Zahra Beau Naqvi, born on October 8th, 2011, was a beautifully peaceful baby girl. Her beautiful exterior hid a painful secret inside as Zahra Beau, from birth, carried a disease that would come back to hurt her very badly.  But that was only part of the story; ZB was from one of the poorest regions of Northern Pakistan, a 3rd world country going though deep political and social turmoil. ZB’s birth mother, under pressure from her conservative family, was forced to abandon the baby girl at birth.

This beautiful baby, with a dark secret inside, was given another chance when she was adopted, at birth by a couple that at marriage made a promise to each other to give abandoned baby girls from Pakistan another chance. Zahra Beau, with her adopted parents, left the seemingly lost cause of a life as an abandoned girl in a 3rd world country and moved to a place that offered greater hope, love and compassion.

But that fairytale was cut short immediately, as ZB’s dark secret, a metabolic disease gained at birth through the misfortune of her birth parents’ genes, would come rushing back to claim her life. In just 4 short months from her birth, having overcome so many obstacles to just find love, ZB’s final battle, to beat a disease that occurred 1 in 250,000 babies – Glutaric Academia Type 2, did not end like a fairytale.

Zahra Beau Naqvi, died on February 18th, 2012, leaving behind heartbroken parents and friends and family deep in shock. A baby girl, one who had so much passion and fight to live, one who had so many odds stacked against her, fought for 16 days in ICU till the bitter end to save her life. Betrayed by her body, she willed herself to live, to beat a disease that was incurable if not detected at birth. She never gave up; her parents never gave up until time eventually ran out on the fight.

ZB could have, may have lived and beaten her ultimate obstacle if doctors had performed just one simple ‘heel-prick’ test known as “New Born Screening”. This test would have shown enough red flags to warrant further investigation which most likely would have led to the discovery of the metabolic disorder.

From this painful experience comes the birth of the ZB Foundation, set up by Zahra’s parents in her memory and spirit and designed to give other babies the chance that Zahra never got herself.

Based in Pakistan, the ZB Foundation’s aim is to pioneer the use of New Born Screening, target the uncharted medical area of rare metabolic diseases, and over time, become a compelling soldier for the fight against baby/infant deaths and third world standard pediatric medicine and healthcare facilities. Through collaborating clinics and hospitals and educating doctors and parents, babies will finally have the opportunity to receive a heel prick test (New Born Screening Test) within 72 hours of being born which will result in saving countless lives. This simple test is provided free of cost across Pakistan, all in the name of Zahra Beau. On the wings of an angel.

We are currently based in Islamabad so focusing on this area and Northern Pakistan. Our initial infrastructure comprising labs, machines and participating doctors will be established in this particular area but we have now expanded as we have a clinic support set up at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Peshawar and we are now receiving screening tests from hospitals in Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera, Charsadda and Khyber Panhunkhwa

Zahra is our inspiration as she is making this charity come to life. We have met so many amazing people who have the unique experience which we are looking for. You don’t just walk into these people every day, she is making this happen. We are lucky to have one of the pioneers of new born screening in Europe on our advisory board along with one of the only genetic specialists within Pakistan. My in laws who live in Pakistan help drive the charity, without them we would be struggling to operate but they also take inspiration from Zahra’s mission.

The world works in funny ways. Since we lost Zahra we have been blessed with three more children. Amara is our eldest at 4 years and we have 3 year old twins Rio and Sienna. Our house is like a play ground every day yet its so much fun!

As well as supporting The ZB Foundation with marketing and PR, I also run a small PR company focusing on family brands and females in business. I am also about to launch a new company which is taking me into a whole new industry. Im very excited for whats ahead.

My husband and I love to travel with and without the kids – but more often than not, with the kids. Of a weekend we love to spend our days outdoors at the pool or the beach and catching up with our friends and their children.