A 24-year-old Fijian mother, Riha Kumar, has issued a heartbreaking plea for urgent medical assistance after being diagnosed with a life-threatening mediastinal tumour and pleural effusion, which has now progressed into a confirmed case of cancer.
In a powerful message shared on GoFundMe, Riha describes the emotional and physical toll of her condition, revealing she can no longer hold her 8-month-old daughter, Zemira, due to the excruciating pain and fatigue caused by the spreading tumour.
“Zemira is the light of my life—my reason for breathing, for fighting, for hoping,” she wrote.
“Some days, I can’t even hold my daughter… that pain cuts deeper than anything cancer could ever do.”
Riha’s medical crisis took a devastating turn in March 2025, when a biopsy conducted in Fiji was never sent overseas for further testing as promised. This delay of over a month allowed the aggressive tumour to grow unchecked, infecting her lungs and severely deteriorating her health.
Facing the grim reality of inadequate treatment options in Fiji, Riha must now urgently travel to India for potentially life-saving care, including surgery, chemotherapy, and laser therapy. The estimated cost of treatment is between USD $50,000 and $65,000—an amount well beyond her reach.
“I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I’ve lost so much weight and strength,” she said.
“I’m terrified—not just for myself, but for my daughter, who needs her mother.”
With time running out, Riha is appealing to the public for support through donations or by sharing her story. She hopes that with help, she can get the treatment she needs and have the chance to watch her daughter grow up.
“Please, help me hold my baby again—without pain, without fear,” her message concludes.
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