All Sahiba has seen in her 1.6-year-old life has been ceilings. That’s because she can only sleep, never sit upright. 

And that’s only the beginning of the many challenges that accompany her diagnosis of hydrocephalus. The condition causes a fluid to accumulate in the brain. Now this fluid is usually what nourishes the brain tissues, but in excess, it isn’t entirely helpful. The fluid buildup presses against the brain, and externally, the condition appears as an enlarged head. 

That’s the first tell-tale sign her parents observed when she was five months old. Her mother explains, “We were so scared when we saw her head growing big. The doctors told us she would need a pipe to be attached to the head that could drain the fluid. But then the pipe got choked, and the problem continues.” 

Sahiba’s eyes water, she has constant fevers, and she’s irritable all the time. Her parents, while keen to do whatever they can to help, don’t know what will. And so they rely on doctors to tell them the best course of action. 

Now, Sahiba urgently requires a second surgery. Without it, her condition could worsen, putting her health and development at even greater risk.

For her parents, every day is filled with uncertainty.

The family already faces immense challenges. Sahiba is the youngest of three children. One of her siblings lives with a disability and cannot stand without assistance. Caring for two children with significant medical needs has placed an enormous emotional and financial burden on the household.

Her mother explains that their earnings are not enough to support such lofty medical bills. She works as a house help and earns around Rs 3,000 a month. But because Sahiba requires constant care and supervision, she cannot take on additional work. Her father works as a daily wage labourer on road construction sites, earning approximately Rs 10,000 a month when work is available.

Together, their income is barely enough to cover basic necessities. The family lives in a makeshift home where access to electricity and water remains a daily struggle. Medical appointments, medicines, travel costs, and treatment expenses consume most of what they earn. Some days, there is little left for food.

“One of us always has to stay at home with the baby, so we can't take on more jobs,” says her mother. “Many days we go hungry because our earnings all go toward Sahiba's medical bills.”

Yet despite everything, her parents continue to fight for her future.

They hold onto the hope that with timely treatment, Sahiba can receive the care she needs and have a chance at a healthier childhood. But for a family already stretched beyond its limits, the cost of her medical care remains overwhelming.

Today, Sahiba's second surgery is not just a medical necessity. It is a lifeline. With support, this baby girl can get the treatment she urgently needs.