The Valley Where Dreams and Struggles Live Side by Side
In the lush, green valleys of Neelum, where pine trees sway gently and rivers hum through the hills, lives a young boy named Maqsood Ahmed.
He is only ten years old — a child full of laughter, dreams, and energy. He loves racing his younger brother down the mountain paths, climbing trees, and kicking stones across the hillside. His days should be filled with play, not pain.
But Maqsood’s laughter has grown quieter. His steps are slower. His little body is fighting for survival.
A year ago, Maqsood’s mother began to notice something was wrong. He was constantly thirsty, weak, and losing weight fast. She thought it was a seasonal illness, but deep inside she feared something worse. Her husband had died from diabetes years earlier — and now her son was showing the same symptoms.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
After weeks of worry, Maqsood’s family travelled for hours through mountain roads to reach a hospital in Muzaffarabad. The journey cost more than they could afford, but they needed answers.
The doctors ran several tests and then delivered the devastating news no parent ever wants to hear:
Maqsood had Type 1 Diabetes — a lifelong condition that meant his body could no longer produce insulin.
Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, causing organ damage and, eventually, death. The doctor’s words were clear and final: “He will need insulin every day for the rest of his life.”
For a family in London, that might sound manageable. But in Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir, it can be a death sentence.
A Dangerous Place to Be Diabetic
Maqsood lives in Surgan, one of the most remote areas in Neelum Valley. It’s breathtakingly beautiful — but heartbreakingly isolated.
There are no local hospitals with insulin supplies. The nearest pharmacy is hours away, and often it’s out of stock. The family must travel over 100 kilometres just to get a few vials of insulin — and even then, only if they have enough money for transport and medicine.
The difficulties don’t stop there. Insulin must be kept cold, but constant power cuts make that almost impossible. Most homes in the valley suffer from daily load shedding, sometimes for ten or more hours. Without refrigeration, the insulin spoils and becomes useless.
When asked how they manage, Maqsood’s mother lowers her eyes and whispers, “We can’t always keep it cold. Sometimes we wrap it in wet cloth and keep it by the stream. But when the weather is hot, it doesn’t last.”
She wipes her tears before continuing: “We are doing everything we can, but we can’t do it alone.”
Childhood Interrupted by Diabetes
For most ten-year-olds, life is about play, imagination, and discovery. For Maqsood, life revolves around blood sugar checks, needles, and fatigue.
While his friends run through the meadows, he often sits quietly under a tree, dizzy and pale. When others enjoy sweets or snacks, Maqsood watches silently from the side. Every small act of childhood joy now carries risk.
He dreams of going back to school full-time, but some mornings he’s too weak to make the walk. Other days, his mother fears to leave him alone, unsure when his sugar levels might drop dangerously low.
Maqsood’s life has become a fragile balance between hope and hardship. And yet, despite it all, he still smiles — shyly, but genuinely. He says he wants to become a teacher one day.
The Hidden Cost of Medical Poverty
There are hundreds of children like Maqsood across Azad Kashmir. They live in villages where healthcare is a luxury, not a guarantee.
In remote districts such as Neelum, Leepa, and Hattian Bala, basic medicines are scarce. Rural doctors often work without insulin, oxygen cylinders, or proper diagnostic tools. Families who can’t afford to travel to cities are forced to watch their loved ones decline slowly, helplessly.
For Maqsood’s mother, the cost of managing her son’s illness has been devastating. Insulin alone consumes most of her income. Add the transport fare, occasional overnight stays in Muzaffarabad, and the constant fear of emergencies — it becomes an unbearable cycle.
Without intervention, her son’s health will continue to deteriorate. Without proper insulin storage, the medicine loses potency. Without regular medical check-ups, complications like kidney failure or blindness can set in.
But with timely support, Maqsood’s story can still change.
What Maqsood Needs Right Now
His condition is serious — but manageable.
His village is remote — but not unreachable.
His future is fragile — but not lost.
With your help, Kashmir Welfare Foundation is working to give Maqsood the fighting chance he deserves.
We aim to:
- Provide a 6-month supply of insulin to stabilise his condition.
- Purchase a solar-powered medical fridge to keep his insulin safe despite daily power cuts.
- Arrange regular medical reviews and transport to hospitals in Muzaffarabad.
- Train his family to monitor his blood sugar and handle emergencies safely.
It’s not a long list — but it’s a lifeline.
💙 Every child deserves the chance to laugh, play, and live.
How You Can Help Diabetes Patients
Your donation today can change everything for Maqsood.
✅ £30 could cover one month of insulin.
✅ £60 could help purchase a solar-powered insulin cooler.
✅ £100 could fund travel and treatment for a month.
No amount is too small when a child’s life is at stake.
👉 Donate now to our Medical Projects and give hope to children like Maqsood.
Healing Beyond Medicine
Kashmir Welfare Foundation believes that healthcare is not just about treating illness — it’s about restoring dignity, stability, and hope.
Through our Medical Projects across Azad Kashmir, we provide:
- Patient Sponsorships for long-term medical cases.
- Mobile Hospital Units that reach remote mountain villages.
- Medical Camps offering free check-ups and life-saving medicines.
- Wheelchair Campaigns for those with mobility challenges.
These programmes are made possible through the generosity of UK donors who see Kashmir not as a distant land, but as home — a place where their compassion continues to echo.
The Power of Giving
When you give Sadaqah or Zakat for healthcare, you’re not just funding medicine. You’re healing hearts.
Every pound you give brings relief to a mother’s tears, comfort to a sick child, and faith to a family who once felt forgotten.
Imagine Maqsood smiling again — running freely down the same hillside paths, his laughter returning to the wind. That’s the power of your giving.
Together, We Can Keep His Dreams Alive
Maqsood’s story reminds us that faith, compassion, and action can bridge even the highest mountains. His life may depend on insulin, but his future depends on all of us.
If you’re reading this, take a moment to act. Help us deliver hope and healing to Kashmir’s most vulnerable children.
🌿 Donate to Medical Projects today and be the reason a child lives to dream again.
Additional Ways to Support
If you wish to give ongoing support:
Kashmir Diabetes FAQs
1. What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition where the body stops producing insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar levels. It requires daily insulin injections and careful management for life.
2. Why is it so difficult to treat in Kashmir?
Remote areas like Neelum Valley have limited access to insulin, poor refrigeration due to power cuts, and high travel costs. These make long-term treatment extremely hard for families.
3. How will my donation help Maqsood?
Your donation funds insulin, refrigeration, travel support, and medical follow-ups — giving Maqsood and other children a stable and safe treatment plan.
4. Can I give Zakat or Sadaqah for medical aid?
Yes. Both Zakat and Sadaqah can be used to support medical assistance for the poor and sick, as long as they qualify under Islamic giving principles.
5. Does Kashmir Welfare Foundation help other patients too?
Absolutely. Our Medical Projects include patient sponsorships, mobile hospital services, medical camps, and special aid for widows, orphans, and the elderly across Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
Help us give Maqsood more time to play, more time to grow — and most importantly, more time to live.
Because no child should suffer just because they were born far from a fridge.
And no parent should have to choose between food, travel, or medicine.
This is our chance — to protect one precious life.
Let’s not waste it.
