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My name is Tabassum. Just a week ago, my husband and I, along with our two small children, settled in for the night the way we always do. We spread our bedding out on the cold floor, pulling each other close for warmth because our blankets are thin and the nights can be harsh. That night was quiet, and we were tired. I was drifting between sleep and being awake when, suddenly, I heard some kind of crack from above us. Before I could move, a heavy block of concrete broke away from the ceiling and crashed down onto my husband's head!
We were all screaming
Dust filled the air so thickly that I could not see anything at first. My five-year-old cried out in pain, while my three-year-old clung to me, shaking. Neighbors came running as the sound woke the lane. Together, we cleared the rubble with our hands, shouting my husband’s name again and again. He was bleeding from his head, his face covered in dust, his body still but faintly moving. Someone called an ambulance, though it took half an hour to reach us. In that time, he lay there on the floor, moaning softly, his breathing uneven. When we reached the hospital, the doctors there took one look and told us to rush him to a bigger facility.
I've never been more terrified in my life
By the time we reached the second hospital, it was nearly three in the morning. He wasn’t awake, only murmuring in pain. They said the impact had shattered part of his skull and damaged his brain. One of his eyes had gone blind, and the other might soon lose sight too. The doctors performed an emergency operation that same night to reduce pressure inside his head and removed a piece of his skull, which they have kept safely inside his stomach to replace later. Now, my husband lies in a coma, under machines and tubes, while the doctors tell me that his chances of regaining his vision are almost nil.
Our children still ask when their father will come home
I have no answer. The older one escaped with only a small injury, but he trembles whenever he hears loud sounds. Our younger child has developmental issues already, and he's suffering now in his own way. Every day, I move between the hospital and home, trying to stay strong for them both. We have already spent nearly ₹2.5 lakh on treatment, selling jewelry and borrowing from neighbors. There is still so much left to pay, and I have nothing left to sell.
Please, I don't want to become a widow
The doctors say a lot more money will be needed for his ongoing treatment and future surgeries. My husband was the only earner in our family, and without him, I cannot even afford his medicines. I never imagined I would have to ask strangers for help, but now I have no choice. Please help me save his life and bring him back to us.
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