Baby Usman
In a sun-scorched village, where dust clung to every step, Usman’s father, a laborer named Ashraf, toiled from dawn to dusk. His calloused hands carried the weight of feeding his wife and four daughters, each day’s earnings turning into their evening meal. When Usman, their only son, was born in 2021, a wave of joy washed over the family—a boy, a beacon of hope after four girls. But that joy dimmed swiftly. Usman’s lips were tinged blue, his tiny chest heaving with effort. Diagnosed with the Tetrology of Fallot, a complex heart defect, his blood carried too little oxygen, threatening his fragile life. For Ashraf, whose every penny was stretched thin, the news was a heavy blow. How could a laborer afford to save his son?
The Struggle
The family’s journey became a maze of hospital visits and fading hope. A local pediatric cardiologist, seeing Usman’s struggle, referred them to Hope & Health, dedicated to helping children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). In late 2021, we sent Usman to Sri Satya Sai Palwal Haryana for advanced care. There, doctors confirmed the heart defect but uncovered another hurdle: Usman’s white blood cell count was dangerously low, ruling out surgery. The family was sent home with instructions to wait and monitor, but months passed with no improvement. Usman grew weaker, his small body rejecting feeds, his laughter rare. Ashraf and his wife felt the weight of time, their son slipping further from reach.
Hope & Health
Yet, hope flickered. Hope & Health, undeterred, arranged for Usman to be transferred to Amrita Hospital in Kochi after another 6 months of struggle. There, a new diagnosis was added to the family’s burden: a syndrome stunting Usman’s growth and cognitive development, casting a shadow over his future. The medical team placed a PDA stent to boost his oxygen levels, a temporary lifeline, but his blood counts refused to improve. Eight months later, Usman’s condition deteriorated further, his breaths shallow, his energy fading. Surgery was now the only option, but it carried grave risks—infection, or even loss of life, loomed large. Ashraf and his wife faced an agonizing choice. Could they risk their son’s life for a chance at saving it?
Usman in 2021
Treatment
In a quiet hospital room, with love as their anchor, they chose to fight. The Amrita Hospital team, moved by Usman’s spirit and the family’s courage, agreed to take the risk. The surgery was grueling, each moment a test of endurance for the doctors and the family waiting with hope. Hours stretched into eternity, but Usman’s heart, patched and strengthened, began to beat with new vigor. Recovery was slow, fraught with tension, but Usman, the fighter, pulled through. Discharged home, he carried a fragile but growing spark of life.
The Reward
Years later, in 2025, a call from Ashraf brought tears of joy to the Hope & Health team. Usman, now a “big boy,” was running through the village, his laughter echoing. Enrolled in school, he surprised everyone with his wit and intelligence, defying the syndrome’s grim predictions. The boy who once struggled to breathe was now a beacon of possibility, his bright eyes a testament to what love, resilience, and community can achieve.
Usman’s five-year odyssey—from a fragile infant to a thriving child—was no simple miracle. It was forged by his parents’ unwavering love, the dedication of doctors who refused to give up, and the support of Hope & Health, which shouldered the costs of travel, food, surgery and above all never gave up.
Usman in 2025
Call to Action
Usman’s story is a call to action.
Let’s never abandon our children due to cost constraints (look around, you will find help) , for they are the heartbeat of our future, the promise of a brighter world. When we lift up one child, we lift up society itself.
Be a part of such many amazing journeys of healing and life.
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