Mum’s plea for brave little Maha

RALLYING support: Maha Asghar (front, centre) hopes for a fairytale ending to cure a rare degenerative facial condition, which affects one in a million children. Pictured with brave Maha (4) and her brother, Fida (front, right) are friends from Roundthorn Primary School on World Book Day, fundraising for her life-changing operation

Youngster with rare condition needs treatment in US
A BRAVE girl whose face is wasting away needs a life-changing operation.

Maha Asghar’s mum is pleading with Chronicle readers to support her daughter — who has a rare degenerative condition thought to affect only one in a million children.

The three-year-old, from Clarksfield, is battling Parry-Romberg Syndrome — a disease which is currently affecting her face.

The Roundthorn Primary School pupil is experiencing excruciating pain to her left ear, bones not developing on the left hand side of her face, nosebleeds —and the fear of losing sight in her left eye.

The family now hope a life-changing operation in America will save Maha, as treatment is unavailable in the UK.

The procedure by pioneering surgeon Dr John Siebert, at the University of Wisconsin Hospital, will cost £70,000.

Maha’s mum, Shameem Ali (26), of Roundthorn Road, said she is remaining positive.

She added: “You have to for Maha. We have had lots of support which is lovely and we have raised around £5,700 so far, with more coming in.

“It has been hard work, but we need to raise this money for Maha.

“It is quite unbearable when you see how much pain she is in.”

Maha, who has attended countless hospital appointments, was diagnosed in September after doctors were left stumped by the condition, which typically affects young females, aged between five to 15.

The treatment by Dr Siebert in the US involves the replacement of dying tissue on the left of Maha’s face with unaffected tissue from the right side.

Shameem added: “Any support we can get we will be so grateful.

“We hope for Maha to have the operation later this year.”

Donations can be paid directly in to the Maha’s Appeal bank account with HSBC using sort code 40-35-26 and account number 01837559.