To share my precious as well as memorable days which, I had to cross in order to respect the journey of life-The Journey with My Son “KANISHKA BINAYAK SAHA” (16.10.2001- 22.05.2011).Kanishka’s arrival in our life was like a gift wrapped in a colouful paper to enlighten our life resembling Deepawali (Indian festival called “Festival of Light”). He was a healthy boy with full of joy and happiness. As a parent, we were enjoying and nursing him in every stage of his childhood. Kanishka spent his early childhood (5 years) in India from 2001 to 2006.and as per the Indian education system he joined his early school at Dolna Day School, Kolkata, India at the age of 2 and half years. There was nothing serious health problem of him except once he had a high fever for urine infection at the age of 3 and it has been cured. Similar to all parents, we were also wished to give our best to our loving son. Meanwhile, in 2006, I got an offer to pursue my PhD at the Faculty of Management and Economics, Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic. I accepted that offer particularly to get a platform for Kanishka in order to give him a foreign exposer through my study. Thus, I started my journey towards Czech Republic along with my husband (Krishna Kanta Saha) and son, Kanishka. Though it was not so easy but it was possible due to my sister’s inspiration, all support and her presence in the Czech Republic as an Associate Prof. at Tomas Bata University in Zlin. Since then, we started another new phase of life and it was completely a new environment especially for Kanishka (at the age of 5) who admitted in Kinder garden School of Czech Republic. Kanishka’s ability to adopt the Czech language which, he learned from his classmates and school teachers makes our life easier because, his principal and teachers were often admiring him for his very adjusting mentality and speaking capability mainly English and Czech language.

One fine morning in January 2009 – June 2009 all of a sudden, a black shadow came to our life with heart breaking news that Kanishka is a patient of rare disease i.e. Primary Hyperoxaluria Type- I. We came to know from the University Hospital Brno from his renal biopsy and after the investigation done by Mayo Clinic, USA and the only solution is liver+ kidney combined transplantation.But Kanishka’s mental strength was so high and his activeness didn’t allow in our mind to think about anything negative. We were very optimistic specially observing his endurance and courage even though he had such a big hidden problem that silently damaged his kidney function. Finally, on 19.1.2011 we received a call from IKEM that Kanishka has been gifted by God for having combined transplantation.On 20.1.2011 very early morning around 5.30 am Kanishka had been taken for his dialysis. They were trying to remove the oxalate from his body as much as possible before giving him a new organ.

But on 19th May 2011 Kanishka didn’t wake up after his dialysis and doctors thought he is tired and taking rest which is good for him. But he decide to take final rest from that day our smiling Kanishka slept forever, and later on 20thMay doctor said that while sleeping Kanishka had Intracerebral Hemorrhage. But our loving Kanishka himself had a very big question in his mind that even after transplantation he needs to go for dialysis? Then what is the use of this transplantation if he cannot live a normal life.
Therefore, as a bereaved mother I have a request to all the medical practitioners, researchers to identify a better solution than combined transplantation which is really not an ultimate solution. At whatever time I wish to write something about Kanishka the first thing comes in my mind: CARE. He was a very caring personality.

I believe Kanishka is watching from the other world and observing how his mother is going to materialize his wishes. He was a boy with full of wishes not for himself, but for mankind. He wished one day he will be a doctor and he will save small children, but his wish remain unfinished due to his early departure from this world. To fulfill the cherish idea of a great boy, as a mother and as a parent we established a foundation in 2013 with the help of my father (Shri Chitta ranjan Saha), founder of “Kanishka Binayak Memorial Foundation”as well as with the help of my uncle who is also a renowned doctor, MRCP (Lond & Edin) encouraged me to keep our beloved son ‘Kanishka’s Life line on for years together’ through this foundation” in my home town Midnapore, West Bengal, India in order to do the usual test and the other investigation that can be done from local or Kolkata as per need. This foundation is organizing consciousness and responsive awareness programme CME yearly/once or twice in order to exchange knowledge between investigators, clinicians and patients to improve the lives of rare kidney stone disease and Hyperoxaluria for better care and outcomes. This foundation is entirely non- commercial, non -profit basis institution with only one aim “Serve the Suffering Humanity”.

Once again thanks to Kim Hollander for your understanding and giving an opportunity to share our only beloved son Kanishka’s journey with PH and looking forward to see you on Saturday.

Best regards,
Krishna Kanta Saha & Nibedita Saha (Father & Mother of Kanishka Binayak Saha)