There has been an outpouring of support for a cancer-stricken 12-year-old Pakistani girl and her destitute parents from hundreds of people across the country, including promises from their consulate for assistance with hospital treatment.

Arab News highlighted the plight of Komala Ahmed a few days ago. She is currently under treatment at the Saudi-German Hospital in the city. Komala, who is in constant pain, has to undergo surgery for a cancerous tumor around her right eye. The surgery would likely see her go blind in that eye.

Pakistan Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khokher visited the young girl recently and promised that his government would help with her treatment, possibly at the Shoukat Khanam Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore. Khokher said that anyone who wants to help pay for the young girl’s treatment should contact the embassy.

Komala’s father, Manzur Ahmed, asked Khokher to issue documents for his two younger children so that his family can travel to Pakistan. “Hundreds of Pakistani expatriates from all parts of the Kingdom have called me to express their solidarity, and dozens living in Jeddah visited my daughter,” said Ahmed.

“We’ve been suffering for the last six months and had not received any calls or visitors. However, after Arab News published our story we had dozens of visitors. This has amazed me.”

Ahmed said that some Saudi doctors from Riyadh also called him to ask if they could help.