In fight with a deadly disease

Hyderabad-based Rashida spends her days in the hospital tending to her 10-year-old son Rehan, who is suffering from a rare skin disorder known as toxic epidermal necrolysis. This condition is a harmful reaction and infection that can kill him if untreated. With more than 80 per cent of the 10-year-old’s skin peeled off, death may come for him soon without proper treatment that his mother is struggling to afford.

“He was so cold because all of his skin had peeled off. Every spot on his body was burning and he was just shouting in pain. First, he used to get fits, and now his body has barely any skin. I can’t even look at his face without shedding a tear,” Rashida shared.

Due to the deadly infection, Rehan’s eyes are in danger too and right now, he is in the ICU supported by the ventilator. Rehan cannot survive without undergoing a multitude of treatments in isolation in the ICU for more than four weeks. His parents are so poor that even a day spent at the ICU is more than they earn.

“My husband, Moulali, works as a driver and we get around Rs 300 a day and may lose his job if he takes many leaves, leaving me to manage everything. Rehan’s skin needs to be dressed every day and he is also fed through tubes. Every day there is some new treatment he goes through. The bills have already crossed Rs 5 lakh and there I don’t know where we will get so much money from. It costs well over Rs 20,000 daily. I don’t know how we’re going to save him. He was such a nice boy, he’d play with all the kids and love school. I’m so shocked and terrified to see him like this,” a tearful Rashida said.

His only hope of surviving this is if he remains isolated in the ICU for a prolonged period of time receiving the several life-saving treatments he needs. With his father away, his mother has absolutely nothing left and she can’t save him without help. Showing a good gesture, nearly 1500 people have come together from across the world to help Rehan's family raise nearly Rs 20 lakh for his treatment. 

You can also support Rehan to fight this deadly condition at https://milaap.org/fundraisers/support-rehan.