Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 63

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 63

 

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.

 

Being oncology pharmacist, I review chemotherapy of inpatients who are admitted for different reasons and are on chemotherapy protocols. Yesterday, I needed to verify some chemotherapy and I went into a room and searched the child “Moazam”.

Hearing me calling his name, He started crying in semi conscious condition. He was afraid of intrathecal injection and was thinking that I had come for his injection. Ah poor child, he had his injection same day and was frightened due to IT injection.

Moazam is only four years old cute child, he has too fair complexion to be a male child. On first glance, he looks normal, and it is sad to see him admitted in a cancer unit.

Moazam’s father was a teacher in some private school and the family belongs to Gojra. Life was fine and family was managing well in their limited resources, and they were happy until last year. Suddenly the middle son (Moazam) started having on and off fever with leg pain, gum bleeding and weakness. The condition started worsening gradually. Parents being educated enough, got their child checked up locally. It took them and the local doctors months to understand that the child might have some unusual disease, rather than simple fever and weakness.

Finally, they reached Lahore after several referrals. Here his diagnosis was initiated and after a series of tests here he was diagnosed as Philadelphia positive Acute Lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL). This type is rare and occurs in only about 3% of children with ALL.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphocytic leukemia, is a cancer of the immature forms of white blood cells called lymphocytes. Sometimes the disease comes with genetic mutation on Philadelphia chromosome and the disease is called as Philadelphia positive ALL.

Moazam’s chemotherapy started in Feb 2022 and up till now he has been admitted several times in hospital for different complications and reasons. Since some days, he is admitted again, and he is on his chemotherapy. He has completed his Induction and is now on consolidation therapy.

Treatment is severe for a small child like Moazam, chemotherapy has its own effects on human body, which we call side effects. Sometimes, these are quite severe in some patients. So far, Moazam is doing fine with Chemo, but it is a long way to go in terms of treatment which is normally 2.5 to three years. Moazam’s journey has just started. May Allah give him and his parents courage to complete the journey smoothly and with ease. Aameen

The family have two more children, one elder daughter of 9 years age and a younger child of one year. Moazam’s father was a teacher in private school and due to so many leaves for the treatment of his beloved son, he had to quit his job. He must travel back and forth for the treatment of his son. Now he is jobless and still a long duration of treatment is ahead.

I pray for the recovery of Moazam. May Allah grant him health and happiness soon. May he be able to live a healthy life and dream for his future too.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity