Father who allegedly spent SMA donations on partying had died by suicide: His wife says, "Do not abandon İkbal to death!"

Hatice and Umut Kardeş, who live in the Torbalı district of İzmir, received an SMA Type 1 diagnosis for their daughter, İkbal Kardeş, when she was 18 days old. A governor-approved donation campaign was launched for baby İkbal's Zolgensma gene therapy.

Citizens and non-governmental organizations helped the Kardeş family, who sought support via social media for the 1 million 819 thousand dollars required for İkbal's treatment. While the campaign process was ongoing, footage of father Umut Kardeş partying at a nightclub was shared on social media a few days ago. The footage sparked criticism.

"I AM NO LONGER IN THIS WORLD AFTER THIS HOUR"

Following the events, Umut Kardeş shared a video on social media in which he made a statement. Saying, "Those who saw what I did for my daughter, saw it. I am no longer in this world after this hour, but I do not forgive any of you," Umut Kardeş was found by his relatives in his car in Tepeköy Neighborhood the day before yesterday at around 22:30, having shot himself in the head with a handgun.

Kardeş was taken to a private hospital but could not be saved.

"I AM AFRAID THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED"

Breaking her silence after the incident, mother Hatice Kardeş expressed that her grief is very fresh. Stating that she had gone to stay with her family in Adana with her daughter İkbal 4 months ago, Kardeş said, "I do not want to talk about Umut. Because our pain is still new. We buried my husband yesterday at the afternoon prayer.

Noting that 1 million 819 thousand dollars is needed for İkbal's treatment, Kardeş said, "I am afraid that the campaign will be negatively affected by this situation. After all, my child is fighting for her life. She has an illness. She needs to go to Dubai as soon as possible and receive her gene therapy. The governor-approved donation campaign is ongoing," she said.

"THERE WAS NO PROBLEM BETWEEN MY HUSBAND AND ME"

Stating that only 32 percent of the campaign for SMA Type 1 patient İkbal has been completed, Kardeş mentioned that the first governor's permit will expire in February and said, "I was not separated from my husband. I did not come to Adana because I was angry with my husband. We had not had an argument. My sister stayed with me in İzmir for 20 days. When my sister returned, I had to return with her. Because when I was doing live streams, İkbal wouldn't let me talk. There is no one to look after İkbal. I was alone at home. That's why I came to Adana. I wanted to return to İzmir, but my husband said, 'Don't return,'" she said.

"HE MOST LIKELY COULD NOT SWALLOW HIS PRIDE"

Saying that she saw the footage on social media and called her husband on the day of the incident to ask about it, Kardeş said, "I last spoke to Umut during the day on the day of the incident.

I asked him about the footage. He said, 'I am not myself, I don't know what I did.' We did not communicate in any way after that.

The governor-approved account is a blocked account. Money comes in, but there is no money going out in any way. We cannot access that money in any way. There are allegations regarding the money put into the piggy bank, but I did not see it with my own eyes. I don't know. My husband was not well lately. The process we are going through is not easy. None of our mental health is in a good place. Every time we look at our child, we feel as if we are looking at her for the last time. This is a very difficult feeling. It is impossible not to have mental distress in this situation.

My mental state is also shattered, turned upside down. But Umut was affected by the footage, and most likely, he could not swallow his pride.

"DO NOT ABANDON İKBAL TO DEATH!"

My daughter is with me. Our pain is great. Do not let go of İkbal's hand. Our campaign is ongoing. There is no access to the governor-approved account. There is no money outflow. Let everyone know this. İkbal must not be abandoned to death," she said.