Rashmi Rathod is a postgraduate in Commerce from Mumbai University who was employed with an NGO Amruta from 2009 to 2016. However, she started experiencing symptoms of SpinoCerebellar Ataxia in the year 2015. Spinocerebellar Ataxia runs in the family and has so far claimed the lives of 17 members including her father who died in 1994 after experiencing this health condition for 8 years and her eldest sister who died in 2020 after fighting the health condition for 13 years.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia is uncoordinated muscle movement due to disease or injury to the cerebellum which is a genetic neurological condition that causes problems with balance, coordination and speech. It is also linked to scoliosis, heart disease and diabetes.

Ataxia is progressive, meaning it gets worse over time. Ataxia can leave sufferers completely dependent on others for even their basic needs and it is severely life-shortening with an average life span of 35 years. According to some estimates in India 1 to 4 persons out of a population of 1,00,000 are affected by SpinoCerebellar Ataxia. However, currently, there is no cure.

When Rashmi was paralyzed in the year 2016, her second sister who was already a victim of the same disease expired in the year 2020. Spinocerebellar Ataxia being a health problem that has no cure and only deterioration of health condition till death. Rashmi needs a permanent attendant to help her with her daily chores in addition to her mother, Daksha who works as a cleaner in S L Raheja Hospital and can not do it all alone as she is growing old. Besides regular medicines and consumables like diapers. Rashmi’s monthly maintenance costs are Rs 15,000/- per month. 

Currently, Rashmi’s mother Daksha is earning a monthly salary of Rs 15,000/- and her salary alone would not suffice Rashmi’s expenses and basic home needs. After six months, Daksha will be retiring and will be getting a pension of just Rs 3,000/- and she is clueless on how she can organize the monthly expenses of her family including Rashmi’s expenses. She is under immense stress on how she will manage Rashmi’s expenses after retirement she has left in Lord Krishna’s hand as she is a devotee and is a regular at ISKCON temple at Girgaon Mumbai.

Thank you for taking your time to read this and any donations towards Rashmi’s medication would be highly appreciated however small they may be.