When Sheela’s son, Prajwal, was diagnosed with Thalassemia Major at just 10 months old, her family’s world changed overnight. Doctors recommended a bone marrow transplant, the only permanent cure for the life-threatening blood disorder, but the treatment cost of ₹38.3 lakh was far beyond what the family could afford.
Instead of celebrating their son’s early milestones, the family spent nearly eight months travelling from one hospital to another while managing his regular blood transfusions. They exhausted their savings, borrowed money from relatives and friends, and still found themselves unable to arrange the funds required for the transplant. With no immediate financial solution in sight, the family turned to Ketto, India’s crowdfunding platform, to seek help.
Thousands of donors from across the country responded to their appeal through Ketto, contributing towards Prajwal’s treatment and helping the family raise the funds needed for his bone marrow transplant. The collective support enabled the family to focus on what mattered most, ensuring their son received timely medical care.
Today, Prajwal has successfully undergone the transplant and is leading a healthy, active life. From spending his infancy in hospital wards to now running, playing and attending school, his journey is a testament to the power of collective giving and the difference timely financial support can make during a medical emergency.
Prajwal’s story is one of thousands of medical fundraisers hosted on Ketto that demonstrate the growing role of crowdfunding in helping families bridge critical healthcare funding gaps. By connecting patients with a compassionate community of donors, Ketto continues to enable access to life-saving treatment for families facing financial hardship.
Commenting on the impact of the fundraiser, Varun Sheth, CEO and Co-Founder of Ketto, said: “Medical emergencies often leave families battling both emotional and financial uncertainty. Prajwal’s journey is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when thousands of people come together to support a common cause. Every donor who contributed played a part in giving a child access to life saving treatment. At Ketto, our mission is to ensure that no family has to delay critical healthcare because of financial constraints.”
For Sheela and her family, the fundraiser meant far more than financial assistance. It gave their son a second chance at childhood and the opportunity to lead a healthy life. As digital crowdfunding continues to grow in India, stories like Prajwal’s demonstrate how communities can come together to help families overcome financial barriers and access critical medical care.
