Dr. Maryam Shoukat, a 27-year-old Pakistani physician, passed away just before transplant in the United States. She was in the hospital for a life-saving liver transplant. She had been pursuing her medical residency while serving patients with dedication and passion.
Earlier this month, Dr. Maryam Shoukat was admitted to Rutgers University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey, after suffering sudden liver failure. Her health declined rapidly, and doctors emphasized that a transplant was her only chance of survival.
Urgent Fundraising Efforts
Her husband, Dr. Hamza Zafar, appealed for urgent help through the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA). The community responded instantly, launching a large-scale fundraising campaign. Within just one day, an impressive $273,000 was collected, and the total later reached nearly $400,000.
The overwhelming donations encouraged the hospital administration to reduce the transplant cost from $900,000 to $450,000. APPNA contributed $100,000, which secured her placement on the official transplant list. Soon afterward, a donor liver was located, bringing new hope that she would survive.
Community Stands United
APPNA General Secretary Dr. Muhammad Sanaullah and President Dr. Humera Qamar, alongside physicians including Dr. A. Fazal Akbar, Dr. Zeeshan, Dr. Babar Rao, Dr. Fateh Shehzad, and Dr. Siddique Khurram, played key roles in organizing the efforts. They described the campaign as a mission to save a young doctor devoted to saving others.
The global Pakistani community united in prayers, donations, and support, reflecting how one life can inspire collective compassion.
A Life Lost Too Soon
However, tragedy struck just before hope could turn into reality. Minutes before the surgery, Dr. Maryam’s condition deteriorated sharply. Sadly, she passed away only 30 minutes before the transplant could be performed.
APPNA leaders expressed deep sorrow, calling her story a symbol of sacrifice, courage, and resilience. “She came with the dream of healing others, but in the end, she needed healing herself,” they said in tribute.
Dr. Maryam’s untimely death has left a profound impact, highlighting both the fragility of life and the strength of collective humanity.
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