Children Cancer Stories
by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 46
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 was in HDU of our unit working on some chemotherapy of a patient. When I
finished and was about to leave, I felt someone was pointing at me. I looked at
her, she was a nine year old girl who was calling me pointing her finger at me.
I asked without speaking, are you calling me? She replied yes. I went close to
her and tried listening what she was saying as she was with oxygen mask.
She
removed her mask and said to me slowly, “Will you be my api (elder sister)”? I
replied, “I am already your api, you can say what you want to”. She said I like
your hair, and I also had great hair but due to chemo my mother cut them. She
further requested me to remove my mask so that she can see me. Seeing happiness
on a child’s face who is oxygen dependent in ICU, one is ready to do something
to make her happy. I removed my mask, and she was very happy to see me, and she
promised me that she will come to meet me when she will be discharged from
hospital. I pray may she visit me soon.
Amina
is nine years old very sweet and talkative girl, she is from Vehari, and she
has two brothers. She is only daughter of her parents. Amina was diagnosed as Pre-B
ALL few months ago and her two chemotherapy cycles have been completed till
now.
A
week before she was admitted due to fever and her raised serum creatinine, her
renal profile was so disturbed that doctors were planning for her dialysis. I
met her while I was managing her medications as per her renal profile. She was
on treatment since that day, and I was happy to see today that her serum creatinine
was normal, and she was no more oxygen dependent. She was happily sitting
saying hello to me. She again promised me today that she would come to visit
me. On 15th Feb Amina was sitting on wheelchair and was looking too
sad despite celebrations around her.
Here
I want to mention two things, First importance of clinical pharmacy and
pharmacist services. Presence of clinical pharmacist and their active
participation in medication management can bring excellent results in overall
management of oncology patients. Doctors and nurses in public sector hospitals
are overburdened and, in this scenario, clinical pharmacist can better manage
medication related issues and errors. Pharmacists’ seats are not as per
requirements in any public sector hospital. There is dire need to increase
number of pharmacists in proportion to number of beds in all hospitals to
improve health sector.
Secondly,
pleasant behavior and fresh looks of health care staff leaves a refreshing
effect on pediatric patients. Healthcare staff with their positive attitude and
fresh look can brighten up patient’s days and this definitely affects better
outcome of therapy.
Children
and their parents who are already suffering with pain and hardships can have a
sigh of relief with positive personalities and their kind attitude.
May
Allah help us to be kind to patients and attendants and grant us courage to
keep ourselves strong and updated.
I pray for healthy and smooth recovery of Amina and all our warriors, and
healthy life for all our survivors May Allah bless all those families who have
lost their child in fighting this battle. Aameen
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