“Every time she’s pricked with needles it causes her so much pain that she tries to pull out the needles by herself. This makes her hands and legs swell up, and she starts to cry. She’s only a baby. She doesn’t understand much except the pain she feels every single day,” says Abdul, Ayisha's father.
Ayisha was only 8-months-old when she was diagnosed with a serious blood disorder. She has needed blood transfusions every two weeks ever since. Ayisha’s parents haven’t seen their little one smile in months. They’ve spent several sleepless nights trying to soothe their little one but in vain. Ayisha’s pain is only increasing. She needs a bone marrow transplant at the earliest to live.
Ayisha's disorder was difficult to diagnose
It began 4 months ago when Ayisha fell sick. Her fever refused to subside, and Ayisha cried all night because of the discomfort and pain. Her worried parents took her to several doctors, only to return with more questions. No one was able to tell them exactly why their daughter was suffering.“We went to so many different hospitals. One of the doctors even thought it might be cancer, but many tests later we found out it was a blood disorder as serious as cancer. We were so shaken. We never imagined that our little one would have to fight to stay alive. She has brought so much happiness into our lives, but now her disease is threatening to take away everything from us.”
Ayisha was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia when they discovered that her blood platelet count was extremely low. This is a severe condition in which the body stops producing new blood cells. Now, Ayisha is often rushed to the hospital when her blood count drops. She turns pale, with red and blue marks appearing on her skin.
A bone marrow transplant is her only hope now
Little Ayisha has had no respite from pain. She spends her days shuttling back and forth between home and hospital, instead of enjoying the joys of childhood.“She starts crying uncontrollably every time she sees a nurse or a lab room. She knows she’s going to be pricked with needles. The last time we took her to the hospital, the nurses tried for 6 hours to find a vein in her leg and hand to start transfusion pricking her so many times before it connected. That was the most difficult to watch. Her little body trembled every time they tried to prick her."
A bone marrow transplant is Ayisha’s only chance for survival. Without which, her condition will rapidly deteriorate and little Ayisha might not make it.
Her parents long to see her happy and healthy again
Abdul can’t wait to see his child free from suffering. He has been found to be a suitable donor for Ayisha, but the only thing holding them back is their difficult financial situation. Abdul has borrowed from friends and family and paid Rs 3 lakhs for treatment, but he has nothing left.“We’ve spent everything on her tests and transfusions. She needs 25 lakhs to undergo the transplant, but I’m only a teacher in a Madrasa earning 6,000 a month. How can I afford such a large amount? I want to see my daughter grow up and have a good life, but I'm afraid she might not live for long if I can't pay for her treatment.”
Baby Ayisha happy before her sickness
Ayisha needs blood transfusions to stay alive until she can undergo the bone marrow transplant. Adbul has done all he can to try and save her but is falling short of funds. Ayisha now clings to life.
How You Can Help
Ayisha needs to undergo a bone marrow transplant at the earliest. This is the only chance she has to live, but Abdul’s salary as a teacher isn’t enough to cover the insurmountable amount needed for her treatment. Ayisha needs your help to get the treatment before its too late.Your support will make her healthy again and bring the smile back to her face.
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