Warriors and Survivors - 87

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 87

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. 

 

Fourteen years old Wasif has three siblings, He is the eldest one: two sisters and one brother. Wasif was a 9th grade student and was doing well until he was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Wasif’s father works in a power loom and belong to lower middle-class family. 

Wasif was enjoying his early teen years when he fell and got his femur broken. Surgery was done and he recovered slowly but after some time his leg started swelling with fever. Suddenly he had tumor in his mouth and his eye got swell. 

They consulted a local doctor and he treated symptomatically but Wasif did not get better. Ultimately, he was referred to tertiary care hospital. Wasif was first treated by neurology unit where his biopsy was done and then he was sent to oncology department after diagnosis that his disease was metastatic, and he needed cancer treatment. 

Wasif was finally diagnosed as a Metastatic Rhabdomyosarcoma case, and his chemotherapy was initiated after family’s consent. It is obvious that chemotherapy consent is not an easy ride. One has to bear hardships either way, no matter what you decide. 

Up till now, four chemotherapy cycles have been completed. As the disease is spreading, no one can give any surety, but the treatment is going on and it should be. Wasif is mature enough to understand his disease and its outcome and that is the sad part of the story. A fourteen-year-old knows that it is less likely that he would be cured fully, and that chemo is going to hurt any way. It is heart breaking to know a young lad who should be the pillar of his family and future hope for his nation has higher chances that he may not survive for long. 

That’s the hard part of Wasif’s story, he has such shining eyes, that used to sparkle with future dreams when he was all fine. Now his eyes do not shine like they used to be. They are dim and always thinking in despair. 

Wasif’s family and specially his mother keeps on weeping, she is too sad and hardly managing the news of her eldest son’s disease. She wants her son to immediately get better, but she knows only a miracle can do this. 

She is praying hard for the health of her son. His father has left his job for the treatment of his son, and this is also a reason for the financial crisis of the family. 

Let’s pray for the ease of Wasif’s family and health and recovery for Wasif as nothing is impossible for Allah.

Prayers for the ease for Wasif and his family. Aameen. May Allah recover Wasif soon and may he live normally. Aameen

May Allah recover all patients. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors. 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity