My name is Istiak, and I am the father of my beloved son, Zuhair — our 2-years 10 months-old boy who once filled every corner of our home with laughter, energy, and pure innocence. He was always curious, always smiling, always exploring. Never in my worst nightmare did I imagine that the same child who chased bubbles and hugged his toys tightly would now be fighting one of the toughest battles a child can face — leukemia.

Our nightmare began suddenly. Around late October, Zuhair became visibly weak. His appetite vanished, he grew pale, and he slept more than usual. A persistent fever followed, and he no longer had the strength to play. Deep inside, we sensed something was terribly wrong. When we brought him for medical testing, our hearts broke as the doctors shared the results: our little boy had B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), the most common type of childhood blood cancer. Hearing the word cancer for our baby felt like the world collapsed beneath our feet. As parents, we felt helpless, terrified, and lost. But we also knew we could not give up. After learning that his treatment would require highly specialised medical care, we made the hardest decision of our lives — we left everything behind and came to Singapore so he could be treated at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

At KKH, after a bone marrow examination and immunophenotyping, the diagnosis was confirmed. Doctors explained that while ALL is treatable, Zuhair’s journey would be long, difficult, and filled with risks. To survive, he must undergo the MASPORE 2020 chemotherapy protocol, a treatment that can last 2 to 2.5 years, involving multiple phases, bone marrow tests, and monitoring for minimal residual disease (MRD). His risk group is still being determined, but regardless of the category, he must complete all chemotherapy stages to have the best chance of cure. Since chemotherapy started, our brave little boy has endured unimaginable pain. He has suffered weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, fear of needles, and endless hospital procedures. The child who once ran freely now lies quietly, holding our hands tightly for comfort. Every day we watch him fighting — and every day he still tries to smile for us. That strength is what keeps us going.

But behind every tiny smile lies a heavy burden — the cost of saving his life.

The estimated medical cost is $450,000. We are raising it progressively in stages, so that his treatment never stops. We have used all our savings, borrowed from family, and exhausted every option we have — but it is still far from enough. As a father, nothing breaks me more than knowing my child can survive, yet fearing that I may not be able to afford the treatment that will save him. This is why we are pleading, with all humility, for your help.

Please, if you can, help us keep Zuhair’s treatment going. Every contribution — no matter the amount — brings us one step closer to saving his life. Even if you cannot donate, your prayers and sharing of Zuhair’s story mean the world to us.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving hope to my little boy.

Thank you for helping us fight for his life.

Please help us save Zuhair.