Anisa A., 1

Anisa Akter is a tiny, fragile one-month-old girl born prematurely into a struggling family in Sakhipur, Shariatpur. Her parents, Shah Alam and Sohana, earn only BDT 9,000 a month as a tailor and housewife, respectively, and they live in a small tin house with limited resources, making it impossible to afford the urgent eye treatment she needs. Anisa's calm and hopeful eyes hide the risk of permanent blindness if her Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is not treated immediately with anti-VEGF injections. Without this crucial care, her vision could be permanently lost, preventing her from seeing the world she was born into and depriving her of a bright future. Her family, including her older brother and grandparents, desperately hopes for help to save her sight and give her a chance to grow up healthy.

Anisa Akter, a 1-month-old baby girl, was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in both eyes — a condition that could severely affect her vision if not treated promptly. Under the specialized care of Dr. Md Saiful Islam, ROP Specialist of the Hospital, she received Anti-VEGF injections to control abnormal blood vessel growth. The treatment was successfully administered, and her retinal condition has shown remarkable improvement. With the growth of blood vessels now stable, doctors are optimistic that Anisa will develop healthy vision as she grows. Heartfelt thanks to Helpster Charity and the Helpster Heroes for their compassionate support in restoring her sight.

According to Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain Sheikh, Chief Consultant, and Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, ROP Specialist at Mazharul Haque BNSB Eye Hospital, Chandpur, Anisa’s condition is treatable, but only if urgent intervention is made. They recommend immediate Anti-VEGF injections, which will prevent further abnormal blood vessel growth in her retina and give her the opportunity to develop normal vision. The prognosis is hopeful—if treated in time, Anisa can grow up to live a normal life, go to school, play with her siblings, and explore the world around her with healthy eyesight. However, if left untreated, her condition will worsen, leading to irreversible blindness.