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.
Yesterday I met a
seven-year-old young girl sitting in complete silence, with her head down. Her
head was covered with scarf, and she was looking too sad. Unconsciously I kept
an eye on her, she hardly responded to anyone, even to her mother. I tried to break the silence and initiate talk
with her, but she did not reply and kept her head down. Her mother said that
she was an active and lively child otherwise.
Zainab is seven
years old child, a student of class two. She is resident of interior Lahore city
and has three siblings. Her father works on daily wages, and he is making
enough to educate his children.
Few months ago,
Zainab developed a pea sized macule near right ear that was painful. A local
doctor drained it and gave antibiotics. But it did not heal, got enlarged and
ulcerated later. Parents took her to Mayo hospital, Doctors there did initial investigation
and sent her to Pediatric oncology unit for lymphoma workup.
In oncology unit of
pediatric hospital, she was diagnosed as a case of ‘high risk Anaplastic large
cell lymphoma’. Zainab’s difficult journey started when her treatment and
chemotherapy began few months ago. Her mother said, Zainab didn’t cry
when she was told the news as at that time, she didn’t know what was wrong and
what could be the future with this disease.
She bravely went
through chemotherapy and never cried out of pain or fear so far. But she is
silent, does not complain either.
Her mother says,
Zainab used to be a brilliant and talkative child who loved to play with her
friends and dolls. She was a very good and favorite student of her teachers.
But due to ongoing treatment her studies are on hold, and she had lost interest
in playing too.
“Zainab has got
too many dolls, but she does not play with her toys now. She remains quiet and
does not show interest in anything, a complete change in behavior for her due to
her ailment. Her mother said. “When people talked
about sick children, I always expected a child would be bedridden every day,
but it’s not like that. The symptoms are so bad some days that Zainab is
bedridden, whereas on other days, she is like any other normal 07 year old
child. Disease has changed her
altogether and it is more painful that she is suffering in both ways”, She told.
Zainab has completed her first chemotherapy cycle and is
receiving the second one. She is lucky enough so far to get all the necessary
medicines easily from hospital and the hospital is in their easy access that
make it convenient for her family to reach for multiple visits.
Being high risk cancer patient, Zainab is on high dose
chemotherapy and this treatment usually has its adverse effects too. Poor child
is bearing it silently so far. No one
can imagine the depth of her pain and sorrow of her parents.
It is just the start of her painful journey. We pray for
Zainab’s strength to bear the treatment and prayers for her parents energy and
morale. May Zainab complete her treatment and recover soon. May she be lively
again and enjoy her childhood once again. Aameen
Note: Names have been changed to protect identity
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