My life- Emon

Back home in Bangladesh, my son, Emon and I used to watch cricket together; we'd high five each other every time we scored well or took a wicket! And when I'd return from a hard day of labor at construction sites, Emon would say, 'One day, I want to build a home with you, papa!' Emon is a Shahrukh Khan fan too! If 'Chaiyya Chaiyya' plays, he'll break out into a dance no matter where he is. 

But now, he cries more than he laughs and barely has the energy to move. He's spent more time in a hospital than at school. Our nightmare began last year when he was 12. For a child who loves his mother's food, he refused to eat. 'My throat hurts–I can’t swallow,' he'd say. 

It became so bad that we were forced to feed him food in liquid form. Emon would even have severe back pain and his tummy began swelling. He started developing lumps that were the size of an orange on his skin; he couldn’t sleep. We gave him medicines, but his pain wouldn't go away. The visuals of my wife rocking him to sleep in her arms while he cried still haunts me.

We were terrified. After visiting several hospitals, we finally found one that could give us an explanation about Emon's problems. The doctor said, 'He has Burkitt Lymphoma. A tumor is developing inside him.' My wife and I were shell shocked. 

And then when the doctor heard the operation would cost 25 lakhs, we felt so helpless. The amount is beyond what I had earned throughout my life. So I sold all the land I owned in my village and used my earnings to come to India to get Emon the best medical treatment. He asked me before leaving, 'We're moving to Shahrukh Khan's country?' His innocent excitement broke my heart. 

We've exhausted all our life savings, so now I do daily wage work here to earn. Emon can't step out of the hospital and I'm his only friend and visitor. We watch cricket videos together and he video calls his mom back home. The two of us often talk about going back and building our dream home together someday. I just want him to achieve that dream.