"My baby girl is running out of time. Her liver transplant has to happen in one week, and if I can't lose 5 kgs by then and find a way afford the surgery, I will lose her forever. My baby just turned one a month ago but I do not have any good memories of hers to cherish. She has been in the hospital more than she has at home. Her yellow eyes are a constant reminder of her pain and the intensity of her liver disease. We named her Yumna (meaning blessing) because she is truly a blessing to us, but now fate threatens to take her away from me." - Asifa, Mother.
Baby Yumna had prolonged jaundice and was losing weight drastically
Yumna seemed like a healthy baby. She was born with jaundice, but the doctors assured Asifa and Vazees that the condition was common and would go away in a few weeks. But even weeks later, Asifa began to notice that Yumna's skin was still yellow in colour and she was crying all the time. Asifa thought her baby wasn't getting enough food but her reports revealed otherwise - Baby Yuma was diagnosed with a severe liver disease. She underwent a procedure when she was 4-months-old to remove her damaged bile ducts, but the doctors said that in most cases it would only be a temporary solution and she might need a transplant anytime."Yumna had a 'normal life' only for two months in this 1 year. Soon after the procedure, she developed severe infections. The yellowish tint was so evident in her eyes and skin. Her fever just refused to subside, her innie belly button had become an outie. Doctors had already told us that it is a sign that her liver was failing and she would require liver transplant. I knew that if I was a match, I was going to be donor. I felt like it had to be me, because there was nothing that I could do to ease her pain." - Asifa.
Baby Yumna with her parents before the condition became worse
Her family is relentlessly trying to comfort the baby in all possible ways but they fail miserably
Asifa has been running back and forth from the hospital for the past 7 months. Baby Yumna is in constant pain and she cries day and night. She hardly sleeps and no medicines are helping her. Her fate is turning crueller with each passing day. Baby Yumna has reached end-stage liver disease, which means her liver is 100% damaged and only a liver transplant can save her life. Any further delay can turn fatal for her."My husband and I only talk about her treatment, it has completely consumed us emotionally and physically. We did our best to keep things normal for our 4 year old son but I know it affected him. My only hope is that someday he will realize how much he helped us too in this painful journey. He always sees us crying and holding on to our daughter. He also tries in his own ways to comfort her. I dread at the thought of losing her." - Asifa.