Linde Foundation Supports Treatment of Three-Year-Old Child Battling Rare Leukemia

Coimbatore: A three-year-old child from near Pollachi, who was battling a rare and high-risk form of childhood leukemia along with severe, life-threatening complications, has recovered significantly following prolonged treatment at G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital (GKNM Hospital), Coimbatore.

The child’s treatment was supported by the Linde Foundation, helping the family continue specialized cancer care during a critical phase of the child’s recovery.

The child, the only son of his parents, was brought to GKNM Hospital with fever and altered sensorium. His condition was critical and he required mechanical ventilation. Medical investigations confirmed Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APML/APL), a high-risk subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

The child also suffered multiple areas of bleeding in the brain, seizures, severe weakness in the left upper and lower limbs and other neurological complications. As his condition deteriorated rapidly, doctors performed an emergency decompressive craniectomy, in which a portion of the skull was temporarily removed to relieve pressure on the brain. The removed skull bone was preserved in the abdomen for later reconstruction.

The child subsequently underwent intensive treatment for APML, including targeted therapy with arsenic and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), along with blood-product support and multidisciplinary medical care. During the treatment, he also developed a serious bloodstream fungal infection and required antifungal medication.

Despite the severity of his condition, the child gradually stabilized. He continued to receive rehabilitation and physiotherapy as part of his recovery.

Following the initial critical phase, the child required several hospital admissions for continued oncology treatment, chemotherapy, bone marrow evaluations, supportive care and further neurosurgical management. He later underwent cranioplasty, using the preserved skull bone to reconstruct the affected portion of the skull.

The child has now recovered almost completely, with normal speech and the ability to walk.APML is an uncommon form of childhood leukemia. It is associated with significant abnormalities in the body’s blood-clotting mechanism and can lead to severe bleeding, particularly during the early stages of the disease. With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, APML is considered highly curable, with reported cure rates exceeding 95%.

For the child’s family, prolonged and multidisciplinary treatment presented a significant financial challenge, as the father works as a plumber and earns approximately ₹10,000 per month. The support provided by the Linde Foundation helped the family maintain continuity of treatment during an important stage of the child’s cancer care and rehabilitation.

Dr. Ajeitha L., Consultant – Pediatric Hematology Oncology, GKNM Hospital, said the case was particularly challenging because of the child’s young age, high-risk APML and the serious neurological and infectious complications.

She said the child required emergency neurosurgical intervention during the initial phase, followed by continued leukemia treatment and further neurosurgical care. She added that his progress after such a critical illness has been encouraging, while continued treatment, monitoring and rehabilitation remain important for his recovery.

Dr. Ajeitha also thanked the Linde Foundation for its timely support towards the child’s treatment.

Michael Devine, Chairman, Linde India, said community is one of Linde’s core values and an integral part of its culture.

He said the company believes that true progress is measured not only by business success but also by the positive impact created in society, adding that meaningful partnerships and sustained commitment can help build stronger, healthier and more resilient communities.