What happened to Aravin?

Aravin’s life has been derailed by Crohn’s Disease since 2019. Frequent long-term hospitalisations cost him his health and employment, and over time, his independence too. Even with financial assistance, Aravin struggles to meet his basic needs as he has to put aside money for his transportation to medical appointments. Taxis or private hire vehicles are his only viable modes of transport due to severe weakness in his legs. 

Currently, he stays with his mother, who is his caregiver for his day-to-day needs, while his wife struggles with both work and caregiving for their 3 children in their matrimonial home. Even though he misses them dearly, Aravin has only been able to visit his family every 2 months due to costs of travel and conflicting schedules.

How can you help?

After battling Crohn’s Disease for 4 years, Aravin’s condition seems to have stabilised and he finds himself regaining some physical strength. Nonetheless, his legs remain weak and he is unable to stay on his feet for long. He hopes to purchase a mobility scooter that would enable him to regain some level of independence – to run small errands, to travel on his own to visit his family and also to work part-time as a food delivery rider.  

Your contribution of $1,480* will enable Aravin to purchase a mobility scooter. More than a simple mode of transport, this symbolises hope in reclaiming what he’s lost to Crohn’s Disease.

*Funds raised will be paid directly to the vendor. 

Find out more / Appeal for Aravin:

Aravin, 46, has spent the past 4 years grappling with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that causes him unbearable abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, bloody stool and an inability to absorb nutrients properly. When he was first diagnosed, the condition kept him hospitalised for over 2 years. Additionally, due to the condition weakening his leg muscles, mobility has become an issue. Aravin requires a walking stick to move about. Even then, he is only able to walk for short distances and is unable to take public transport unaided. 

Every few months, Aravin goes for appointments at the hospital for blood tests and checkups. These appointments are physically demanding, often requiring him to spend the remainder of the day resting. To keep the symptoms under control, Aravin is on lifelong medication. Frequent hospitalizations, medical appointments and a greatly weakened physical state resulted in him losing his full-time job. Even as his health slowly improves, jobs available to him have become largely limited and he has not been successful in bringing home any income. 

This financial dependency has taken its toll on Aravin. He has been married since 2018 and they have 3 children. While the couple had dreams of providing the best for their children, Aravin’s medical condition made life extremely challenging for them. Not wanting to burden his wife and children with his complex medical needs, Aravin has been staying with his mother over the past 2 years, visiting them physically only once every 2 months due to financial considerations. While he does weekly video calls with his children, thoughts of not being able to care and provide for them like other fathers weigh heavily on Aravin’s mind. Although he misses them dearly, he cannot bear to be a burden to his young family.

While a small start, having a mobility scooter represents the beginning of Aravin’s journey to restoring independence and earning an income with his own means. Being able to achieve these significant wins will reaffirm his hope of rebuilding his identity as a husband and father.