Marzia I., 1

Baby Marzia Islam, a brave 1-month-old born prematurely in a rural village of Chandpur, has already survived a difficult start to life after needing life-saving oxygen support in the NICU. Her father, Abdul Mannan, earns only about 6,000 BDT a month pulling an auto-rickshaw, barely enough to feed the family and care for Marzia, her mother Morium Begum, and her elderly grandmother Maleka Begum, who depends entirely on them. Because of the premature birth and oxygen treatment, Marzia has developed Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in both eyes, a condition that can quickly lead to permanent blindness if she does not receive urgent Anti-VEGF injections. The required treatment costs far more than the family could ever manage, as they live in a small tin house and struggle daily just to meet basic needs. Without support, this tiny, determined baby risks losing her sight forever—before she has even had the chance to truly see the world.

Marzia Islam, a 1-month-old baby girl, was diagnosed with Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in both eyes, a condition that posed a serious risk to her developing vision. Immediate treatment was necessary to prevent long-term damage, and she received Anti-VEGF injections administered by Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, the hospital’s ROP Specialist. The procedure was carried out with great care, and her condition was closely observed through regular follow-up visits. She responded positively to the treatment, with gradual improvement seen in her retinal condition. The abnormal blood vessel growth has now been brought under control. Her retinal health is improving steadily, giving hope for normal vision development. Heartfelt thanks to Helpster Charity and Helpster Heroes for their generous support in helping protect his eyesight.

According to Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain, Chief Consultant, and Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, ROP Specialist at Mazharul Haque BNSB Eye Hospital, Chandpur, Marzia requires immediate Anti-VEGF (Avastin) injections in both eyes, followed by regular monitoring and eye evaluations to ensure proper retinal development. The doctors have stated that if the treatment is provided urgently, there is a very high chance of restoring and preserving her vision, allowing her to live a healthy, sighted life. However, they also cautioned that any delay in treatment could result in severe and permanent visual impairment, as ROP can progress rapidly in premature infants. Without timely medical care, Marzia risks losing her vision entirely — a loss that would affect her education, independence, and quality of life in the future. The treatment is therefore both urgent and essential to save her sight.