Recent picture of Shahzaib from his Facebook page.
Bajwa was studying at the University of Wisconsin-Superior as part of an exchange program when on November 13, he suffered severe skull injury when the car struck a deer, as he was driving back from Minneapolis with his friends
His brother Shahraiz Bajwa told Express News that Shahzaib was conscious and able to speak until he arrived at the hospital, but suffered a cardiac arrest because of which blood filled his lungs and oxygen supply to the brain was temporarily blocked, worsening Shahzaib’s condition.
Shahraiz added that the hospital had requested to extend the visa once to see if his condition was improving, but is unwilling to do so again, putting at risk further care for Shahzaib.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas Jilani has instructed the Consul General in Chicago to help the family in every way possible.
Press Attache Ahmed Nadeem Sadiq Hotiana informed Express News that the embassy has facilitated the family with the visa procedure and with their travel to and within the US.
Shahzaib hails from Faisalabad and was an anthropology major at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). He was also a member of international non-profit student organisation AIESEC.
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I had a similar situation my brother had a stroke went into vegetate state as Shahzaib. He was under nursing care for a year in Dubai there was no threat to his life. But we has same pressure from his employer to take him to Pakistan. Since the employer did not renew his visa and health insurance could not be continued we had not choice but to take him to Karachi, Pakistan. He was moved to Aga Khan Hospital being the biggest hospital in Karachi they were not able take good care of him and he died in 3 weeks. Here is link of his news. http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-206022-Pak-patient-to-be-moved-from-Dubai-to-Karachi
Now my request to Shahzaib family Please, please do your maximum efforts to keep Shahzaib in USA as much as you can. There is no nursing care facilities in Pakistan. Shahzaib needs nursing care for a long time. As I can see from his picture that he is breathing through tracheotomy and may be a feeding tube is there to feed him. I don`t know how aggressive treatment is needed but for sure he is a patient of long term care, which is not available in Pakistan. Long term care is not expensive at all therefore, I would request to current hospital to sympathize with Shahzaib and please keep him under a good care. We all pray for his recovery. Ameen I salute to the efforts made by current hospital and hope it will be continue to the best interest of the patient. Thanks
I don't understand whats cruel about it. Its very tragic/unfortunate, but the US has discharged its duty, and its quite reasonable to say that he should be repatriated to his home country for care. Btw, healthcare is super-expensive in US, so if the hospital did cover any of his expenses by their own, its remarkable.
@Hassaan Bin Shaheen: There is no 'US called him' so they are obliged to take care of him. Exchange programmer aren't forced upon anyone and he chose to go so there is nothing us authorities specifically owe to him. The hospital owes him medical care as he needed it but if it's true he has been in the hospital since November. I am sure his visa would have been extended had his family been able to pay because medical care in US is expensive and he isn't a US resident or citizen so the hospital is in no way obliged to pay for his treatment. I do hope his visa is extended but if it's not then we really can't vilify US authorities or the hospital. This is indeed tragic and I want to donate what I can for his care so he is able to stay there and get the best medical treatment. Our government should be the one ideally paying for it. If they can spend thousands of dollars for minor medical treatment for our parliamentarians,tv his boy deserves it too until he stabilizes.
He was called in by the US as an exchange student, the US authorities by taking care of him are just discharging the duty of care they owed to him.
I know the family, they are not asking for an indefinite stay but in his condition being sent to Pakistan would be like being put on death-row. When his organs stabilize and he can take the potential threats associated with traveling then we can talk about sending him back. Currently, there is imminent danger to his life.
The US may have done a decent amount of work but it's still not enough. There is still a lot more that is required to ensure his recovery and safety.
The poor guy is in critical condition he can die on his way back. They can send him back once he recovers.These americans who are so called champions of human rights are setting a great example by playing with somebody's life. Shame on them !!!!
Someone who knows the guy must start a petition here.. https://www.change.org/start-a-petition aim it to the authorities in charge of giving such visas.. I would love to support in any way I can.. but this petition would be very easy to get support of!
poor man
This is cruel. US authorities should let this poor person stay in hospital.
@Ali:
Whats disgusting? He had an accident and is being sent back to his home country for medical care and to be with his family. The USA made every effort to save his life and insure he's stable but aren't responsible for caring for him the rest of his life.
This is disgusting!
Prayers for Shahzaib - hope you have a speedy recovery and can return to normal life at the earliest...