"I couldn't do anything for my niece but even if I could save one life or make a difference to one then I know I'll be able to atleast face my Lord."
Najeda Kalam's personal experiences with a congenital heart defect, firstly as a patient herself, and later through the loss of her niece due to the condition, makes one understand the devastating impact CHD has on individuals, families, and communities. This is her story.
I was born to my parents with a congenital heart disease; although my parents refused to treat it as a burden to them, it was clear that they and I have struggled for the entirety of my life due to the complications that arise with such conditions. Unfortunately, our experience with such health problems are not limited to my own; a short while ago, my family suffered the loss of my newborn niece to this disease. It was a devastating and unexpected blow.
Despite the difficulty that comes paired with grieving, I have learnt that ‘life’ and ‘death’ should both be considered blessings. ‘Life’ is Allah granting us the opportunity to praise Him and obey Him as well as to stand as a part of this world’s Ummah. ‘Death’ is Allah informing us that He is pleased with us and that our time has come. We should not be frightened by death, but this does not mean that we should allow it to happen under preventable circumstances.
Alhamdullilah, my family haven’t faced financial troubles concerning my illness, however, it pains me to see parents, young and old, that are feeling helpless and lost due to their inability to fund proper care and treatment for their children.
My recent loss and prolonged suffering has inspired me to join this battle and I pray that Allah gives me the strength to continue for as long as I live, especially for my beloved niece. Children are the most precious part of our society and it is agonising to imagine the number of pure hearts we’ve lost as a result of such diseases and poverty alike. No child should ever face that pain, no child should have to leave their family, no child should lose the chance to live. We take our lives for granted and we neglect our obligations towards those less fortunate than us. One donation can give a child the opportunity to survive. Your kind donations will be sent to Africa and Asia in order to provide equipment for surgery, training for doctors and it will also pay for the surgery itself. Rich or poor, we are all equal in the eyes of Allah, and that is something we mustn’t forget. We must never forget, for my niece, for our children, for the lost souls of this life.
To learn more about her personal journey and how you can support her fundraising, please visit her total giving page at https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/littleheartsproject.
