Roni Akand, Joypurhat Special Correspondent:
When his friends run around in the schoolyard, 10-year-old Sajjad Islam Naeem stands at a distance and watches them play. Even if he wants to, he cannot run like other children. He starts panting even after walking a little, and his body starts shaking even after standing for a long time. Just 28 days after his birth, he was diagnosed with a heart defect. Since then, his life has been a struggle with hospitals, treatment and uncertainty.
Naeem’s home is in Dhunat village of Udaypur union in Kalai upazila of Joypurhat. Naeem, who was born in 2015, is currently a student at the local Binayil Government Primary School.
According to family sources, doctors diagnosed Naeem with a heart defect 28 days after his birth. After that, he was taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, National Heart Institute and Hospital for tests, and then to Bangalore, India for advanced treatment. The surgery and medical expenses there cost about 8 lakh taka. The family has become destitute while trying to raise this huge amount of money. To meet the medical expenses, they had to sell a hundred acres of land, three cows and their only means of livelihood, a van. Although about three lakh taka was collected in total, it is still not possible to start the treatment due to a shortage of about five lakh taka.
Naeem’s father Md. Nur Mohammad said that he used to run a van. To meet the medical expenses of his son, he sold the van for 30 thousand taka and is working as a daily wage laborer to support the family.
Selina Begum said in a tearful voice, “I sold everything I had to save my son. Now I have nothing left. Still, I want my son to recover and live in front of us.”
Naeem’s school principal Md. Jahangir Hossain said, “Naeem is a very calm, humble and talented student. But his physical condition is getting complicated day by day. If he does not undergo surgery soon, there is a risk that the situation will worsen.”
Naeem’s classmates said that we all play together. But Naeem cannot play for long. He gets tired very quickly. We want him to recover quickly and play with us again.
Naeem said in a tearful voice, “I can’t do what my friends can do. Even running a little makes it hard to breathe. I want to get well. I want to play and study like everyone else.”
A family has already lost almost all their resources to save a child’s life. Yet they have not given up hope. Now, the support of wealthy, humane individuals and institutions in society is needed for timely treatment. Only a compassionate hand can restore Naeem’s normal childhood and dream of living.