When I call out, "Arnica, look what Mumma got for you!" she starts giggling as soon as she hears my voice. She has the cutest smile I have ever seen.
My name is Alka Sharma, and I am the mother of 1-year-old Arnica.
14th March 2024 was the day I held my daughter for the first time. Her tiny eyes looked up at me, and in that moment, I promised to always keep her safe in my arms.
At 6 months old, Arnica began showing signs of weakness and difficulty in breathing. My husband and I rushed her to the hospital. A mother’s instinct always knows when something is wrong. I tried to convince myself it was something minor, that with timely care and medication, she would recover. But I was wrong.
Doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi, told us something we had never heard before: “Your daughter has SMA Type 2.”
We were shocked and confused. What is SMA?
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare genetic disorder that gradually weakens a child’s muscles. Because of this, Arnica can’t sit upright for more than 15–20 minutes, has difficulty swallowing solid food, and cannot stand or walk without support.
SMA usually affects children between 6 and 18 months of age.
As a mother, it breaks my heart to watch my little princess go through so much pain. But I am reaching out to you today because there is hope. Hope for a better future for Arnica.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a life-saving drug called Zolgensma. It’s a virus-based gene therapy that delivers a healthy copy of the SMN1 gene, enabling the body to produce the missing SMN protein Arnica desperately needs. As per the medical reports, Arnica needs Zolgensma before she turns 2.
But this gene therapy costs INR 16 crore - a huge amount for us. As parents, we cannot do this alone. We need your help. Arnica’s future now lies in your hands.
Novartis has offered us an EMI-based Installment Plan, reducing the immediate cost to ₹9 Crores.
How Can You Help?
I, Alka Sharma, mother of baby Arnica, am reaching out to you with faith in kind-hearted people like you.
- Please donate to Arnica’s treatment by visiting ImpactGuru.
- Kindly share her story with your friends, family, and on social media.
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आप कैसे मदद कर सकते हैं?
मैं, अलका शर्मा, बेबी अर्निका की माँ, आप जैसे दयालु लोगों पर भरोसा करते हुए आप तक पहुँच रही हूँ।
कृपया ImpactGuru पर जाकर अर्निका के इलाज के लिए दान करें।
कृपया उसकी कहानी अपने दोस्तों, परिवार और सोशल मीडिया पर साझा करें।
The goal amount of the campaign may be higher than the attached estimates to address and aid the post-hospitalization expenses/contingencies including but not limited to prolonged medication, diagnostics, rehabilitation therapies, and follow-up doctor visits/consultations which vary from disease to disease.