NHS Free Treatment for Omisha

Beinghuman Shrestha is organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi, my name is Reeja. I am the mother of Omisha Shrestha who is 2 years old. I am fundraising for the NHS debt that was charged during her treatment at the Local Hospital. As the parents of Omisha, we are immigrants who have spent more than 10 years in the UK. When Omisha was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma (a rare form of Liver disease in children under one year old) in the year 2020, she was only 10 months old. During that time, we didn't have valid visas. Our case was pending with the Home Office. Omisha got Chemotherapy soon after her admission to the well-known Children's Hospital in London. After the first round of Chemo, the doctors told us that the side effects and the risks of Chemotherapy in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic could be life-threatening for her.
We live in a shared accommodation sharing the public spaces with 9 other members in the house. After knowing this fact, the doctors made us stay at the hospital in an inpatient ward until her Second Chemo. Then we were transferred to the local hospital for her safety. The local hospital accepted and we were permitted to stay there in an inpatient ward. However, we were not made aware of the later charges. The main hospital basically transferred us with the hope that the social workers of the hospitals would find us the housing accommodation. When the local hospital came to realize after 2 months that we couldn't apply for housing accommodation as our Human rights claim was still pending in the Court, the Overseas Officer of the local hospital made us aware of the NHS charges.
After completing all 6 rounds of Chemotherapy, we were discharged from the local hospital. Since then, we received many NHS invoices and phone calls from the local overseas teams. We wrote to the local MP, even the Prime minister, and home secretary about our situation but they could not waive or exempt the NHS charges but could only write to the local hospital to extend the time limit to pay the debt until we receive the decision from the Home Office. Our court hearing was postponed quite a few times which made the situation worse.
During that period of time, the doctors told us that Omisha needed a Liver Transplant because the tumour could not be removed even after the 6the round of Chemo due to its growth from the hepatic vein (which is the main vein in the liver) that made it complicated for the surgery. So, she got a Liver Transplant surgery immediately on the 1st of January 2021 even though she was Covid positive.
Even after the Liver Transplant, she keeps getting post-transplant complications and had to be admitted to different hospitals along with the local hospital several times. She was on Immuno-suppressant medications that made her more susceptible to get infections from people and her surroundings.
Since then, she had PV stricture dilation surgery, many blood transfusions, IV antibiotics, CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, Endoscopy, Colonoscopy, biopsies and many more liver review tests and blood tests done at all the hospitals.
However, till now all our visits to the local hospital after the transplant were Emergency visits to an A&E for blood transfusions, IV fluids and IV antibiotics. They are all serious visits where she could lose her life in case of any negligence.
This year in January 2022, after her Endoscopy, Colonoscopy and Biopsy, she was diagnosed with PTLD. It is a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder and the scans showed lumps on her lungs, groins, underarms and behind the neck. So, the doctor admitted her straight away for the Chemo and Rituximab (antibody) therapy. Since February 2022, she is receiving Rituximab therapy every week. She got a PICC line for the antibody therapy but this March she developed a skin infection from the PICC line dressing and had to be admitted to the local hospital immediately. She received IV antibiotics in the local hospital again after the emergency visit.
Due to her condition, we have to stay distant from our family and friends. She has celebrated her birthday, Christmas, and New year in the hospital away from family.
Till now, the Overseas officer has reported more than £70,000 in NHS debt to the Home Office. And my last conversation with the manager of the overseas officer team was when she told me that Omisha is undocumented and even though we (parents) hold a valid visa, she is still entitled to pay for all her NHS treatments and the debt can't be negotiated.
We couldn't be able to clear the huge amount of the debt that they have recorded. My husband is the only one who earns our living and has just started his new job this year after 6 years due to no visa. He has to look after our elder daughter when Omisha and I have to go to the hospital. Due to this, the company has decided to give him a part-time job from full-time. This will hugely affect our life and overall our living standard.
We were merely surviving on our close-knit family members and friends for our basic needs and house rent. And as he got a job, everyone stopped helping us financially. The money goes to the rent, travel, food, and paying the debt to friends and families. We have been referred by Omisha's health visitor to get the food from the Food Bank and toys from the children's centre's toy bank.

We have written several times to the overseas officer regarding our situation and if they can exempt her from the charge, but they have not shown any compassion but would rather remind us about the debt. They will send us the Final demand of payment notice and how it could affect my immigration status in case of non-payment.
The other well-known Children's hospitals where she got her Chemotherapy and Liver transplant haven't charged us any NHS fees where she would visit most often. It is only the local hospital that would send us the bill where we only show up in an emergency situation. We have asked the support from social workers, doctors, and solicitors but nothing seemed to have helped much so we came her in the hope of being heard.
It is our heartfelt request to you all to help us pay the NHS debt and stop the NHS charge for a patient like Omisha who needs lifetime treatment. This whole situation is not anyone's fault but it should not happen to anyone who is vulnerable & weak and in need of constant medical attention. We have to secure their future medical needs by protecting the present situation.
If you are a parent who is in a similar situation to us, please feel free to contact me. We should help each other and convince the faculties to exempt the NHS charges to vulnerable people and kids like Omisha.
Please, this is a heartfelt request for everyone to help us and secure her future medical needs.
I also have my personal website (https://www.tootsiebuttonblog.com/) and Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4qA2csPJXDmp4isovRuOA) that was created a long time ago. However, due to Omisha's health condition and frequent hospital visits, I could not continue it. I do not earn anything from my website and Youtube channel as it was merely for the interest of writing and creating memories. If you'd like to donate to us through our website and Youtube channel, please click the Donate button. We'd be very grateful for your help and in future, we'll do the same for the one who are suffering and in need of any help.