A 19-year-old Toronto teen who is in dire need of a liver transplant is reaching out to potential donors through social media after spending two-and-a-half years on a waiting list.
When Fatima Baig was three years old, she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder that doctors said would eventually cause her liver to fail.
When this came to pass eight years later, Fatima’s mother donated half of her liver to save her 11-year-old daughter.
Despite being a perfect match, post-surgery complications caused the liver to fail, and Fatima has spent the last two-and-a-half years on a waiting list.
“My greatest wish is to have a liver,” Fatima says.
Fatima’s health continues to deteriorate with each passing day; and jaundice has already set in.
What makes Fatima’s need particularly dire is two-fold; her blood is B-positive, meaning her donor has to have either the same or B-negative blood-type.
Only eight per cent of the Canadian population meets these criteria. And while that blood type is more common among South Asians, many in that community don’t register for organ donation.
Despite her condition, Fatima is insists that she won’t die waiting for an organ.
“I believe God has a plan for everyone, and he’ll bring my donor forward, hopefully.”
If you are interested in helping Fatima, you can visit her two websites below:
Fatima Baig: Gift of 8 Campaign
Fatima’s Journey: A Search for a Liver
Global News’ David Weisz contributed to this story.
Comments