When I think back to my mother, the thing that strikes me most is her capacity for giving everything she could to make sure I was loved and cared for. If I sat to count the number of times she put my needs above hers, I’d be counting forever. You probably feel the same way about your mom.
And that’s the exact same story of Jashwanth’s mom. She gave all she had, and never gave up. When 5-year-old Jashwanth was brought to our center in MNJ Hospital in Hyderabad with GCT (Germ Cell Tumour), his condition was very critical. He couldn’t walk. And his mom carried him wherever he needed to go. She recalls, “I missed those days when my child used to run around and play. I wished more than anything that he could do it again. And I wanted to do everything I could to make that happen.”
We decided to put him under the Monthly Ration and Supplement Programs to prepare him for the surgery and treatment. Cuddles’ Ration Bundle contains highly nutritious food items like almonds, jaggery, ghee, dalia, nuts, pulses and legumes necessary for a child who has to undergo radiation therapy or surgery.
Jashwanth underwent surgery in February 2021 to remove his tumour. The surgery worked and we continued working with his mother to nourish him adequately. Before long, he took his first steps for the second time in his life.
Jashwanth’s mom was ecstatic about his recovery. The first person she told when he stood for the first time without any support? Our nutritionist.
His mom says, “As the treatment was about to start, we were advised to include nutritious food items like almond, jaggery, peanuts and ghee into Jashwanth’s diet, but we couldn’t afford it. We honestly didn’t know what to do. Jashwanth’s dad had lost his job during the pandemic, and we were already finding it hard to make ends meet. The Ration Program from Cuddles Foundation, it made all the difference. I started making laddoos with almonds, jaggery and ghee for him, among other things. We could see the improvement in his health every day.”
We’ve watched this mother, a constant by Jashwanth’s side, dedicated, committed, unwavering.
Although Jashwanth has completed his surgery, doctors are still waiting on his scans to confirm if he needs radiotherapy or chemotherapy. We’ll be by his side through it all. #JustLikeMa, our commitment to the kids and moms who depend on us is unwavering. And this is made possible through the thoughtful generosity of hundreds of our donors who’ve helped give 12,900 mothers this year reasons to be hopeful this Mother’s Day.
If you’d like to be a mother’s angel this Mother’s Day, join our cause and show your support at the link below:
