Coimbatore, September 15, 2026: G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital (GKNM Hospital), Coimbatore, through its philanthropic initiatives, supports children from economically disadvantaged families requiring treatment for childhood cancers, blood disorders, and other complex medical conditions. Partnerships with philanthropic organizations and corporate foundations play an important role in enabling such children to access specialized and often prolonged treatment, irrespective of their families’ ability to pay.
One such beneficiary is a three-year-old child from a family near Pollachi, whose treatment journey has involved not only a rare form of childhood leukemia but also severe, life-threatening complications. The child is the only son of his parents. His father works as a plumber and earns approximately ₹10,000 per month, placing the cost of prolonged specialized treatment far beyond the family’s financial means.
The child was brought to GKNM Hospital with fever and altered sensorium. He was placed on a mechanical ventilator. Blood tests confirmed high-risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML/APL), a distinct subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
He had multiple areas of bleeding in the brain, along with seizures, severe weakness in the left upper and lower limbs and neurological complications. His condition deteriorated rapidly, requiring an emergency decompressive craniectomy (part of the skull bone was removed and placed in the abdomen) to relieve pressure on the brain.
The child underwent intensive treatment for APML (targeted therapy with arsenic and an oral form of vitamin A called all-trans retinoic acid), along with blood-product support and multidisciplinary care. He developed a serious bloodstream fungal infection, requiring antifungal treatment.
Despite these major complications, the child gradually stabilized. He required continued rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
Following the initial critical phase, the child required multiple hospital admissions for continued oncology care, chemotherapy, bone marrow evaluation, supportive treatment, and further neurosurgical intervention. The child underwent cranioplasty (the skull bone from the abdomen was used to close the skull) and has now recovered almost completely. He has normal speech and is able to walk.
APML is an uncommon form of childhood leukemia, accounting for less than 1% of blood cancers diagnosed in children and adolescents. One of the major concerns with APML is the severe disturbance it can cause to the body’s normal blood-clotting mechanism, resulting in an increased risk of serious bleeding, particularly during the early phase of the disease. Once the initial complications are managed, the disease is highly curable with over 95% cure rate.
For a family dependent on the father’s modest income, sustaining such prolonged and multidisciplinary treatment would have been extremely difficult. The support from the Linde Foundation helped ensure continuity of care during an important phase of the child’s cancer treatment and recovery.
Dr. Ajeitha L., Consultant – Pediatric Hematology Oncology, GKNM Hospital, said: “This has been a particularly challenging case because we were treating a very young child with high-risk APML while simultaneously managing severe neurological and infectious complications. The child required emergency neurosurgical intervention during the initial phase and subsequently underwent continued leukemia treatment and further neurosurgical care. His progress after going through such a critical illness has been encouraging. Continued treatment, close monitoring, and rehabilitation remain important for his recovery.”
Dr. Ajeitha thanked the timely support provided by Linde Foundation towards the treatment of the child.
Mr. Michael Devine, the Chairman of Linde India said: Community is one of Linde’s core values and an integral part of our culture. We believe that true progress is measured not only by business success, but by the positive impact we create in the Society at large. Through meaningful partnerships and sustained commitment, we transform responsibility into action and help build stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities.”
