Halova Maryam

Maryam has leukaemia, and at some point, her family could no longer care for her at home.

Maryam is just four years old and has acute leukaemia—a type of blood cancer that requires urgent and continuous treatment. Without it, there is little time to waste.

In the autumn of 2025, life at home was typical. The children attended school, Mum handled the household chores, and Dad took care of the farm. In the evenings, they enjoyed reading stories, watching cartoons, and saying their prayers before bedtime. Maryam grew up surrounded by love and attention. She loved to draw, colour, and stick on stickers. She adored animals and always wanted to help her dad.

“She always wanted to be close by. If I went out to run errands, she would come with me. It was important to her just to be together,” recalls her dad.

From an early age, Maryam exhibited an unusual thoughtfulness. She spoke confidently and reasoned more deeply than one would expect from a little girl. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, Maryam always replied, “I’m going to be a mum.”

It all began with a common cold. She had a fever, a cough, and fatigue. Her parents took her to the doctor, treated her, and waited for her condition to improve. However, Maryam continued to get worse.

Eventually, a blood test was conducted, and the results were critical. The diagnosis was confirmed: acute leukaemia (blood cancer).

 “At that moment, they mentioned that word—and I realised that life would never be the same again,” says her father.

Due to Maryam’s critical condition, she urgently needed transfusions of platelets and other blood components. Unfortunately, there was no blood of the required type available in Kyrgyzstan. When she received transfusions of incompatible components, it caused severe allergic reactions: swelling, rashes, attacks of suffocation, and a sharp deterioration in her condition. Each of these episodes became a fight for her life.

Maryam's test results continued to worsen. The blast cells were multiplying, and her body could no longer cope. One day, she was rushed to intensive care without her parents by her side.

“They wouldn’t let us in. We stood outside the door and heard her screaming. It’s impossible to forget that scream. You stand there, praying, and realise there’s nothing you can do,” recalls her father.

When Maryam was returned to her ward, she didn’t speak for several hours, as if she had disconnected from the world around her. Since that time, every visit from a doctor has filled her with fear. Each injection serves as a painful reminder of that night. 

A decision made with the heart… but they could not manage without her.

Her parents realised that staying could cost them their daughter. They sold their entire farm, including their sheep, their primary source of income. They depleted their savings and sought help from relatives and kind-hearted friends.

“We prayed and asked Allah to guide us. We realised we had to leave. It was our only chance,” Dad said.

The Memorial Clinic in Istanbul has agreed to admit Maryam on a partial payment basis. Since January 15, 2026, she has been undergoing treatment following the international ALL BFM 2017 protocol. The first stage consists of 33 days of intensive chemotherapy in the hospital.

Maryam is afraid of doctors, pain, and hospital procedures, yet she is remarkably sensitive. When her mother struggles to hold back her tears, Maryam asks, "Why are you crying?" She tries to be strong for her parents’ sake, holding on to the hope that it will all be over soon and that she will return home to her brother, sister, grandmother, and her normal life.

Maryam’s condition is currently stable, and the doctors are seeing positive progress. However, the first course of treatment is not yet complete, and the hospital bill must be paid in full; otherwise, treatment may be stopped. This family has exhausted all their resources and has already given everything they had.

“I believe that Allah sends help through people. If you are reading this, then you are the help,” says Maryam’s father.

Please help Maryam survive. 

In our culture, we say that saving one life is like saving the whole world.

To her family, Maryam is their entire world.

Even a small donation can give her a chance to grow up, live her life, and one day return home.

Please help Maryam get through this difficult time and survive.

 

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