Parents seek financial assistance for only child in need of urgent bone marrow transplant

A family in Anuradhapura is seeking urgent financial assistance for a bone marrow transplant to save the life of their only child, who requires lifelong, regular blood transfusions to counter the declining levels of haemoglobin.

Residing in Meegassa Gama, Shashika Umayanga, 13, has been undergoing blood transfusions every month since he was six months old. Although the monthly blood transfusions at the Kurunagala hospital are free of charge, related expenses for the procedure amount to about Rs 20,000.

“My son has to undergo a bone marrow transplant before he is 14 (next year), according to doctors. My husband makes name boards for shops, and I am a homemaker. We don’t have a regular income, and, therefore, it is impossible for us to raise funds for this surgery which needs to be done at a private hospital as it is not available at government hospitals,” the mother of the child, Sagarika Udayangani said.

According to the consultant physician at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Asiri Central, the total cost for the procedure is Rs. 7 million with post-operative care requiring additional funds. As at now, there are pledges for approximately Rs 1.5 million from the President’s Fund and other sources.

This needy family is seeking public assistance. If you wish to donate, please credit your donations to one of the following accounts:

J. M. Sagarika Udayangani Jayakoddy, Account Number – 116857861723, Sampath Bank, Anuradhpura;

Account Number – 1702-0010-0055370 , People’s Bank, Eppawala.

Donors can also contact Shashika’s parents Kasun Kumara and Sagarika Udayangani on 071 – 1222251, 076 – 042225 and 071 -275225 for more details.