A TODDLER battling leukaemia has died while having chemo after strangers raised a staggering £10,000 to pay for his treatment.
Zailian Kaipeng, from Tripura in India, was slowly going blind after he eyes began to bulge out of his head when he was two months old.
His parents were unable to fund the treatment he needed, until more than £10,000 was raised in September via a crowdfunding campaign.
After being told he was suffering a rare condition orbital pseudotumour, doctors discovered he was also suffering blood cancer.
The two-year-old was diagnosed with leukaemia last month, and had been having chemotherapy.
But the toddler caught an infection and late last week it developed into pneumonia and he passed away on Saturday.
Dad, Neirbanglal, 28, a labourer, said: “I’m shattered. My child has left me.
“Despite so much hard work by everyone, he is gone. It is devastating.”
Zailian travelled to Delhi on October 12, with his dad and grandmother Thaponti, 65, after a news outlet started a fundraising page for his treatment.
He was admitted to Artemis Healthcare Hospital in Gurugram, near Delhi, where he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and was started on chemo quickly.
Doctors were also discussing the possibility of a bone marrow transplant.
However, the toddler was moved into intensive care last week, before suffering a cardiac arrest and passing away on Saturday.
Dr Randeep Singh, head of oncology at the hospital, said: “His death has left us all in shock.
“We moved him to the intensive care unit after his white blood cell count dropped massively and he had a high fever, but his condition worsened due to severe pneumonia.
His case was not easy, he had serious leukaemia… He was really ill and it is extremely tragic and sad to see him leave this world at such an early age
Dr Randeep Singh
“He unfortunately succumbed to his disease despite strong antibiotics and treatment.”
Dr Singh added: “His case was not easy, he had serious leukaemia.
“We suspected he was critical after his white blood count continued to drop, which is why we kept him under observation in ICU.
“White blood count usually drops during chemotherapy and the body is prone to infections, especially bacterial infections.
“Zailian was incubated for nearly 12 hours but nothing helped.
“He was really ill and it is extremely tragic and sad to see him leave this world at such an early age.
“There were so many associated with him who came forward to help.
“He has left all of us heartbroken.”
Zailian’s body was airlifted from Delhi back to Tripura, today, and his funeral will take place in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday.
Zailian’s story hit international headlines two months ago and his condition touched several hearts across the globe.
A huge £10,000 was raised in the first ten hours of fundraising so Zailian could travel to a top hospital in Delhi and get urgent treatment.
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His mother, Changmaite, 25, a homemaker, could not be with her son during his time in Delhi as she had to remain at home to take care of her other two children, son Ringdamte, ten, and nine-month-old daughter Naote.
She sadly did not see Zailian before he died.
Neirbanglal added: ‘I understand everybody tried and I am really thankful to everyone who came forward to try to save my child.
“I am grateful to them for their love and support. He was destined to live only this long.
“I hope with everyone’s prayers, his soul rests in peace. He will always be remembered and we will miss him always.”
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