He’s fighting deadly pneumonia at just 15-years-old! Help his parents afford ICU care

Fundraiser Summary:

• A simple cough has left my son fighting for his life in the ICU.
   
• We believed it was just a normal flu, but when he began bleeding during urination, we rushed him for immediate tests.
   
• Ismail was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress, leaving him unable to breathe on his own.
   
• We have already spent ₹37 lakhs on his treatment by selling all our gold. Now, we are unable to manage the daily medical costs and need another ₹10 lakhs ($ 11090) to save our son’s life. Please help us!

“Ammi, don’t worry. It’s just a cough. I’ll be fine in a few days,” my son said. What came next terrified us.

A few weeks ago, my son, Ismail, was a healthy, school-going 15-year-old. He was good in his studies, always curious, always asking questions. He prayed several times a day with sincerity beyond his age. Often, he would tell us that he wanted to study well, start working early, and take responsibility for the entire family. As a mother, I felt blessed raising a child with such a pure heart.

We never imagined how suddenly life could change.

It began with what seemed like a normal cough. We thought it was the seasonal flu and gave him medicines. But a few days later, Ismail started bleeding during urination. I remember my hands trembling as I called my husband. We rushed him to the hospital immediately. 

Doctors examined him and told us he needed to be admitted for further tests. Within hours, his condition began to worsen. His breathing became laboured, his oxygen levels dropped, and soon the doctors said words no mother is ever prepared to hear. My son could not breathe on his own. He needed ventilator support.

When he was shifted to Rainbow Hospital in Hyderabad, doctors found fluid in his lungs. Even after removing it, Ismail did not improve. His body was exhausted. His lungs were failing him. That is when the doctors said that he had severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress.

That is when doctors told us that ECMO was the only way to save our son’s life.

ECMO is an external artificial lung. It does the work his lungs can no longer do. Ismail has been on this machine for more than three weeks now. Every day feels like a battle between hope and fear.

We have already spent ₹37 lakhs on his treatment. My husband mortgaged all the gold he had collected over his lifetime, gold meant for our daughters’ weddings. We borrowed from relatives, exhausted every option. Now, doctors say we need another ₹8-10 lakhs ($ 11090) to continue his treatment.

The ECMO treatment alone costs ₹1,80,000 every single day, an amount we can no longer afford. As parents, how do we choose between money and our child’s life?

Ismail lies unconscious now, but I believe he can hear us. I sit outside his room every day, praying that he will open his eyes soon. My son still has dreams waiting for him. I believe he will walk out of this hospital healthy.

Until then, I am holding on to hope and asking you to hold it with me. Please help us save our son’s life.

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