“We fought for his growth, and now we’re fighting for his life. Our little Alim is reaching out his tiny hands to Mummy, to Daddy, to life! For the sake of the Almighty, please help our son overcome cancer!”

Little Alim was born under a lucky star—or so his mother, Takhmina, believed. At birth, all his tests and vital signs were perfect; the doctors were smiling, his family was overjoyed, and his older brother, Alan, couldn't leave his cradle. He would gently touch Alim’s tiny fingers, exclaiming, “He’s as small as a doll,” and promise to teach him everything he knew. Their happiness was complete. Everyone was joyful, without exception. Then, however, a diagnosis shattered their blissful world: Alim had Down syndrome.

"I had never encountered anything like this before," Takhmina says. "I cried at night, unsure of what to do next. But then I looked at Alim and realised: he’s my son. I have to provide him with everything I can." She refused to give up. Rehabilitation began with sessions focused on developing motor skills, speech, and daily living skills—everything necessary to ensure her son could lead a fulfilling life. Every two months, they travelled from their remote village to the city for a $1,000 course. Alim grew up, bringing joy to their lives with his first childhood milestones and eventually learned to walk. The family believed that their challenges were now behind them.

Just as Alim learned to walk independently, the family faced a new, difficult challenge.

We took Alim to see an endocrinologist and a haematologist because he was experiencing problems with his platelets, specifically thrombocytopenia. We were monitoring the situation, believing it was just an unusual occurrence. However, in May, during a routine check-up, the doctors discovered that there were 16 per cent blasts in his blood.

A bone marrow aspiration confirmed the worst news: it was blood cancer – acute myeloid leukaemia. Aggressive, rapid, and relentless.

"We were informed that treating Down syndrome would be very complicated for Alim because his body is different. The doctors in Bishkek gave us a horrifying statistic: a 20 per cent survival rate. I nearly fainted when I heard that. My son... only a 20 per cent chance," Tahmina's voice trembles.

The Almighty does not abandon those who seek Him. The family began contacting the Blokhin and Rogachev centres in Moscow, where they were informed, “70 per cent.” Her heart started to race. The doctors in Bishkek advised them to fly to South Korea, as children with this diagnosis often respond well to chemotherapy. However, the specific characteristics of their bodies require careful selection of treatments, constant monitoring, and a specialised approach to care. South Korea can provide the best medications available. Without hesitation, they flew there immediately, knowing it was a matter of life and death.

Alim is currently at Asan Hospital in Seoul, where he has undergone his first course of chemotherapy. He is now receiving daily blood and platelet transfusions. The cost of his treatment has already exceeded $20,000, but with the help of relatives and friends, the family has only managed to raise $2,000. Alim's husband is the family’s sole breadwinner, while their eldest son is staying with his grandmother. Alim's mother is living at the hospital, never leaving his side. Each day, he looks at her with his big eyes, not understanding why he is in pain. She cannot explain it to him, so she whispers, "We’ll get through this, my darling. Allah is with us."

Alim doesn’t understand what cancer is; he only knows pain, injections, and that his mother must always be by his side. He wants to live, laugh, play, and explore the world.

"We cannot afford such a large sum for our son's treatment," says Takhmina. "But I believe that the Almighty will never abandon those who have faith. He has already sent us doctors, opportunities, and hope. I know that His help comes through people—through you. You are our hope. May the Almighty reward everyone who lends a helping hand. May your kindness be returned to you many times over!"

Please help Alim. Any contribution brings him closer to recovery. Let this story not end in tragedy but in a miracle. Help make it happen for the sake of this child’s life!