10-year-old Rafi battles rare Moyamoya disease; family seeks financial help
Rafi was discharged on 8 January and is currently bedridden at home, with his right arm and leg largely paralysed
Ten-year-old Rahatul Islam Rafi's struggle with a rare neurological condition began when he was just three-and-a-half years old. Sudden seizures, followed by a stroke, left his limbs paralysed.
After extensive tests at Dhaka Shishu Hospital, doctors diagnosed him with Moyamoya disease, a progressive narrowing of blood vessels at the base of the brain, according to the American Brain Foundation.
Rafi's father, Mohammad Abul Hassan Shaikh, a low-income employee at a private medical college, has appealed to the public for financial support.
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"To save my son, we need at least Tk18–20 lakh for surgery in India. I earn Tk25,000 a month, of which Tk15,000 goes to loan repayment. I have no means to cover the rest. Without financial support, treatment is impossible," he told TBS, yesterday.
When Rafi first fell ill, effective treatment was unavailable in Bangladesh. With support from relatives and hospital staff, Hassan Shaikh took him to Bengaluru, India, for surgery, spending nearly Tk10 lakh. Post-surgery, Rafi gradually regained mobility, learned to walk, and enrolled at Amtoli School in Mohakhali.
However, his recovery was short-lived.
On 1 January, he developed a high fever, suffered another seizure, and experienced a stroke. Doctors at the National Institute of Neurosciences confirmed the disease had returned and advised urgent treatment abroad, recommending surgery in India once again.
Rafi was discharged on 8 January and is currently bedridden at home, with his right arm and leg largely paralysed.
Those willing to help can contribute via;
Account Name: MD ABUL HASSAN SHAIKH
Account Number: 2897101097910, PUBALI BANK LIMITED, Shishu Park Branch
bKash/Rocket: 01672876133
