Fathima Appeal

Fathima Shamil (32) a determined and resilient woman, came to the UK to pursue her Master’s in Social Work after earning her degree in the same field from India. She is currently on a Post-Study Work (PSW) visa and was working in a care home through an agency to support her family. However, life took an unexpected and devastating turn when she was diagnosed with severe pancreatitis, leading to her hospitalization at the University Hospital of Wales. Fathima is not just fighting for her own life—she is the sole provider for a family of seven. A single mother, she has two young children back in India. After losing both her father and her only brother (who passed away at just 35 due to cardiac arrest), she took on the responsibility of raising her late brother’s children as well. Her sister-in-law and children are also financially dependent on her. She is struggling with outstanding debts of nearly ₹20 lakh (approximately £20,000) while also having to cover her room rent of £450 per month. Fathima’s condition is the result of a long and painful medical struggle. She had undergone gallbladder removal surgery in India, during which her bile duct was clipped. This led to a blocked bile duct and bile leakage, causing her bilirubin and liver enzyme levels to rise dangerously. Despite her deteriorating health, she had to wait for over 1.5 years for an appointment and surgery. By the time she was finally referred by her GP, her condition had worsened significantly. Now, Fathima faces at least 5 to 6 months in the hospital, with another major surgery still ahead. With no one to care for her during this crisis, she had no choice but to bring her mother from India. Her mother, overwhelmed by her daughter’s suffering, can do nothing but pray. With no income and mounting expenses, Fathima and her mother are in urgent need of help. Despite these overwhelming hardships, Fathima remains hopeful that she will recover, obtain a work permit, and continue her career as a social worker to provide for her family once again. We urgently appeal to your generosity and compassion. Your contribution—no matter how small—can help ease Fathima’s burden and give her a fighting chance to rebuild her life. Please help her in this desperate time of need. If you are eligible, please consider giving your consent for Gift Aid when you donate. Gift Aid allows us to increase the value of your donation by 25% at no extra cost to you—for every £1.00 you contribute, an additional £0.25 can be reclaimed from HMRC. After a nominal platform fee of 3-4%, 100% of your donation, including Gift Aid, will go directly to the family. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.