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.
I am perturbed about Alamgir’s health issues and pray for his health and longevity. Besides being his fan, I also have some personal affiliations with him since my childhood……he started his singing pursuits at my father’s hotel at Tariq Road, Karachi in the early 1970s. Alamgir has on several occasions and in interviews acknowledged that.
I vividly remember him singing in the hotel’s open area for an enthusiastic crowd which also sometimes included Mr. Rahman, a renowned film actor from then East Pakistan, and his three elegant daughters. I was a little child then but have fond memories and perhaps also some photos of those times.
I believe that you are doing a great service to Pakistan by bringing forth such issues and happenings and i sincerely salute you for your commitment towards ATP. I wish to share with you this announcement about the availability of free renal treatment in Saudi Arabia and request you to please forward it to those who are affiliated with Alamgir’s medical matters. I sincerely pray to Allah subhanawatalah that something works out for the best.
With sincere regards for you and your great team at the ATP,
Duas and salaams,
Lubna Ayub
“Very Important! If you know any patient with Kidney failure who does not have the financial ability to secure medical care, please spread the following details:
A prominent Saudi business man, Ma’an Al Sanea, has dominated the cost of 60 kidney transplant operations in a Saudi hospital in Dammam, covering all costs. The hospital until now has only received 4 cases! If you know a patient who is in need, let them contact the hospital at:
Saad Specialist Hospital
Dammam ? AL Khobar
Telephone 00966 3 8826666 extension 4444 “
I am perturbed about Alamgir’s health issues and pray for his health and longevity. Besides being his fan, I also have some personal affiliations with him since my childhood……he started his singing pursuits at my father’s hotel at Tariq Road, Karachi in the early 1970s. Alamgir has on several occasions and in interviews acknowledged that.
I vividly remember him singing in the hotel’s open area for an enthusiastic crowd which also sometimes included Mr. Rahman, a renowned film actor from then East Pakistan, and his three elegant daughters. I was a little child then but have fond memories and perhaps also some photos of those times.
I believe that you are doing a great service to Pakistan by bringing forth such issues and happenings and i sincerely salute you for your commitment towards ATP. I wish to share with you this announcement about the availability of free renal treatment in Saudi Arabia and request you to please forward it to those who are affiliated with Alamgir’s medical matters. I sincerely pray to Allah subhanawatalah that something works out for the best.
With sincere regards for you and your great team at the ATP,
Duas and salaams,
Lubna Ayub
“Very Important! If you know any patient with Kidney failure who does not have the financial ability to secure medical care, please spread the following details:
A prominent Saudi business man, Ma’an Al Sanea, has dominated the cost of 60 kidney transplant operations in a Saudi hospital in Dammam, covering all costs. The hospital until now has only received 4 cases! If you know a patient who is in need, let them contact the hospital at:
Saad Specialist Hospital
Dammam ? AL Khobar
Telephone 00966 3 8826666 extension 4444 “
May Allah give him good health (Aamin).
May Allah SWT help this brother. I pray for Alamgir, Inshallah he will be 100% fit and healthy – Ameen.
Truly sad, his appeal really hits one’s heart.
@Qausain…. Do you think whosoever lives abroad is filthy rich? Is it easy to earn dollors, do they sprout on trees?
One shouldn’t be so cynic about things, especially about one’s heroes. Alamgir was one of few artists who provided the people of Pakistan with reasons to smile during Zia’s martial law.
To put things in perspective, pop singing was not as financially rewarding in 80s as it is now; rather, this art was like a white elephant, as it would take more than it would give. Abrar, Roy or others too would have left Pakistan had singing not been rewarding them.