Warriors and Survivors - 81

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 81

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 learned that courage was not absence of fear, but the triumph over it, the brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers the fear”. Nelson Mandela

Only brave people have triumph stories to tell. Sixth grade student and a female child from Lahore is so brave that she is not only fighting with her terrible disease but also is a support for the family. She is having big dreams.

Arhama is only thirteen years old, and she is student of sixth grade. She belongs to a middle-class family from Lahore. Six months back she had pain in her right foot, later it started getting blue.

In few days, her foot was all blue and it was very painful. Physician referred her to tertiary care hospital and doctors advised few tests. Tests results led to more tests until she had to go for MRI and biopsy.

It was a terrible news for the family when tests results arrived. Arhama was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed with RMS (Rhabdomyosarcoma) of right foot. Little doll Arhama was brave enough to counsel her family. She explained her family that after all it is a disease, and it can be treated.

Her first chemotherapy started in April 2022 and till date she has received six chemotherapy courses of one month duration each. No doubt this was a lot for a young girl like Arhama. But the brave soul is still fighting hard. After six courses there was another trial for Arhama and her family. Doctors suggested to surgically remove her affected foot.

Her parents were in shock, and it was the saddest time for the whole family. Again, the brave little soul came forward and she managed to counsel and make her family agree for the surgery. Finally, the day came when her foot was amputated.

She is now unable to walk and stand at her own, but she always smiles. She has dreams for her future. Armaha wants to be a doctor and she is Alhamdulillah quite hopeful for her future and her recovery.

She still has to undergo few chemotherapy cycles, there is still a long way to go.

May Allah recover her and bring reality to her hopes and prayers. Aameen

Prayers that Arhama recovers as soon as possible. May Allah grant her complete recovery and may her disease never come back. Aameen

 

Prayers for the ease of tashiqa and her family. May Allah recover all patients. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity