Six-year-old diagnosed with rare cancer that makes her eyes bleed and grow to the size of a tennis ball

A six-year-old Indian girl has been diagnosed with lymphocytic leukemia, a rare and painful form of cancer which causes her eyes to bleed and grow to the size of a tennis ball. Dhanika, from north-eastern Indian state Tripura, was diagnosed with cancer in November.

She was born healthy and lived a normal life, but just six weeks ago she was diagnosed with cancer when she complained of itchy eyes. Heartbreaking photos of Dhanika with her parents have surfaced online that show her extreme condition.

Her parents even sought medical help, but doctors in the remote village of Tripura gave her painkillers, paracetamol and anti-allergies, Mail Online reported.

Dhanika's mother Shashi Bala is a housewife, while her father Dhanya Kumar Tripura is a daily wage labourer and earns approximately Rs 1,000 ($15/ £ 11) a month.

"Her condition brings tears to my eyes. I cannot even look into her eyes and talk to her anymore. Her eyes look so horrible. Her pain and condition breaks my heart and as a father it is tragic to see a child suffering like this," Dhanya said, according to Mail Online.

"She'd often complain of itching in her eyes and rub them often. Her eyes started swelling slowly and eventually grew to such a big size. We took her to several doctors in our village but none could help. This all started approximately 45 days back and within no time her condition has increased to a level that we now worry about her life," he added.

After her condition became worse, her father took her to Agartala Government Medical College in the capital city and later to Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital in New Delhi where she was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

A charity has decided to help Dhanya and his family, but doctors say her chances of survival is very low. Her parents also need funds for her chemotherapy.

Sajal Debbarma from the United Tiprasa Forum (UTP), said that the community group decided to help after seeing her condition.

"I came to know about this girl through a social media group and really wanted to help her. We went up to see her and were shocked by her condition. Her family did not even have proper knowledge where to go and who to approach, let alone getting her treatment done," Debbarma said.

"We brought her to Agartala then and got her treatment started there. But we have limited funds, we hope people come forward to help this little girl get some help."

Oncologist Dr Munilima Hazarika says that her chances of survival is just 10 percent and she is still critical. They have also started the chemotherapy but they will need at least 30 blood donor.

"She is really weak and with chemotherapy, we expect that her haemoglobin and platelets would further decrease which is a risk. We need at least 30 blood donors for her to keep her treatment going," Dr Hazarika said.

Dhanya is pleading for help to save his daughter.

"I am not educated at all. I am so poor that I could not even send my children to school. I have done everything I could but still, her survival chances seem low. I have no money for her treatment but some people have volunteered to help my daughter. I owe my life to all of them."

 To help Dhanya you can donate here.