Warriors and Survivors - Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 06

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in Pediatric Oncology unit of a public hospital for several years. The mission of this blog is to bring to you the real-life stories of child patients suffering from cancer. Cancer is still a difficult disease to handle and treat. However, when it strikes the children, some so young that they cannot even speak, their agony is beyond expression and words. Let us pray especially for children suffering from cancer for early and complete remission. May Allah shower His Merciful Blessings upon them. Aameen.

Last year, just before Lockdown, 11 years old Ansa started having pain in her right leg. She bore it for few days, thinking it to be just a normal pain and that it would go away on its own.  The pain continued, and soon she had difficulty in walking and playing. When it became unbearable, she told her mother. Mother consulted a local physician who gave medicines, but to no effect. After x-ray, the doctor diagnosed muscle sprain and advised physiotherapy. Ansa went for physiotherapy and infrared radiation for two weeks to cure her pain, but it had no effect. Not only the pain increased, but her leg developed swelling near the knee joint. Later, on some relatives’ suggestion, Ansa was referred to an orthopedic surgeon in Sargodha. He advised some tests and informed that physiotherapy may worsen her leg. She was referred to Lahore in cancer hospital. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) was diagnosed after multiple investigations.

Ansa is resident of Mianwali. She has two sisters and three brothers. Her father was a driver in Karachi, but he died in road accident leaving the poor family alone. The eldest brother is working in army as helper, all younger siblings, including Ansa are studying. Life was not that easy before Ansa’s illness and has become more difficult since then. She has to travel to Lahore with her mother every now and then for treatment. Her mother has to leave younger children alone at home.They come and stay at her uncle’s home in Lahore for treatment.The whole family is affected. The elder brother who is living outstation to earn livelihood is worried for her younger doll, but he can’t be with her due to his job. All younger ones are facing difficulty to manage alone without mother.  Ansa also does not feel comfortable living out of home.

Ansa is a talkative child; she loves to study and wants to be a teacher one day. She is also fond of playing with her friends. When she talks about her favorite things, her face lights up like anything and she forgets her pain and disease. Then suddenly her light dims and her eyes fill with tears as soon as she recalls her pain and trauma. It is so heart wrenching to see her in this state.

When she was first admitted in hospital, she was unable to walk and was on wheelchair. She used to cry mostly because of severe leg pain and the fear of hospital. Now, her two chemotherapy cycles have been completed and her pain and swelling has gotten better. She can now walk on her own.

Ansa is happy that she is getting better with time. But still she does not like coming to hospital, whenever she has to come for chemotherapy. She says, the night before hospital admission is frightening.  Chemotherapy is not liked by most of children as it is associated with nausea and vomiting and many other side effects. Only these brave souls know how they feel when they get chemo and suffer their side effects.

Though Ansa is improving with treatment by grace of Almighty, but she is worried about her education and future. She also has the feeling that she is getting elder and still in grade four. Ansa wants a normal life just like all other children. She is also aware of her family’s financial position and want to support her family. But for all this she needs to recover first.

We pray that Ansa recovers soon and realize her dreams of her bright future. Aameen

 

Note: names have been changed to protect identity.