No One Should Fight Cancer Alone

Some patient stories are difficult to speak about. But they are the ones that need most to be heard. Chacha Abdul Karim was abandoned by his family when he fell ill. Frail with age and in very poor health, he travelled all by himself from Afghanistan to Lahore seeking help.

“Sometimes I think it is not the disease killing me, it is my loneliness that is killing me.” We found Chacha Abdul Karim in the outpatient waiting area. Sitting by himself, he looked so broken we wanted to keep him company. But were also worried about upsetting him with our questions. While we hesitated, Chacha made the first move. He asked us if we would sit and talk with him.

“I came here all alone from Afghanistan. I have been here for three and a half months. My family left me in my sickness; they did not want to care for me. The people at Shaukat Khanum Hospital have helped me a lot. They have taken care of me. I only have them, and I only have my God now.”

Chacha Abdul Karim only speaks Farsi. To communicate, we needed to find someone who could act as an interpreter between us. This wasn’t difficult, since hospital staff had already made sure that language wouldn’t be a barrier between Chacha and his treatment.

“I am living here in Lahore with some people from Afghanistan, but they are strangers,” he said, when we asked Chacha where he was staying in a city that is strange to him. “I am all alone, and I have recently run out money. I don’t know what I will do. It is a blessing that I am able to get free
 treatment at this Hospital. Otherwise I would be left to die”

At Shaukat Khanum Hospital, we have a support system in place for patients like Chacha Abdul Karim. This would not be the case without you. Your donations are allowing us to give him the best in health care. For this we are as grateful as he is.

Chacha Abdul Karim seemed calmer after our conversation. When parting, we asked if there was anything we could do to make him feel better. He asked us to make sure we got a good picture of him. Abandoned by his nearest and alone in a strange city, Chacha Abdul Karim did not want to be forgotten. He wanted us to know about his struggles and tell others.

Please share Chacha’s story. Please Support Us so that more people like him have a place to turn when they are most desperate.