s fate. You can be the reason behind a parent’s relief, a child’s recovery, and a family’s hope.
They don’t ask for luxuries. They ask to live.
Support these young fighters. Share their stories. Donate today.
