Atikur R., 2

Atikur Rahman is a 2-year-old boy who has suffered from shortness of breath and recurrent respiratory infections for around six months, along with poor growth since birth, and was found at NICVD to have a large PMVSD with severe pulmonary hypertension. His father, Saidur Rahman (35), works as a Khatib at a local mosque and earns approximately BDT 10,000 (around USD 82) per month, while his mother, Khadiza Khatun (26), is a homemaker and his elder brother and elderly grandparents depend on the same limited income. The family’s financial condition makes it difficult to afford the specialized cardiac treatment and ongoing medical expenses Atikur requires. Without timely treatment, the heart defect and severe pulmonary hypertension may worsen, leading to progressive heart and lung complications, poor growth, and potentially life-threatening deterioration. The family therefore needs financial assistance to enable Atikur to receive the necessary cardiac treatment.

According to the treating cardiac team, hospitalization, medical optimization, and intracardiac repair surgery are recommended to correct Atikur’s large PMVSD and manage severe pulmonary hypertension. With timely treatment, the cardiac defect can be corrected, which may improve his breathing, reduce recurrent respiratory infections, support normal growth, and improve his long-term quality of life. If left untreated, the large defect and severe pulmonary hypertension may progressively damage the heart and lungs, leading to heart failure, worsening growth failure, irreversible pulmonary vascular disease, and potentially life-threatening complications. Timely cardiac intervention is therefore important to prevent further deterioration and improve his long-term outcome.