Call for Solidarity: Ridwan, 36, Fights Against a Rare Cancer... and Time
At 36, this father is battling multiple myeloma, a rare cancer. He needs to undergo a bone marrow transplant in India to survive. His family is urgently seeking funds to finance this treatment.
Mohammad Ridwan Baulum, 36, had long believed he was simply fatigued. The diagnosis came just a few weeks ago: multiple myeloma. A vital treatment awaits this father from Beau-Bassin in Mumbai, but he lacks over Rs 3 million.
He initially dismissed his back pain as nothing serious. Like many fathers caught in the whirlwind of daily life, Ridwan, a Stock Controller, refused to slow down. There was work, children, and endless days. Pain was something to manage. Take a pill and carry on.
For months, that’s what he did. Starting with saffron milk, a traditional remedy mothers recommend for pain relief. Then came painkillers, anti-inflammatories, and cortisone. Each time, he found temporary relief, but by morning, the pain returned, stronger and more persistent, as if it was trying to make itself heard.
By early 2026, Ridwan’s body stopped cooperating. The pain intensified and radiated to his side. This time, he could no longer endure it. Directed to Dr A.G. Jeetoo Hospital, he underwent X-rays, which showed no immediate alarming results. Then came an MRI and blood tests. The results worried the doctors, who referred him to a hematologist, a blood disease specialist.
Two weeks later, the diagnosis was confirmed: multiple myeloma. This rare cancer attacks the bone marrow and disrupts the production of cells that defend the body. It causes severe bone pain, deep fatigue, and can lead to numerous complications. For Ridwan and his family, the news was a brutal shock, dividing life into two parts: before and after.
The doctors were clear: the most effective treatment for this type of cancer is not available in Mauritius. The family then turned to the OMCA Foundation. It was determined that the HCG Cancer Hospital in Mumbai offers the best protocol for his situation: a comprehensive assessment, high-dose chemotherapy, followed by an autologous bone marrow transplant, which uses the patient’s own cells to rebuild the marrow. A stay of about six months in India will be required.
The total cost – including care, medications, accommodation, travel, and medical support – amounts to approximately Rs 3,067,000, a sum the family cannot raise alone.
His wife Zaheera does not hide her emotion. "Ridwan is a very dedicated father. Our children are only nine and four. They still need their dad so much. We humbly ask for public help to give him a chance to heal," she shares.
Behind these simple words lies a reality that many Mauritian families know all too well: that of a serious illness striking unexpectedly and a healthcare system that struggles with the most complex cases. Ridwan never asked for anything extraordinary; he simply began experiencing back pain one day in October 2025.
Donations can be made via the Overseas Medical Care Assistance Foundation (OMCA). Every contribution, regardless of its amount, brings Ridwan closer to Mumbai... and to a life with his children.
How to contribute:
- Bank: MCB
- Account: 000450 249457
- IBAN: MU06MCBL0901000450249457000MUR
- SWIFT: MCBLMUMU
- Reference: Ridwan
Donations are also eligible for Zakaat.