Warriors and Survivors - 43

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 43

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.

 

I met Aiman and her mother today. Aiman was listening Sura Rehman in semi conscious condition. She was under morphine effect. Her mother was sitting near her silently crying for her daughter’s life. It was such a sad sight to see.

Aimen is 13 years old warrior, seeing her condition it is hard to say whether she will be able to be a survivor or not. May she win and survive. Aameen.

Aiman was diagnosed as a case of NPC (Nasopharyngeal carcinoma) when she was eleven years old. She developed cancer within few months. She had persistent fever with bilateral neck swelling that got worse in few days. Her parents consulted pediatric oncology consultants and managed to treat her in oncology unit somehow.

She is student of grade six only. Her education is on hold until she is able to study again. She aspires to be a teacher and loves to go to school. She has lot of school friends, and she wants to meet them again.

Aimen completed her five chemotherapy courses and her swelling started getting better. She was discharged to go for radiotherapy, but her parents could not manage the cost for radiation therapy which had to be done in another oncology center. So, they lingered on treatment until they arranged finances. But the disease does not see resources and finances. It progresses if you leave it untreated. So Aiman’s disease got worse again.

She has presented again with same bilateral neck swelling and severe pain. It is hard to see her when she is in pain. Aiman is on pain medications and waiting for her session for radiotherapy. Her parents are in the process of getting an appointment using Punjab Government’s new health scheme which has proved to be a blessing for this suffering family. I will discuss about this new health scheme in next blog.

As her disease has spread, so she needs another couple of chemotherapy cycles before radiation treatment. She is not fit for radiation therapy right now. Poor soul is not in a good condition and her mother is terrified seeing her child worsening.

She is being prepared for chemotherapy once again, innocent kid has already born many cycles of chemo. I pray that she will be able to bear these two cycles and radiations therapy as well.

 

Let’s pray for ease of Aiman and for her family. May Allah miraculously help them. Aameen

I pray for healthy and smooth recovery of all our warriors, and healthy life for all our survivors May Allah bless them health always. Aameen

 

Note: Names and pictures have been changed to protect identity