Skip to main content

A RACE AGAINST TIME -6-Year-Old Asad Fights to Save His Sight

 


Six-year-old Asad Ullah spends his days in a hospital ward, clutching a faded stuffed toy and humming songs from his favorite cartoons. But behind his bright smile lies a painful reality: Asad is fighting retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer that has already stolen his right eye. Now, as he undergoes chemotherapy at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital’s Centre for Eye Cancer, the goal is to save his remaining eye and protect his future from permanent darkness.

Asad’s story began in Domel, a small town of district Attock, where his family first noticed a faint, unsettling glow in his right eye. Struggling with poverty and unaware of the gravity of his symptoms, they could not access specialized care in time. By the time they reached Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, surgeons had no choice but to remove the right eye to stop the cancer’s spread. Now the hospital’s team is pouring every resource into shielding his left eye from the same fate.

Asad is receiving chemotherapy for his eye tumor. Chemo sessions leave him weak and nauseous, but Asad greets nurses with a grin and doodles abstracts during brief respites. His mother, Saima, wipes away tears as she speaks about his son. “He asks when he can go back home and play with his friends.” she says. “Losing his other eye would mean losing everything—school, play, independence,” Saima whispers, her voice trembling. “We live moment to moment, trusting the doctors and God.For now, Asad’s world revolves around hospital corridors and his mother’s lullabies. But with each chemotherapy cycle, hope flickers brighter. The Centre for Eye Cancer, known for its advanced ocular oncology (eye cancer) program and world-class free eye cancer treatment, has become his family’s last hope. The family clings to the belief that his remaining eye will heal, that his dreams will outlast the darkness threatening to engulf his future.

The Centre for Eye Cancer at Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi stands as Pakistan’s only exclusive facility dedicated to eye cancer offering free, world-class cancer care to all patients, irrespective of socioeconomic status. As a pioneer in the field, the Centre combines cutting-edge technology and specialized expertise to deliver life-saving treatments without compromising on quality or accessibility.

Beyond this life-saving initiative, Al-Shifa Trust operates the largest network of tertiary eye care hospitals in Pakistan and aims to eliminate preventable blindness. Since 1991, Al-Shifa Trust has treated over 29 million patients. Monthly, over 80,000 underprivileged patients receive free eye care at Al-Shifa Trust. Join us in our mission to eliminate preventable blindness and support free eye care for the underprivileged. — To learn more about Al-Shifa Trust,  visit alshifaeye.org

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LEADING PAKISTAN FINTECH – HABALL – SECURES US$52 MILLION PRE-SERIES A; EQUITY LED BY ZAYN VC

Haball (“the Company”), Pakistan’s leading supply chain financing and payments fintech, raises a US$52 million pre-Series A funding round comprising equity investment and a strategic financing allocation.   The round’s equity component of US$5 million was led by Zayn VC - Pakistan’s premier venture capital firm. Other investors included Majlis Advisory SPV; several leading private investors in KSA; angel investors, and a prominent business conglomerate. The strategic financing component (US$47 million) was provided by Meezan Bank Limited, Pakistan’s first and largest Islamic bank, rated AAA/A-1+.   The announcement follows a deliberate strategy of responsible fundraising by the Company since its 2017 inception. Investors have been attracted to, and closely aligned with, Haball’s positive unit economics, strategic focus, and track-record of attracting and leveraging impactful investments.   The proceeds will support Haball in consolidating its market leadership...
Post a Comment
Read more

Livoltek is all set to Showcase Cutting-Edge Solar Solutions at Middle East Energy 2025 in Dubai

Livoltek , a global leader in innovative solar energy solutions, is set to make a significant impact at the Middle East Energy 2025 exhibition, taking place from April 7-9, 2025 , at the Dubai World Trade Center, UAE (Booth No. H7-H18) . As the premier energy event in the region, Middle East Energy serves as a pivotal platform for Livoltek to introduce its latest advancements in solar technology and energy storage solutions to a global audience. Livoltek will be showcasing its state-of-the-art on-grid and off-grid solar inverters, hybrid storage systems, and smart energy management solutions that cater to residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Visitors to the Livoltek booth will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how the company’s innovative products are driving energy efficiency, sustainability, and cost savings across diverse sectors At MEE 2025, Livoltek will present its comprehensive range of products designed to meet diverse energy needs:​ · ...
Post a Comment
Read more

`Starlink’s Pakistan Launch: A Game-Changer or a Distant Dream?

    Starlink , the satellite-based internet service by SpaceX, has secured a provisional registration from the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB), marking its first official step toward launching operations in the country. However, while its entry has sparked excitement over the prospect of high-speed internet in remote areas, its journey forward remains tangled in bureaucratic, financial, and technical hurdles.   Before Starlink can officially roll out its services, it must obtain a formal license from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), establish ground gateway stations, and comply with security and regulatory requirements. Industry experts estimate that this process could take up to a year, as PSARB, in collaboration with international consultants, is still developing the necessary regulatory framework.   Despite these obstacles, the possibility of satellite-powered internet bridging Pakistan’s digital divide remains an exciti...
Post a Comment
Read more