Balasore: When an eight-year-old girl donates to save a life, it is the intent that is worth an example and not the money for consideration.
The proverbial-drops of water make a mighty ocean- could not have been more apt than little Aslesha Kashyap's philanthropy.
Aslesha, a Standard 3 student in Balasore, decided to break her piggy bank to donate Rs 2000 for the treatment of Abhishek Mohapatra who was recently airlifted from Bhubaneswar to Kolkata for ECMO treatment after being infected with Covid19.
Her piggy bank stored coins and currency notes of vsrious denominations- from two Rupee coins to 50 Rupee notes.
Possessing a golden heart, Aslesha did let go of all her savings she had over the years after she saw her aunt succumbing to COVID last month. "I lost my aunt to COVID who never returned from hospital. I do not want the same happen to Abhishek uncle, " said an innocent Aslesha for who life and affection is way more valuable than financial riches.
Her mother, Banaja Nanda who broke down while remembering her deceased sister said, "My sister passed away last month from COVID. We are still trying to recover from the grief. When my daughter saw the news of Abhishek Mohapatra, she could not bear another person dying and decided to donate whatever she had saved so that Abhishek could get the best treatment."
"I request all who are watching this to donate whatever they could so that Abjishek returns from hospital after getting cured," said Nanda.
Abhishek Mohapatra is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata where he will be put under Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support, the cost of which could easily exceed Rs 1 Crore.
Abhishek who hails from Basudevpur of Bhadrak became critical following COVID-19 infection and needs advance ECMO treatment. Many good samaritans across the country are contributing for Abhishek’s treatment.
The Cuttack Malgodown Traders Association has come forward to help Abhishek after the news was widely covered by OTV. The traders have donated Rs 50,000 for the treatment of the youth.