Warriors and Survivors - 74

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 74

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.

 

Rubab was only seven years old when she had sudden pain in her abdomen. It was so severe that her parents had to take her to hospital immediately. As a routine, the doctors gave medications, and she was fine for the time being. But the pain became a routine since then, and every time it was severe enough to take her to emergency.

Finally, the poor parents decided to visit tertiary care hospital for her complete check up to find out the real cause behind her pain. Rubab had to go for so many difficult lab tests and the result was frightening for the Rubab and her family.

The day they got the result was a depressing day, she says she can’t forget that worst day of her life when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed with “Germ cell carcinoma”. Her parents were not able to share the news with her and she knew she has got something bad, but she had no courage to ask from her mother.

Rubab had tumor in abdomen and that burst and after surgery she remained in ICU for many days. Her chemotherapy started after she was discharged from the ICU. It was another challenge for a seven-year child.

She could not tolerate chemo and she had many side effects after initial doses. Her parents refused further chemo doses and left for home. Rubab’s condition got worse at home. Some of the relatives counseled them that treatment was crucial for their daughter and that without treatment she might die.

The poor parents took her to hospital again, and treatment was started again. Rubab started tolerating chemotherapy better, and she started improving slowly and gradually. It was not easy though. The family belongs to locality near the hospital, even then it is difficult to go to hospital every now and then for the injections.

The brave child got the courage to undergo full treatment and she is improving by grace of Almighty. Her parents are poor, and they are hardly managing her treatment despite the fact that it is free of cost in the hospital. But leaving their daily life for the sake of treatment is itself a cost that all family members have to pay.

Rubab and family are happy that she is improving, and this is the reason they want to complete the treatment despite the difficulties they are facing.

Rubab has also started dreaming of her future life which she once thought she would not have. Rubab wants to be a doctor and become the hope for other sick children like her.

We pray for the health and happiness and dreams of Rubab and her safe and successful future life and ease of his family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

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