This 22-Year-Old Calls Himself A Burden To His Parents

“One day I was going to school, playing with my friends and living a carefree life and the very next, my life turned 180 degrees. It’s been 6 years and I am completely dependent on my parents. I can’t walk, stand or even go to the washroom on my own. Most of the time I just lay on the bed, unable to move due to the pain. I feel like I am a burden to my parents…”- Naushad

His legs resemble the legs of an elephant

Naushad was 14 years old when he fell from the first floor and started having pain in his right leg. After consulting several doctors, they were told he had a hairline fracture and because of that, he had swelling in his leg.

“Months passed away but his pain only multiplied. Pus started forming in multiple areas of his leg. When we went to the hospital, they asked us to get the surgery done and we did. But his condition only got worse with each day. His leg is now so swollen that it resembles the legs of an elephant. He is in so much pain that we have to use ice to numb it. But for how long does my child have to suffer like this?…” – Memjadi, mother

Without surgery, he might never be able to live a normal life

Due to a lack of proper education and resources, it took this family years to diagnose the ailment. Naushad suffers from lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease that causes pain and difficulty in walking. Now, he needs surgery to live a normal life and the delay might cost him his leg.

“Ever since the swelling began, everyone started being distant from me. Eventually, my friends and even relatives stopped visiting, fearing they might also get the disease. It’s been tough but now, knowing that it can get better,  all I want is to have a normal life and to look after my age if parents. Doctors say that if I don’t get surgery now, they might have to amputate my leg to stop the disease from spreading.” – Naushad

Naushad’s treatment will cost 6.5 Lakh rupees. It includes pre-operative procedures, surgery and recovery. The surgery will be done for debulking of fibrofatty tissues and thickened skin along with reconstructive surgery with flap rotation.

With this surgery, Naushad will have a second chance at life. He’ll be able to fulfil his long-lost dreams.

I collect iron scrap for a living, I can’t afford his cure

Fakira, Naushad’s father pushes an empty cart each morning to collect scrap iron and manages to earn 10-12 thousand rupees a month by selling it. But it is barely enough to put food on the table to afford medical bills.

“I collect iron scrap for a living. With my income, I am barely able to afford the monthly visits to the hospital, affording surgery is next to impossible. Whatever valuable things we had, we sold it long back to treat our child. We have nothing. We live in a rented house and live meal to meal.” – Fakira

Help Naushad have a second chance at life. Your contribution can make that happen.