Lack of funds and donor force Mumbai woman to endure the procedure for almost two decades
Due to lack of funds, Ganisha Mohite, now 31 years old, has been through endless rounds of dialysis for 17 years now. Mohite was diagnosed with a chronic kidney disorder in her teens and underwent her first dialysis when she was in class nine.
It has been a long struggle - with pain and money - for Mohite, who visits Andheri's Holy Spirit Hospital three times a week for her dialysis sessions.
Her fate continues to hang precariously, with her family's inability to afford a kidney transplant that would cost lakhs of rupees, and failed attempts to find a kidney donor.
Doctors say that it is miraculous that someone could survive on dialysis for near two decades. For the first 10 years, Mohite underwent dialysis twice a week. Later, it was taken upto thrice a week. She has undergone the procedure over 1,900 times so far.
"I suggested kidney transplant many a times through the years. But the family is poor and cannot afford it. We have also been unable to find a suitable donor," said Dr BR Ramesh Rao, Consultant Nephrologist at Holy Spirit Hospital.
Mohite is part of a family of seven that have a joint income of Rs 16,000. Teh family has no means to cover her ongoing treatment, which costs Rs 19,000 per month, and it's funded through philanthropic donations. Her parents – her father, now 76, was a handcart puller, and mother, aged 65 – often run pillar to post to ensure they have funds for Mohite's next dialysis. While her parents are not eligible as donors due to their old age, her two brothers were not a match.
Dr Rao said, "In India it is not common for patients on dialysis to survive for so long. Also, she needs help to cope with her treatment."
While class nine, Mohite had collapsed in school. She was rushed to BYL Nair Hospital where she underwent biopsies and was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
She was forced to quit her school due to the illness. "Little did I know then that I will have to live with this pain lifelong," said Mohite.
In 2006, she gathered her strength and started working as a cook in neighbourhood. However, since last year, she has been having frequent convulsions due to which she had to discontinue her job. She's even attempted to take her life but her family has always had her back.
The hospital staff has come to adore Mohite, too. "She comes with a broad smile for her treatment and inspires other patients too," said Sister Sneha, Executive Director, Holy Spirit Hospital.
On dialysis for so many years now, she has excepted her fate, and is almost comfortable with it. It's undergoing a transplant that scares her. "I am scared if it doesn't work. What will my parents do if something happens to me?" she said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ganisha Mohite")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}