In late September, the Jaafari family was struck by tragedy after their only son, Mohamed Ali, was involved in a serious traffic accident in Chengdu, China. The Moroccan university student was hit by a car after he reportedly ran a red light while riding his electric motorcycle.
The accident left Mohamed Ali, who has been in intensive care ever since, with severe injuries, his father told Yabiladi in a call of distress from China’s Sichuan province. «The accident left my son with multiple fractures in several parts of his body, including his spine, ribs, both feet, and pelvis», said Khalid Jaafari, adding that several of his son’s organs were also damaged, including his «lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen, and bladder».
The student underwent urgent surgery following a public call for blood donations announced online by the Moroccan Embassy in China, but his father said he still has a long road to recovery ahead.
Mounting hospital bills and limited means
Already devastated by his son’s critical condition, Khalid is also struggling with the weight of rising hospital expenses. «My heart is bleeding», he said. «My financial means are limited, and the medical bills are rising sharply». As of Tuesday, he said, the hospital bill had «reached 270,000 dirhams, with a daily cost of 10,800 dirhams for dialysis, intensive care, nursing, and medication».
«He is currently in the ICU between life and death, surviving on artificial respiration and kidney dialysis», the father said. Khalid explained that he had submitted a request for financial aid, but the assistance would be «limited compared to the enormous and growing costs», especially since his son still needs several more surgeries.
In an urgent SOS, he appealed for help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and expressed hope that his voice would reach even «King Mohammed VI, so he can put an end to my son’s suffering as soon as possible».
Khalid, who arrived in China on October 7 to stand by his son, said he is following his son’s condition closely while also coping with language barriers and the costs of staying abroad with limited assistance. «The only support I receive comes from Moroccan students here, who despite their limited resources, have been helping me pay for my hotel, handle paperwork, and translate for me», he said with a heavy heart.
A father’s plea for help
In addition to his son’s critical condition, Khalid is dealing with administrative challenges to defend his son’s legal position. A situation that, according to him, has delayed the insurance process, leaving his son in a difficult position as neither «the university nor the insurer have stepped in to help so far», he argues.
«They are placing the entire blame on my son, claiming that he ran a red light on his bike before being hit by a car», he said. However, citing CCTV footage, the father said he believes «the driver was also at fault, as he was speeding in a restricted area», adding that «this is also what the traffic police told me». A traffic police committee is expected to meet Thursday to determine the findings of the investigation and assign responsibility.
Meanwhile, Khalid hopes the Moroccan Embassy will «help ensure my son’s case is handled fairly and that the university and insurance fulfill their responsibilities».
Having to visit the hospital himself for high blood pressure and diabetes, Khalid remains hopeful. «Though Mohamed Ali remains in intensive care, there are small signs of improvement», he said. «Doctors say his condition is getting better, especially after the first surgery. They are waiting for his situation to stabilize before proceeding with the next one».
«Mohamed Ali is our only son, and we fear losing him at any moment. This is an SOS from a father struggling alone in China», he said.