Rustum Phullan, aged 20, with blood group O positive, hails from Kalatuk, Turbat. He is a battling thalassemia warrior from whom one learns the true lesson of optimism. From him, someone truly learns that no matter how challenging life feels, yet living with the faith of hope can overcome lifetime circumstances.
Born on March 23, 2006, his parents, along with his family, were extremely happy and were celebrating the birth of a male child. Living in a Baloch society, where inflation and illiteracy have left the Baloch people far behind the times, his parents wished that their son would be the spark in darkness, the hope of the dead flames, and would surely light up their names.
But disappointingly, the time for celebration was not yet finished. One day, after almost one and a half months of his birth, they got the news that their child was extremely ill in such a worse condition that he couldn't even open his eyes. In an emergency, he was taken to Civil Hospital Turbat, where he was examined by the doctors. After a prolonged checkup, the doctor told his parents, "His CBC is very poor, and he needs blood at this time." According to the doctors, he was transfused blood, and after some time, his condition got better to some extent.
So after that day, he constantly needed blood to maintain his condition. Worried about the health of Rustum, his parents took him to Bantva Hospital Karachi, where doctors again examined him with tests and treatment. After so many tests, his parents were told, "Your child has thalassemia major and needs lifetime blood transfusions." This was the moment when a storm approached his parents and chained their feet. It was as if the world had ended in their eyes at that moment. It is a worrisome thought: how can an innocent soul survive with such a lifetime trauma? Because receiving blood in every transfusion with extreme expenses can surely mark their lives, and coming out of it may feel like an unfulfilled desire.
However, time passed. He shares, "For every transfusion my parents struggled a lot — sometimes asking the relatives for blood and other times going to streets and hospitals asking people to give blood, yet they didn't receive blood on time. Sometimes, after two to three days, the same procedure continued, and then someone felt pity and gave blood."
That moment, his parents felt as if they had received all blessings. Since seeing their child suffering in front of them is not less than the day of judgement. However, time passed, and his parents, with the same struggle, transfused him blood in every session, and for checkups, he was taken to Karachi sometimes. Rustum shares, "At every session, when I was transfused blood, the blood was not screened, and CBC was not properly checked in Civil Hospital Turbat. Blood was directly transfused in my body, due to which iron was overloaded, and I became unable to walk in far areas, and I couldn't even travel even if I wished to."
Living in a Baloch society, where inflation and illiteracy have left the Baloch people far behind the times, his parents wished that their son would be the spark in darkness, the hope of the dead flames, and would surely light up their names.
He, with teary eyes, further shares, "I even wished to study and go to school but at the very start, I needed blood after every 3 to 4 days due to which I couldn't go and just killed the desire within." He shares with an extreme smile that no matter how hard life felt for him, he didn't give up since he knew after every hardship, happiness truly arrives. He further shares that he always had a strong faith in Allah Almighty, which made him even stronger to face the challenges.
Moreover, he shares, "Whenever I saw my parents struggling and suffering for me, I always thought I shouldn't have been born, because of my birth, my parents can't even live a happy life despite they deserve it. Sometimes, I thought it's better to die than this life that had made my parents unrest." These words just made my heart ache, and my eyes roll with tears. Since Allah the Almighty is surely very great, but truly, Allah tests those who He loves the most. Hearing his words made me feel this universe is full of such struggling souls. We just need to be thankful for what we have.
Furthermore, he shares that for every checkup in Karachi, it took them almost PKR 70,000 to PKR 80,000 per month and nearly 2 lakh per year for the complete expenses and financial burden. Therefore, after one year of checkups in Karachi, they couldn't afford it and stopped going since his parents were financially not that stable and were illiterate and couldn't manage that much. So they just did the blood transfusions in Turbat and left the other checkups behind. Likewise, time passed and then came 2019, when they got a lifetime miracle and an angel in the shape of a human. Rustum shares, "Our medical files were kept in Civil Hospital, so a man took the personal information from there and booked the tickets to Karachi with appointments in hospitals there."
And suddenly, a call came: "Your tickets are for today's bus, and you are moving to Karachi with one of your family members." He shares that day they didn't even know who this man was, that he had just been so merciful to them. He shares, "We moved to Karachi, and our complete checkups were done completely free, and after some days, we were back to Kech."
When we asked about the man, we were told, "Irshad Arif." He shares that day, Sir Irshad told them, "From today, don't ask anyone for blood. Just come to me, and I will give you blood." Rustum shares that after that day until today, he has been transfusing blood from KTCC, and the centre has been bearing all the financial and emotional burdens.
He further shares, "After some time in KTCC, I suffered from extreme illness and diarrhoea, and my condition didn't improve with the treatment in Turbat. Rather, it got worse. So, in an emergency, I was taken to Karachi." There, he was admitted to Civil Hospital Karachi. After a prolonged treatment when his condition didn't improve, doctors told him, "He is out of our hands. You should take him to a better platform."
Heartbreakingly, this moment shattered his parents, seeing their child between life and death. Their financial condition was unstable, too. His parents asked the doctor for a fee concession from another doctor. After this, they moved to Dr Saqib Ansari at Children's Hospital Karachi, where after constant treatment, his health got better, and some change was found.
At this moment, his parents didn't even know how to thank Allah the Almighty since seeing their child fine after such a challenge was truly unbelievable. So after the recovery, they were back to Kech. Rustum shares further that before KTCC, his life was very challenging and hard, since sometimes his parents even thought about whether their child could survive further or not. He shares how grateful he is to Sir Irshad Arif. Words are always less since his and his staff’s efforts are beyond someone’s thoughts and are worth appreciating.
He says, "Sir Irshad is like our parents, since maybe parents may not care for us like this as he is doing." With a smile and teary eyes, he says, "We are given timely blood with proper blood screening and CBC checkups. I don’t know from where he brings this blood, but we patients just come on the day of transfusions and do the transfusions tension-free and take the medicines if finished — One blood costs PKR 5,000 and Iron Chelation medicines ranges from PKR 15,000 to PKR 30,000 — and go back."
He shares that when the whole world said that these thalassemia patients can't survive for long, Sir Irshad with his team always built our potential and hope and made us realise you can survive your complete life with complete care and support. However, Irshad Arif, being inspired by Rustum, mentions,"Truly Rustum had a unique personality with his extraordinary mindset by sharing authentic ideas in different situations despite being illiterate" He further with a motivational tone and eyes full of dignity says,"He, despite being a thalassemia warrior, has the true potential to inspire others with his mini businesses truly. He is not only a soldier of a disease, but he is a visionary and accomplished character for his other thalassemia fellows and entire world."
In conclusion, Kech Thalassemia Care Centre (KTCC) in Turbat is a leading nonprofit healthcare facility serving children and families affected by thalassemia across the Kech district and wider Balochistan Founded in 2019 by social activist Irshad Arif, the centre provides free blood transfusions, diagnostic testing, medicines, and regular medical monitoring. KTCC currently supports around 500 registered patients and has organized more than 600 blood donation camps, ensuring a steady supply of safe blood for those who require lifelong transfusion therapy. In addition to treatment, the centre actively promotes thalassemia prevention and awareness, including education campaigns and guidance for early screening.
Recognized as the largest thalassemia care facility in Balochistan, KTCC continues to be a vital lifeline for vulnerable families, offering both medical care and community hope across Pakistan. Owing to all this medical care from the centre, as residents of Turbat, we also need to stand with the centre. If we can't support it, then we shouldn't harden its work. Before marriage, doing the HB electrophoresis test is very necessary in order to save our children and the upcoming generation.