Help Mahum and Her Mom Get the Accessibility They Desperately Need

Hi, my name is Mahum Raja, and I’m 13 years old.

One year ago, my life completely changed when I was diagnosed with a rare and devastating illness called Mitochondrial Deletion Syndrome – POLG. It’s something most people have never heard of, but for me and my mom, it’s become our daily reality — a reality filled with challenges, pain, and heartbreak.

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What This Disease Is Doing to Me

Mitochondrial POLG affects the mitochondria, which are like the batteries that power every cell in your body. When the mitochondria stop working properly — like in my case — your muscles weaken, your energy disappears, and your body slowly stops being able to do the things it used to do so easily.

For me, this disease has progressed fast. Just two years ago, I was running around, going to school, and living a normal life like any other kid.

Now, I can’t walk, I can’t climb stairs, I can’t even get into my mom’s car without her lifting me. I need help with almost everything. I use a wheelchair now, and even that’s not always easy, because our home and car aren’t built for someone like me.

The hardest part? I remember what it felt like to be independent. To play. To walk. To laugh and run without worrying if my body would cooperate. Watching all that slip away — knowing it may never come back — is something no kid should have to go through.

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‍ My Mom Is Doing Everything She Can

My mom, Anila Raja, is the strongest person I know. She’s a single mother who recently went through a painful divorce. She has fought so hard to protect me, care for me, and keep a roof over our heads — all while watching her only child slowly lose the ability to walk and move.

She carries me, she lifts me, she stays up late worrying about how we’ll manage. But the truth is, she’s exhausted — physically, emotionally, and financially. And as I grow and my condition progresses, things are getting even harder. You could zelle us if thay is easy for you 6314187220 ,[email redacted]

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What We Need Right Now

To make life a little bit easier and safer for both of us, we are asking for help to raise money for:

• A wheelchair-accessible van

• A ramp for our house

Right now, we don’t have the equipment to safely get me in and out of the house or car. Every trip to the doctor is a struggle. Even going outside is hard. These tools would mean everything to us — they would give me back some freedom and take some of the heavy burden off my mom’s shoulders.

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How You Can Help

We know times are tough, and there are so many people in need. But if you’re in a position to help, even the smallest donation can make a huge difference for us.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing our story with others. You never know who might be in a place to help.

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Thank You From the Bottom of Our Hearts

Living with this illness is scary. It’s lonely. It’s painful — not just physically, but emotionally. But we still have hope. Hope that with the right support, we can make our lives more manageable. Hope that we’re not alone.

Thank you for reading our story. Thank you for caring. And thank you, truly, for any help you can give.

With love,

Mahum and Anila