Rafidul I., 10

Rafidul Islam is a 10-year-old boy from a very rural area of Faridpur who dreams of becoming a religious teacher and continues his studies in Class 2 at a local madrasah. He lives with his mother, Saina Akter, who works as a maid and earns only USD 50–60 per month, and his 65-year-old grandmother, Saleha Begum; following his father’s death in June 2025, his mother is the family’s only source of income. Rafidul has a large VSD with moderate mitral regurgitation and severe pulmonary arterial hypertension, which has caused repeated chest infections, breathlessness during activity, and poor growth. Because the family depends entirely on his mother’s limited income, they cannot afford the major expenses of cardiac surgery, and without timely intracardiac repair, his heart and lung condition may continue to worsen and could become life-threatening. The family learned about Helpster Charity through volunteers and doctors at NICVD, giving Rafidul an opportunity to receive the treatment needed for a healthier future.

According to the treating cardiac surgeon, hospitalization and medical optimization followed by intracardiac repair surgery are intended to correct the large VSD and improve the abnormal cardiac blood flow, which may reduce breathlessness, recurrent respiratory infections, and exercise intolerance. Successful repair may improve cardiac function and allow the child to become more active and participate more normally in daily life. However, the presence of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension increases the seriousness of his condition and requires careful management. If left untreated, the heart and lungs may progressively deteriorate, with worsening breathing difficulty, reduced physical capacity, and other serious cardiac complications that may become life-threatening.