Mother of Pakistani expat desperate for help to keep daughter alive

It was in the start of May that Zara Atta first began feeling some discomfort in her throat.

- Ajanta Paul

With over 120 days now spent in the ICU, Zara's family is staring at a mounting medical bill running in excess of Dh140,000.

On May 22, while on her way to work, the UAE-based doctor collapsed at Dubai’s GGICO Metro Station, from where she was rushed to Dubai Hospital.

What she thought was a nagging cough was actually a severe fungal infection, Aspergillus, that caused widespread damage to both her lungs. The Pakistani expat has been fighting for her life in the intensive care unit (ICU) since.

With over 120 days now spent in the ICU, Zara’s family is staring at a mounting medical bill running in excess of Dh140,000 —an estimate given over a month ago to cover medicines, medical care and the ECMO machine used to help her breathe. To survive, Zara urgently requires a double lung transplant, a procedure estimated to cost minimum Dh1.2 million, according to a transplant centre.

Zara’s survival hinges not just on medical intervention, but also on the kindness and generosity of the community. The family, unable to bear the expenses, is making an emotional plea for donations and financial assistance that would help this young doctor access the transplant required to save her life.