“I always wanted a daughter. When my wife, Debika gave birth to my Sidratul, my happiness knew no bounds. Every day, when I came back from work, I used to take her outside to play even when I was terribly tired. My baby girl means the world to me and I thought I could do anything for her. But now, when cancer is damaging her heart, lungs, and liver, I am failing to save her. I wish it happened to me instead of her,” - Mafuz, Sidratul’s father.
The once-happy family is now struggling to keep their cancer-ridden daughter alive
The only time that Debika and Mafuz would be worried about their daughter was while putting her to sleep. She hated sleeping. She wanted to play and dance all day. The little girl hardly cried or caused any trouble. They had a happy life, but everything has changed terribly now.4 months ago, little Sidratul started having a terrible cough and was struggling to breathe. Her parents thought local medicines will make her feel better, but that didn’t help. After 5 days, when her condition began getting worse, Mafuz took him to the hospital where Sidratul was admitted immediately. Mafuz thought that Sidratul had a viral fever or pneumonia. But after several tests, the parents were devastated to know that it was cancer.
The rare cancer is slowly damaging the baby’s vital organs, she is running out of time
Little Shidratul is suffering from pleuropulmonary blastoma, a rare form of cancer that originates in the lungs. The little baby has a tumor in the lungs which is affecting her liver and heart as well. She needs to undergo chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor and a surgery to remove it. If the treatment isn’t done at the earliest, the tumor can damage the heart and liver completely and kill her. She is in a critical stage and her condition is deteriorating.The parents had to leave their 7-year-old son, Muntasir back at home with his grandparents, as they could not afford to bring him to the hospital with them. He cries on the phone asking his parents to come back home with his sister, but they have no words to console him. Cancer has made all of their lives so difficult.
“I stay at the hospital from 8 am to 11 pm just to be around my baby. Debika stays with her at the hospital continuously. Both of us try very hard to keep her distracted. But she is in so much pain that nothing seems to comfort her. She can't even express her pain, all she does is cry.The doctors have to keep giving her injections to make her fall asleep. I remember how she hated sleeping, but now that’s what gives her solace.”
An old picture of Sidratul with her father
After spending 40 times his income in just a month, Mafuz can no longer afford to save his baby
Mafuz works in a small private company and earns Rs 15000 a month. He used to take tuitions for the kids in his hometown for some extra income. For over past 1 month, Mafuz hasn’t been able to work. He’s at the hospital constantly trying to save his baby girl. He has spent Rs 6 lakhs (40 times his income) in the past month and has to spend Rs 500 every day for his food and accommodation. He has borrowed from his friends and relatives and also taken a loan, but it's still not enough. He has exhausted all his ways to save his baby. But now arranging another Rs 14 lakhs is just impossible for him.
How you can help
Baby Sidratul is suffering from rare cancer which is slowly damaging her lungs, liver, and heart. She needs to undergo chemotherapy and a surgery to stay alive. Her parents are trying very hard to save her, but without support, they can't do it now. After spending lakhs of rupees in a month, the young parents need help to save their baby girl.Your support will give a cancer-free life to this baby girl.
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.
