Help Sumaya fight Cancer

My friend of almost 3 strong decades now, Sumaya Khan is indomitable. She is talented, hardworking and ambitious. The eldest daughter of the late pilot, Captain A R Khan, she has always been the “son” her parents never had. And in uncle's absence today, she readily becomes the pillar of support for her family.

My earliest memories of her home was one full of exotic abundance. Whenever uncle returned from one of his flights, our gang would flock to her house to raid her fridge, stacked with the most scrumptious European sweets, cheese and candies,… treats that weren't readily available in stores in those days. The ladies of the house would be showered with clothes, perfume and trinkets any woman would envy. Their dinner parties were legendary. Needless to say, theirs' was a home of bounty and abundance, and they were always generous with their love.

Five years ago, Sumaya got married to her university sweetheart, and their parents left no stone unturned to make it a memorable day for them. Having completed her Law degree from London, yet always harbouring dreams of being an entrepreneur burning with potential and creativity, She dived headfirst into launching multiple business ventures. Her day was arriving.

But life is precarious, and none of us are exempt from it.

Her father got sick, his kidneys suddenly collapsed. The man had accumulated considerable wealth over the years invested in many high-value assets. Unfortunately, good health is expensive, as anyone living in Bangladesh knows. Overnight their savings ran dry. Assets were sold off at dirt cheap to pay for all the emergency treatments and hospital bills. They spent all that they could but ultimately, after fighting for over a year, uncle left us.

Sumaya doubled in on work to drown her grief. We saw even less of her as she went full steam into opening a new studio for one of her businesses. A venture she believed in and poured her last penny into. But that day did not come. For the past two years, stuck in lockdown she been observing her body slowly breaking apart. She thought is was heartache and she’s been seeing doctors of different domain for a while. She had to go through several tests including USG PELVIS TRANSVAGINAL (TVS) test, which indicated she has Thickened Endometrium with increased vascularity. Her doctor was not happy with the result so they did a pap-test on her to collect tissue sample from her uterus. Although the result came satisfactory but still she was having previous symptoms and the health issues remained. Doctors now prepared for a full D&C and the tests have now come in, its cancer. And there is no time to waste.

She has to fight again and there is so little for us to do but watch helplessly. That is why we her friends are trying to raise as much as we can to support her battle with Cancer. As she goes about liquidating what little she does have remaining we are hoping to raise enough support so her dreams aren't completely squished in a mountain of debt.

Just as ambitious as her, we hope to raise 50 Lakh Taka... which is still only a portion of the costs she is looking at. It is a big number for one person, but when people come together mountains are moved. She and her family has shared so much joy and love, touched the lives of so many people... we believe life always comes full circle.