Our Story
SHORT SUMMARY
My name is Abdul Haseeb Hassan. I’m starting this campaign for a dear friend Omer Farooq. He is one of the finest people you will ever meet. He is very kind, caring & generous in every sense of the word.
On September 6th, 2006, he had an accident which totally turned his life upside down. The accident left him with a paraplegic spinal injury (paralysis through waist down). He fought 11 years with the support of his family & friends and most importantly with his own determination. He has always been an inspiration and sense of motivation to us all.
But today, he is suffering from another injury of chronic wounds & muscle contractions along with his paraplegic spinal injury, which is due to lack of resources and lack of proper accessible equipment. He is now totally bed ridden. He had to quit his job because of it. He and his family have already sold everything of value in their possession and have gone into debt for his treatment. And if he is not treated on time, it may result in other disorders or limb loss.
He already has made a huge impact on all those around him. Now it’s our turn to help him!!!
FULL STORY
On a Fine Wednesday afternoon he was returning on his way back from high school, when he met with an almost fatal accident. That accident crushed his spine leaving him with paraplegic spinal injury... He went through three major surgeries to stabilize his spine which had been badly fractured, the doctors had to install rods in his back and they confirmed that the accident had left him with a paraplegic spinal injury; paralyzed from beneath his waist. The doctors discharged him after two months but with no guidance on how to deal with the injury and none awareness on how to maintain the quality of life. Imagine how impossible life would have felt with no hope of recovery in mind!
As there are no rehab centers or any type of awareness for patients with spinal injury, he was totally on mercy of family, friends and his own will power. He fought his way with courage and determination as much as he could in available resources. He completed his high school studies despite zero accessibility for disabled persons in schools and exam centers. His courage and determination had always inspired us all. But it didn’t stop there…..
He further secured an admission for a university degree in business. As he knew that the road ahead was full of barriers, hurdles and struggle as there being no rights for disabled people in Pakistan. His family utilized all their resources to make sure he could get a quality education and lead a good life. In the middle, he had to undergo another surgery as an infection spread due to the support rods in his back. Till this surgery he was mobile enough and could sit on his wheelchair without support.
This surgery was a total setback for him as the doctors highly Demotivated him and told his family that he could not even sit back up ever again. He was heartbroken, but still not left hope. He started again, struggled again and finally got able enough to be on a wheelchair. His family instilled all their resources for him and sold everything of value in possessions for his treatment. Finally with his courage and determination he graduated from his university and started his career right there as an admissions officer. But due to inaccessible environment and poor care at workplace, bed sores started occurring. The wounds got infected and were spread all over his lower back. He had to go through an urgent surgery in which the doctors had to remove the infected flesh. The surgery saved his life but left him with a 2 inches deep and 3x4 inches wide open wound. Omers wound cannot self heal because it is beneath his spinal injury, in the paralyzed area. Now he requires multiple surgeries to be performed to heal his wound. But before his family could arrange for this expensive surgery right in the middle of everything, he lost his biggest strength; his father (December 5th, 2016). This loss completely broke him and his family.
Currently his wound already has prolonged and is resulting in muscle contractions and stiffness in all of his body. And any further delays may result in disorders or other infections. He needs an urgent surgery to prevent any further loss. Furthermore after the surgery he will have to go through Re-habilitations and physiotherapy to recover all damages occurred. He will also require assistive and proper accessible equipment to prevent future injuries.
Now, more than ever, he needs support from us all, generous people to help him with his injury and also help him to stand independent and self sufficient, & be an anchor for his family to make sure everyone and everything stays together.
I aim to start this campaign is to restore full health for Omer and also to provide him with proper rehabilitation, accessible equipment to prevent further injuries in future and giving him a new life. Most importantly after he is totally healed we plan to make Omer totally independent by helping him start his own business through which he will be able to fully support himself through out and also be an inspiration and a supporting hand for others.
Come let’s Join hands together and help to change a life. Our goal covers most of the expenses for the below mentioned. Your Donations will assist us in the expenses as below.
1st Priority – Urgent Surgery and other Medical Treatments:
The initial surgery requires debridement, VAC and Flap. Furthermore a plastic surgery or any other surgery will be done after assessing the healing which will take up to 3-4 weeks as said by doctors. After the wound is totally healed he will have to go through crucial rehabilitation processes and continuous physiotherapy for three months minimum.
2nd Priority – Accessible Equipment to Prevent Any Future Injuries
3rd Priority – Need an Accessible Transport.
Omer had to sell his car to pay for one of his surgeries. Moreover Accessible transportation is a major problem in our country. Without it he is totally bound till his house. The Major Injuries that Omer is suffering today are due To inaccessible transport.
4th Priority – The Best but yet the most expensive available solution for a spinal injury patient we have come by is the “Re-Walk exoskeleton”.
WHAT is an Exoskeleton? How will it Benefit Omer?
An exoskeleton is a wearable mobile machine that is powered by a system of electric motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics, or a combination of technologies that allow for limb movement with increased strength and endurance. One of the most obvious benefits of a robotic exoskeleton is that it allows paraplegics to walk again since they have lost the brain function to do so. This sense of freedom could help many individuals living with paralysis who rely on the help of family and friends to do tasks they once could do alone. And many other every day activities could be done with family and friends if paraplegics had their own personal exoskeleton. Personal benefits of exoskeleton are unlimited like addressing people at eye level, engage in conversations more directly and even the ability to hug standing up". These are all emotional connections that many people take for granted. Paraplegics are missing these crucial human emotional connections by being confined to their wheel chairs. Living with paralysis is not easy they have major obstacles to overcome. Because being bipedal is a human instinct, the human body is not equipped to be stationary for long periods of time. The risks that a paraplegic has to face are very serious problems; like urinary infections, respiratory issues, cardiovascular and digestive systems at high risk, as well as getting osteoporosis, pressure sores, blood clots, and other afflictions associated with lack of mobility. One of the main advantages of the exoskeleton apart from emotional health is the physical benefits it provides. Some of these physical benefits include increased bone density, decrease in body fat percentage, improved cardiovascular, bowel, and bladder function, and improved sitting posture. Exoskeleton promotes both emotional and physical benefits, this will help many paraplegics and their families cope with the obstacles and struggles of living with their condition.
It is rather expensive but it solves it all. And gladly Omer meets all the requirements required for an Exoskeleton. This will totally change the life of Omer and his family.
5th priority – Self Independent & Self Sufficient
As a spinal injury patient has to face huge medical expenses in daily life to survive we plan on making Omer totally independent and self sufficient to overcome these expenses. Most importantly after Omer gets totally healed we plan to make Omer totally independent by helping him start his own business through which he will be able to fully support himself throughout his life and also be an inspiration and a supporting hand for others.
Omer had been fighting a war by himself for last 11 years, but wars can’t be fought alone. Let’s join hands with Omer in his war.
Please Give Generously,
If 200 companies gave just $1,000 – the cost of a small event marketing campaign, and 2000 people gave just $100 – the cost of a fancy dinner out for a family of four, our fundraiser would be over in a day.
Fighting these situations especially disability has been very challenging for him, but it has also strengthened him and his faith & we know we are not alone!!!
Every dollar counts and every donation is generous. Your every single penny means millions for us.
Together We Can Save & Give Omer A New Life, Again!!!
Please help us by donating, sharing his story and continuing to support us in this battle. Please do Remember to share Omer`s Story with your Friends and Family and on all your social media networks. The more we spread his story the sooner we can end his suffering.
Thank you for taking this journey with us and partnering with us for Omer’s healing & Independent Living.
Thank you for giving us Hope.
With love and tears of gratitude,
Omer's loving Mother, Sister, Brothers, Family & Friends.
https://www.generosity.com/medical-fundraising/help-omer-to-live-again
Gave your Donations on this link.
