Bittoo applied the ointment for over two weeks only to find the rash turning purple. She rushed her son to emergency where a battery of tests were conducted by physicians. 

“They did his blood work thrice while we were there, and found the liver enlarged” More tests followed. Initially suspecting it may be leukemia, Karanjeev was put through more testing. It took a week but by that time he began to experience unbearably severe abdominal pain. More checks by a liver specialist, an ultra sound and an MRI revealed complete liver damage. Today the young boy is mostly bed ridden, with mega doses of medications and steroids being pumped daily into his system. Injections with blood thinners that burn and are very painful as the thinner courses through his veins are given twice a day to prevent blood clotting, so he can live. As he awaits a liver transplant, his body is getting weaker- and time seems to be running out.

The doctors handling his case have had to plead his case to UNOS, (the United Network for Organ Sharing), to even consider donating a liver to Karanjeev if there is a match. The network is reluctant to give a liver to a patient like Karanjeev, whose case has left doctors confused, and whose chances of survival and complete recovery are not high in their analysis. “The doctors told us that many times during surgery there may be clots that they can’t dissolve, or whatever caused the intial liver damage in Karanjeev, can cause the same liver damage in the second liver or the body may reject the new liver.” For him there will be no second chance if that happens. UNOS gives priority to cases where a complete recovery is assured. The doctors have had to beg and plead his case before UNOS put him at number 20 on the priority list,” says Bittoo. “Our only hope is if someone who is aware of Karanjeev and has a fatality or death in their family, specifically asks that the liver be given to Karanjeev. It’s hard for me to say this but for our son to live, someone has to die. The doctors are struggling to help their patient, and for me he is my son and I have a hard time seeing him suffer so much. For UNOS he is a mere statistic, and I understand that.” 

Bittoo says Karanjeev can barely eat a bowl of cereal in the entire day, and has stomach cramps when he eats. “There was a time he was in such pain; I had to feed him intravenously for two months. Then he got so fed up, he started trying to eat a little on his own. But he is so weak. He is in bed all day and then struggles to get up watch a little TV or be on the computer, for a short while and hardly ever goes to school. There are times he says he just can’t take it any more. I cry but don’t show it” Says Bittoo.

Their son’s illness has been a financial drain on the Sachars. Bittoo works in a bank and rarely goes there. Her Husband Chirjeev drives a cab, but quit for two months when Karanjeev was initially hospitalized. “ I’m very thankful to the bank that they haven’t let me go but have said to come as and when I can, which is not very often and of course I only get paid for the work I do.” The Sachars are faced with about $100, 000 on out of pocket expenses because insurance does not cover the entire treatment. “Two fundraisers with the help of IACA and my family and friends, the Sikh Study Circle, Mr. Pannu, Mr. Gogi Basi and Manny Singh have netted about 20 thousand dollars for which I’m very grateful,” says Bittoo.

Currently the UNOS data base shows over 17,493 people looking for a liver donor and their data updated this month also shows that from January to August this year they have received a total of 9,433 organs, 4,743 from deceased donors and 4,690 from living ones where as over 87000 patients are wait listed looking for a donor of some kind. Karanjeev could have been any one’s son, anyone’s brother, cousin, and nephew. There are very few south Asians who understand or are even willing to deal with becoming even living donors. As I pray for this young child’s life I wonder what if he was my son or yours. I think of people who have been fortunate to find a match, and people who died awaiting the compassion of someone who could have signed up, been a match but was too apathetic, or ignorant to do so. Why does tragedy always have to strike close to home for people to take a second look at themselves and become more compassionate? It may be a tough road for this young boy as he lies in bed trying to stay alive, but all of us can be the vehicle through which healing and a second lease at life can be given to someone else waiting on that long list. 
(For more information on Karanjeev and how you can help the family financially, please go to www.Karanjeev.com.)