Mr. S., 15

Mr. Shihab is a determined 15-year-old student who lives with his parents and younger brother in a family of four, hoping to continue his education despite their financial struggles. His father is the family's only earning member, working as a rented auto-rickshaw driver with a monthly income of approximately BDT 8,000, which is barely enough to cover food and other basic necessities, leaving the family unable to afford the cost of emergency surgery, hospitalization, medicines, and follow-up care. After learning about Helpster Charity through a medical outreach programme conducted by Anowar Hossain Anu and Meghlal Roy, the family sought assistance through Al Aqsa Hospital & Diagnostic Centre in the hope of saving Shihab's injured foot. Despite exhausting their limited resources, they cannot continue his treatment without financial support. Without timely surgery, his open fracture and joint dislocation could lead to severe infection, improper bone healing, permanent stiffness or deformity of the toe, difficulty walking, chronic pain, and long-term disability that could affect his education and future.

The recommended treatment is wound debridement and K-wire fixation under spinal anesthesia (SAB) to thoroughly clean the open wound, remove contaminated tissue, stabilize the fractured bone, and restore the normal alignment of the dislocated joint. With timely surgery, proper wound care, antibiotics, and regular follow-up, Shihab is expected to achieve good bone healing, regain normal toe function, reduce pain, and return to walking, school, and his daily activities. If left untreated, the open fracture may lead to severe wound infection, osteomyelitis (bone infection), improper or non-union of the fracture, chronic pain, permanent joint stiffness, toe deformity, difficulty walking, and long-term disability that may require more extensive reconstructive surgery in the future.