“Abdul has gone through over 12 cycles of chemo and just 2 days before his last cycle of chemo, we had to rush him to the hospital because he was in so much pain that he couldn’t even walk. We came to know that his blood cancer had relapsed. I couldn’t help but cry because we have sold everything to see him improve, and I have no way of saving him now. Even the doctor shed tears while telling me about the relapse. That’s how shocked we were.” – Kareem, Abdul Malik’s father.
Abdul couldn’t win a 6-month long hard-fought battle against cancer
After being wrongly diagnosed with tuberculosis in November 2017, Abdul reached a point where he couldn’t even breathe normally for a medical test because there was a tumor growing close to his heart. After running around several hospitals, the 16-year-old’s father learned that Abdul was suffering from T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia which is a deadly form of cancer.“I just heard the word cancer and I was devastated. Abdul has been healthy his entire life, he would keep asking me, ‘Papa, why are we at a cancer hospital?’ and for 2 months I would just tell him that he had a blood infection. He found out on his own through Google. He started chemo as an immediate measure and for 6 months my son fought so hard to recover. In fact, on 16th May, he had to undergo one last chemo cycle! But, on 14th May, he was just crying out in pain and then I got the terrible news of his relapse. We were so close. Now, we’re back at zero. Despite all this, there is still a smile on his face.” – Kareem.
Abdul's grandmother, Abdul, and Kareem outside the hospital
Abdul was wrongly diagnosed with tuberculosis which tormented him
Initially, Abdul was wrongly diagnosed, by another doctor, with tuberculosis. The expensive medicines tormented Abdul for weeks before his tumor started to affect his breathing.“I was so frustrated when, after weeks of strong medicines, another doctor told me that Abdul didn’t have TB. During those weeks, Abdul couldn’t stand, walk or even lie down. Waist-down, he was in so much pain that it was literally burning him. Even his urine was red in color! He was completely destroyed. Soon, he couldn’t even breathe properly because of the tumor."– Kareem.
Only a bone marrow transplant can decide Abdul’s fate
After shockingly suffering from a relapse, Abdul’s only option is to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Without this, his cancer will spread rapidly and become fatal soon. His 9-year-old brother is matched as a donor too but Kareem has nothing left after all this.
Kareem is desperate to save his son and is running out of time
Kareem works as a contract technician and earns just around Rs. 300/day if he's lucky.“He has to undergo a few cycles of chemo again. First, his treatment against tuberculosis was expensive, then the chemo was even more expensive. Until now, I have borrowed Rs. 3 lakhs from my sister and mortgaged my house for around Rs. 4 lakhs. My wife and my mother have sold all their jewelry which fetched us around Rs. 3 lakhs. In addition to this, my friends helped me with Rs. 2.5 lakhs. All of this is gone! I have nothing left now, no one to ask. How can a poor man like me, who has sold everything his family had, afford this transplant? Abdul is torn apart after his relapse and I want him to live.” – Kareem.
How you can help
Kareem hasn’t been able to work for 8 months and he spent all he got, which is over Rs. 13 lakhs, on Abdul’s treatments up till now. Kareem works as a contract technician and earns just around Rs. 300/day if he's lucky. The 16-year-old cannot survive without an immediate bone marrow transplant which costs an additional Rs. 25 lakhs. Even after mortgaging his home, Kareem cannot save his son without your help.“He was in 11th grade and he wanted to join the merchant navy and become an officer. All he’s left with are tears.”
Your support will save the relapsed 16-year-old Abdul and ensure that he joins the navy in the future and makes Kareem proud.
Supporting Document
The specifics of this case have been verified by the medical team at the concerned hospital. For any clarification on the treatment or associated costs, contact the campaign organizer or the medical team.
