Gene drug ‘only hope’ for Turkish child, but costs millions

Yusuf Polat's parents are desperately trying to raise the money for their son's treatment [Naomi Cohen/Al Jazeera]

Gebze, Turkey – Yusuf Polat is only five years old, but has accumulated enough medical conditions for a lifetime.

He has scoliosis and a hole in his stomach, his bones and muscles have deteriorated so much that he cannot walk or swallow or breathe correctly, and he has to be tied to seven devices when he sleeps.