A toddler is unable to stand or walk due to her right hand weighing an astonishing 6.6lbs (3kg).
Shakiba, two, was born with a small lump under her right arm that gradually grew, before engulfing her whole hand and eventually spreading to her chest.
The toddler from Bangladesh, who weighs just 4.4lbs (2kg), is barely able to stand or walk and falls over every time she tries to run.
As well as restricting her growth, Shakiba, who is thought to be suffering from a non-cancerous condition known as a haemangioma, has become a recluse in her village as others worry their children will catch the condition if they allow them to play with her.
Shakiba’s father Abdul Sattar, 23, who cannot afford her treatment, said: ‘We have faith in God and doctors. We are hopeful for the doctors to find a treatment for my daughter and give her a life worth living.’
A toddler is barely able to stand or walk due to her right hand weighing an astonishing 6.6lbs
Shakiba was born with a lump under her right arm that gradually grew and engulfed her hand
‘People fear their children will catch the disease’
Shakiba’s mother Chabina Begum, 21, said: ‘She yearns to play with other children in the neighbourhood but people fear that their children will also catch the disease. It is painful to see people behaving rudely with our child.
‘She cannot sit or walk. Every time she tries to take a few steps, she falls down. [The] whole day she plays with a mobile phone. We are devastated to see her suffering like this.
‘We are extremely worried for her. We do not know what she is suffering from and if there is any medicine that can cure her. She is a lovely child.
‘We want her to play with other children and have a normal upbringing but her hand does not let her live like a normal child.’
She has become a recluse as villagers worry their children will catch the condition
Shakiba’s parents cannot afford her treatment and have previously sold all of their belongings
After interest on social media, they are hopeful God and doctors will cure her of the disorder
‘We have faith in God’
After noticing Shakiba’s unusual growth when she was just a baby, her parents sold their belongings and received loans from friends and relatives in an effort to fund her treatment.
They also consulted several doctors in their village, however, none could say what Shakiba was suffering from.
Mr Sattar, who is a labourer and earns the equivalent of around £30 a month, said: ‘They all advised us to take her to Dhaka but we had no money to afford the travel or hospital bill.’
Shakiba’s parents recently approached the local activist Mamum Biswas for help who then posted pictures of her on social media.
As the word of her condition spread among Biswas’ 38,000 followers, including health department officials, she was taken in for treatment by local doctors.
Her parents hope that with the help of doctors, Shakiba’s condition will be cured.
Mr Sattar said: ‘We have faith in God and doctors. We are hopeful for the doctors to find a treatment for my daughter and give her a life worth living.’
Dr Shamim Hossain, civil surgeon in the district hospital, added: ‘We have formed a team of three doctors to look into her case. Two specialists have also joined us for examinations.
‘This looks like a case of haemangioma but we can only ascertain the cause once the test results are out.
‘While the condition is curable, this looks like an extensive growth and would require advanced treatment.’