My Story

This is Tapan. He is 16 years old and  he is in his first year of college studying Arts. He would like to become an engineer. He likes to spend time with his classmates in school and he is very interested in learning new things. He has severe hemophilia B. This has resulted in bleeds in his knee, elbow, shoulder and his gums, requiring hospital treatment in the past year. These bleeds have caused him to miss about 60 days of school.  He receives physical therapy on a regular basis. 

Tapan lives at home with his mother, grandparents, and younger sister. His mother works as a cook and makes about $75 a month. They live in a two room home with electricity, but no running water, and an outdoor bathroom. They get drinking water from the village well. They cook meals over a wood fire in an outdoor kitchen.