In a heartbreaking ordeal, Aneet Ur Rehman, a nine-year-old boy from Karachi, Pakistan, battles chronic liver disease, causing his stomach to swell to three times the size of a beach ball. His family, already burdened by the emotional toll of seeing their young son suffer, is unable to afford the staggering £35,000 required for a life-saving liver transplant.
Aneet’s father, Ali, shared the distressing journey his family has undergone since Aneet began experiencing abdominal pain four years ago. Initially, the swelling was manageable, but in the past year, it has reached a point where finding clothes that fit him has become a daunting task. Aneet’s mobility is severely restricted, and even the slightest touch to his tender stomach results in excruciating pain, leaving him crying incessantly.
Despite seeking medical attention, Aneet’s family received a devastating diagnosis: liver failure due to chronic liver disease, specifically the Budd–Chiari syndrome. This rare condition has already forced Aneet to quit school, confining him to his home, where he spends his days in discomfort.
Ali, who worked as a plumber in Saudi Arabia, made the difficult decision to quit his job and return to Pakistan to care for his ailing son. Despite multiple attempts to seek medical help, the family faces the harsh reality that Aneet urgently needs a liver transplant, a procedure with a significant financial barrier.
The family recently sought assistance at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation but was informed of a long waiting list for liver transplants and a shortage of donors. Aneet’s condition continues to worsen, with fluid being drained from his abdomen monthly, providing temporary relief but failing to improve his overall health.
Desperate for help, Aneet’s father has issued a plea to the public and the Pakistani government for donations. The cost of a liver transplant at a private hospital is estimated to be nearly £35,000, an amount beyond their means even if they were to sell their entire property.
Aneet’s uncle, Abdul Rehman, expressed the family’s heartbreak, emphasizing how Aneet’s condition prevents him from attending school or playing with his siblings.
Dr. Arit Parkash, a pediatrician at the National Institute of Child Health in Karachi, provided insight into Aneet’s condition, stating that he is suffering from chronic liver disease secondary to Budd–Chiari syndrome. The recommended treatment, Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) procedure, is not available locally. The alternative, a liver transplant, has prompted a referral to SIUT Hospital.
The family’s plea extends beyond their personal circumstances, urging the public and the government to come together to save Aneet’s life. With a mixture of hope and desperation, they appeal for assistance in affording the critical liver transplant that could offer Aneet a chance at a normal and healthy future.
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