Arshiya loves her new haircut. She likes that now her mother doesn’t oil her hair or tie it up into braids. But this new haircut also makes Arshiya sad. She knows that they have cut her hair because she is being treated for cancer. The 10-year-old is afraid of the regular infections she gets everyday. She tries to remain positive but sometimes she breaks down - she fears she won’t return home from the hospital.

A 10-year-old with cancer - her parents couldn’t believe what they heard

Poor Arshiya had been for a long time when in February this year, the doctors told Shaikh Karim and Jani Begum that their daughter had blood cancer. The parents had a hard time accepting the truth. Now they have been told that only a bone marrow transplant can save her. She needs it in the next 7 days.

 

“Since last August, she had been suffering from fever, weakness. Doctors told us that she has less blood, she needs transfusions. They said she will be better in a few months. And now she is fighting cancer - when did it get so serious? I see her smiling, talking to us and I think how many more days does she have?” - Jani Begu,mother.

The parents fear if Arshiya’s Tiktok videos are the only things they’ll be left with

Despite knowing the truth, Arshiya tries to stay positive. She draws and studies in her free time but what she loves doing is making Tiktok videos.

 

“I used to scold her for always staring into the phone, playing games, watching videos. But now when I see her making the Tiktok videos I think - is this the only memory of hers we will be left with?” - Shaikh Karim, father.

They sold their house, their belongings and even their small piece of land - but it’s not enough

Karim is a shopkeeper in Suryapet, Telangana. For the last few months, he has been struggling to afford his daughter’s treatment. He has five mouths to feed. The man who can’t afford two square meals a day for his family - you can imagine how he must be taking care of Arshiya’s treatment. Arshiya has hope, she can get better but she needs the transplant in the next 7 days. Her brother is a matched donor - the only roadblock is the huge expenses.

 

“Everyday, I spend about Rs 5000 on her treatment - till now, I have spent over 5 lakhs by selling my house, my wife’s jewelry and the small piece of land we had. But it’s nowhere near enough - I need about 12 lakhs. How will I arrange that without help?” - Shaikh Karim.

Arshiya is just 10 and she is in the clutches of cancer. Her parents have no money to afford the bone marrow transplant that can save her. With your help, she can get a new lease of life