This Boy Hasn’t Been Able To Drink A Sip Of Water In 5 Years | Milaap
This Boy Hasn’t Been Able To Drink A Sip Of Water In 5 Years
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    Created by

    Basanagoud
  • MA

    This fundraiser will benefit

    Mohammed Arfath

    from Bangalore, Karnataka

Mohammad Arfath has grown up watching everyone around him eat from their mouth, while he is fed through a hole in his stomach. He hasn’t ever tasted solid food and hasn’t had a sip of water from his mouth ever since he was born.

“Whenever he reads the namaz, he asks Allah to make him ‘normal’ like his cousin’s. It’s the only dua (wish) he asks for.” – Rabia, mother



Little Arfath (5) has esophageal atresia due to which the food pipe doesn’t connect to his stomach. He also has an abnormal connection between the windpipe and food pipe. If he’s ever overfed, the food leaks out of the hole in his stomach. The only thing that can save him from this misery is an esophageal replacement surgery.

The child was in the NICU for 40 days after he was born

Just a day after he was born, Arfath was rushed to the NICU. He was on ventilator support and vomited even the little milk he drank. Rabia and Rafiq were then told about his condition. They were also told that their only child might not survive. However, Arfath made it out of the NICU, but he had a tube in his stomach – it’s the only way he could eat and drink.

“He could get the surgery only when he was 10 kgs. Now our son is 13 kgs, he can get the surgery but we just don’t have the money.

Arfath’s surgery was postponed once, any further delay is a risk

Arfath’s surgery was finalized for January 7th this year, but Rabia and Rafiq were just not able to afford it. They had no option but to postpone it. Rafiq is a driver and helps transport fruits and vegetables to the market. He earns around Rs. 10,000 per month. Rabia is a tailor and works from home. She hardly earns Rs. 20 for every piece she stitches. Rabia and Rafiq have been spending more than their monthly income for 5 years now.

“We used to spend 30,000 per month. We had no option but to borrow from our relatives. We have to pay a lot of people to pay back.”

He will finally be able to eat and drink with your help

Arfath hasn’t been to playschool for more than a few days because of his condition. Arfath needs the surgery at the earliest to live a pain-free life. If not treated in time, it can be life-threatening.

“We used to send him to school, but the children there started pulling at the tube. He complained of pain afterwards and we realized it can be dangerous. He can get infections also.We want him to get the surgery so that he can have a normal childhood – he can eat normal food and go to school like everyone else. Only you can help us.”

Arfath has been in and out of the hospital for 5 years now. He needs the surgery at the earliest to have a chance at a normal childhood.

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