Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 11
‘Life is not bed of roses’ most of us come across this quote in school life, but at that time we hardly understand its true meaning. Later in our practical life we truly understand it’s meaning. Still very few fighters get to know what it means in their early age. My today’s Virago is 13 years old Mehwish who understands life since her dream age.
On a regular day at school,
Mehwish felt pain in her leg. After few days she had continuous pain in both
legs and knees. Local physician said she is stressed due to studies when he
could not find a reason for her suffering. Soon, she had so severe pain that she
was unable to sleep. The family took her to Lahore. She was diagnosed as a case
of Ewing sarcoma of left leg in a tertiary
care hospital in Lahore after series of diagnostics tests.
Ewing sarcoma is a type of cancer that may be a
bone sarcoma (tumor) or a soft-tissue sarcoma with
swelling and pain at the site of the tumor, fever, and a bone
fracture. The most common areas where it begins are the legs, foot, pelvis, and
chest wall. It can be localized and metastatic as well.
Soon, her treatment was started. She had to go through six
chemotherapy cycles to treat her cancer. She completed chemotherapy bravely, it
was not easy to bear chemo and its side effects. Being a big girl, losing hair
was not bearable but she had no other choice.
Even after six chemo cycles her left knee was not getting
much better. She was advised knee transplant when she was evaluated after
chemo. It was a difficult decision for her family. Knee transplant in such a
young age is a hard decision to make, specially when there is no surety of
hundred percent cure, but they had to do it for their daughter.
Mehwish comes from a middle-class family of Sargodha, She has
two brothers and two sisters. Her father was in police but passed away couple
of years ago. Her elder sisters and brothers are studying and doing great. Mehwish
was also student of ninth grade when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her
education is halted since then, but she is not hopeless about her studies and
career. She says she will join police and serve her country like her father. She
likes to get dressed up and wear make-up.
Her family has hardly managed cost of her implant; they are
under debt now. Coming from outstation for treatment of a chronic disease is
heavy financial burden as it needs patience and persistence too. Even then the family
is happy for Mehwish’s successful surgery.
Her mother says that no matter what, we have to have hope. Hope for the future, hope to keep fighting even when we want to give up or when my daughter has had enough. When Mehwish was too tired to fight, I fought for her. When she broke down (which was only once during the whole treatment) I wanted to fight even harder for her. I watched her go through something that no child should EVER go through.
Her knee transplant was done successfully, and she was
advised rest. She spent rest time reading books and dreaming for a disease-free
bright future. These days, she is again on chemotherapy cycles. But Mehwish is
determined to continue studies as soon as she starts walking on her own. It’s
heartening to see her struggling with so many dreams. She wants to be a brave
police officer.
We all pray for her complete recovery, ease for her family
and for her dream to join police come true. Aameen
Note: names have been changed
to protect identity.
Beautiful story of a brave girl
ReplyDeleteMay all her dreams come true. Thanks Rukh for bringing it to us. Prayers and love for all the warriors and survivors out there ❤🙏🌹