Stephanie Mohammed, a Barrackpore mother of three, spent most of her life struggling to get out of poverty but now that she has finally found happiness, ill health is threatening to take everything away. She said her only wish for 2018 is to see her children, em, seven, Aleema, four and Alieyah, two, grow up.
Mohammed, 27, of Cunjal Road, Barrackpore, has been diagnosed with atrial fibilation, an erratic beating of the heart, which if left untreated could result in death. She has already undergone an electrophysiology study (EPS) to assess the abnormal heart rhythm at the Advanced Cardio Vascular Institute at West Shore Medical and requires another surgical procedure which surgery costs more than $200,000.
Mohammed is hoping the Ministry of Health will;cover the cost of that operation before her condition gets worse.
Sitting next to a Christmas tree devoid of decorations at her home yesterday, Mohammed said her family is struggling to pay their bills, buy food and cover her medical bills.
Were it not for help from her brother, Rias, Mohammed said she would not have been able to get the costly medications she has been prescribed.
“One set of the tablets cost $140 per box and that lasts two weeks. I also have other tablets that I must take but I don’t think the medication is working any more because the erratic heartbeat is getting worse,” she said.
Most people develop atrial fibrillation in their 70s due to wear and tear on the heart, Doctors are baffled that Mohammed developed the heart ailment at such a young age.
“They saying maybe I got the flu and didn’t get proper treatment. I don’t know,” she said. “All I want is to have a normal life so I can take care of the children.”
According to Mohammed, on some days the pain is so intense all she can do is to crawl to her bed and lie down, doubled up in agony.
She said: “I just grind the pain. I don’t want the children to see.”
In the days before Christmas, the chest pains were so excruciating that Mohammed’s husband, Shazim, who works at a nearby supermarket earning minimum wage, had to stay home from work to care for her.
Her mother-in-law, Neera Mohammed. who works at a chicken farm and assists the family with groceries.
“My husband works hard and sacrifices to make sure we have everything and I am thankful for my in-laws who really help me, but all I really want next year is to have better health.
“I want that surgery so that I can regain my strength and start caring for my children once more,” Mohammed said.
She said every morning when she wakes up, she prays for life: “I am scared that one day I would get a stroke or a heart attack and die. My husband gets frustrated and very worried if I am sick. I don’t know what will happen to them if anything bad ever happened to me.”
On Christmas Day, Mohammed managed to prepare a simple meal of rice, dhal and stewed chicken for her family.
She said: “Just doing a simple task like that means the world to me. I look forward to the new year with hope that someone would read my story and help me for the sake of the children.”
Anyone willing to help the family can contact Mohammed at 360-4373.