Nel 2011, all'età di 16 anni, Arfa Karim studiava alla Lahore Grammar School Paragon Campus ed era al suo secondo anno di A Level, quando il [[22 dicembre]] [[2011]] gliha evenutoavuto un [[Epilessia|attacco epilettico]] e subito dopo un [[arresto cardiaco]]. È stata ricoverata all'ospedale militare di Lahore in condizioni critiche.<ref name="Remembering Arfa"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.events-pakistan.blogspot.com/2011/12/worlds-youngest-mcse-professional-arfa.html |title=World’s Youngest MCSE Professional Arfa Karim from Pakistan Hospitalized |publisher=Events-pakistan.blogspot.com |date=2011-12-29 |accessdate=2012-01-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columnpk.com/worlds-youngest-mcp-arfa-karim-randhawa-shows-signs-of-life/ |title=World’s Youngest MCP Arfa Karim Randhawa Shows Signs Of Life |publisher=Columnpk.com |date= |accessdate=2012-01-14}}</ref><ref name="Doctors not hopefull">{{cite news|title=Doctors now hopeful about Microsoft programming prodigy|url=http://www.geekwire.com/2012/update-arfa-karim-reports-pakistan-turn-hopeful-microsoft-programming-prodigys-condition|accessdate=15 January 2012|newspaper=GeekWire|date=4 January 2012}}</ref>
