1-Week-Old Amirah Needs Surgery, Parents Plea For Help

Little Amirah is living life on a thin thread.

The week-old baby needs to undergo surgery which can save her life.

January 31, 2020, was the happiest day in the lives of Farhad Ashab, 26, and wife Quresha Ali, 25, as Amira was born at 5.30 pm.

This happiness was short-lived, as not even a day into her new life, little Amirah started turning blue.

“We were told by doctors that Amirah not only had a hole in her heart but her arteries had not developed. Her lungs were also not formed properly,” an emotional Mr Ashab said.

Amirah is the couple’s first child, she is also the first grandchild in the family.

“What she needs is a series of surgeries. The first one will be followed by another six months down the line and then the final one,” Mr Ashab said.

“We know that India is the cheaper location, but our child is so young that we do not want to risk the travel. Our only option is New Zealand for the first surgery and this will cost us about $100,000.”

Currently, Amirah is on medication which allows her to be able to breathe properly. Dosage of this medicine costs the couple $1100 and lasts for 100 hours.

Since she was born a week ago, Amirah has been at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.

Her mother by her side every moment while her father is running around frantically hoping to be able to collect money that will buy his daughter a new chance at life.

Charity organisation Being Helping Hands Fiji has put their support behind this little girl and are also trying to raise funds.

For the young parents, each passing day is edging closer to their daughter’s demise.

“Help me save my baby girl,” said a tearful Mr Ashab.

He said if people wanted to help give funds for Amirah’s surgery they could deposit money into his bank account at the BSP Bank. His account number is 11302679 and the swift code is BOSPFJFJ.

Edited by Percy Kean

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