A.H. Cemendtaur
Being a perennial skeptical about email money appeals, a message about Alamgir’s health and plea to wire transfer money to a bank account made me decide to check the veracity of the news.
I looked up Alamgir’s telephone number in Georgia and called him up. Luck was with me, I was able to talk directly to Alamgir in quite detail. Here is what I gathered from our telephone conversation.
In 2004, Alamgir was diagnosed with failing kidneys. At that time his kidneys were operating at 50% of their capacity. The kidneys kept deteriorating in their performance and by now they are almost useless. Alamgir needs a kidney transplant, but till he finds new kidneys he would have to go through dialysis, the process of machine-cleaning the blood. For the dialysis to start he went through a surgery on Monday, October 6, at Gwinnett Medical Center, Lawrenceville. In that surgery Alamgir was fitted with a dialysis catheter.
Once the surgical wound is dried up, Alamgir’s dialysis through the catheter would start. Since Alamgir has permanent renal failure, he would go through another surgery in which he would be fitted with surgically created arteriovenous fistula, a preferred approach for dialysis. Surgically created arteriovenous fistula is apparently a more involved surgery and is hence delayed till the patient is in better health through dialysis made possible through catheter.
The main reason Alamgir landed in financial trouble is because he was not carrying any health insurance. Although he sounded fatigued Alamgir spoke with optimism.
He said many Pakistani doctors currently living in the US were studying at either Sindh or Dow Medical College when he was at the peak of his career. They were his friends and he was happy to see them coming to his help. Just a day ago he received a call from Ishrat-Ul-Ibad, Governor of Sindh, who extended his support to Alamgir especially if Alamgir would come to Pakistan for further treatment. Alamgir said he is consulting his doctors for the best approach to take. Currently he is being helped by his wife; Alamgir’s son is studying in Virginia .
So, yes the news about Alamgir’s ailment and the appeal for financial help are authentic. Money should be sent directly to Alamgir’s bank account as given in the email message.
Can you please send me Alamgir’s phone number at atifayub@hotmail.com. I may be able to help him out.
Great shock to hear illness of our legend Alamgir.I pray to Almighty Allah for his early recovery.Almighty Allah blessed him.Please publish detail as to where and how people who love him can help.
To Qausain Ali. I think what you have assertain about Alamgir is not correct. Alamgir he is as patriotic as anyone else. I’ve been living in US and and have seen Alamgir’s performance in a 14th. August festival and Alamgir was not on the list of performer when friend of mine contacting different artist and asking them to perform for 14th August independence day party and find everyone so expensive and so many Nukhra’s. Then we came to know about Almagir’s contact we was so humble and polite and was so excited to perform on idenpendence day and even cut down his fees since the occasion was ‘Idependence Day of Pakistan’. He came to the party and sang all of his patriotic songs as well as all the partiotic songs by other artists.
My humblel request to everyone, please ….. please if you can’t do anything for him with your money atleast you can spend the currency of good words for Alamgir.
I think we all need to pray for brother Qausain Ali as well since the disease that Alamgir has if very physical in nature but our brother need help in regards to his spritual healing. Ameen.
In the past years it has been difficult to be a performing artist in Pakistan. Many of our talents have escaped our country to fullfill their dream. In other countries artists are promoted by the public, the government, the business comunity etc..
In Pakistan its difficult for these young stars to even hold a open air concert where young girls and boys can listen to their idols, together….
Just look at the Oslo Mela, a annual happening in downtown Oslo. Here, young pakistani boys and girls, mums and dads, aunties and uncles can listen and se their pakistani idols preform live in a safe environment.
Simmilar thngs happens in all places around the world, where there is a big pakistani comunity.
Now, I do not find it strange that our artists go abroad and even migrate… After all thats where they find the right arena among desi people.
I also pray for alamgirs health and his speedy recovery