Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 110
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.
In 2021, when Omer developed an ear infection and a cough at two years of age, his parents thought of a visit to local doctor for an antibiotic. It helped for a while, but soon his symptoms were back. And this time, Omer was pale.
On persistent symptoms, father took him to his regular pediatrician who ran some blood tests and arranged for Omer to be admitted to the hospital. Not tomorrow. Right now. He was admitted, and within three hours, his parents were informed there was an 80 percent chance Omer had leukemia.
The news left the parents into a panic attack, and as per them, their world was turned upside down. Mother was so shaken that she had to be wheeled to Omer’s room in a wheelchair. Her first question was to a nurse. “Do any kids survive this?” she asked. “Oh yes,” replied the nurse, who introduced her to a fellow nurse who was a leukemia survivor. It gave mother some hope.
In next few days, Omer was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). “You never think something like this will happen to your child,” said mother. But it did, and now the fight began. While older children who are diagnosed with leukemia have an 80 percent survival rate, infants struggle to reach 50 percent survival. That’s because infant leukemia is very different from other childhood leukemias, both biologically and in how each patient respond to treatments.
Omer underwent chemotherapy treatment to wipe out his leukemia. He tolerated the first round of chemo pretty well and spent his third birthday in the hospital. The second round hit him harder, with more side effects like nausea and weight and hair loss. He developed fever and he had to be admitted in hospital several times. After the second chemotherapy round, post-chemo testing revealed that his leukemia was back, this time in Omer’s spinal fluid. It was another major trial for already turned down family. They were unbale to think any further.
In desperation, the family approached another consultant and he really brought for them a ray of hope again. Doctor said, “now a bone marrow transplant is his only option”.
“Bone Marrow Transplant” really? Was the parent’s response. There are so many prerequisites and care attached with the treatment and obviously finances are a big issue.
A matching donor is required and lots of pre blood work needed for both donor and recipient. Bone Marrow transplant is also associated with lots of post-transplant complications so does the chemotherapy. A large number of patients are being cured all over the world with this treatment.
Let’s pray for Omer and family. May he find a good match from siblings and may his transplant go smoothly. I may discuss Omer in my future blogs after he is done with his transplant.
In the last couple of years since Omer’s diagnosis, the family has learned not to take life for granted. “Money means nothing,” says mother. “Material things mean nothing. I hear friends complaining about people’s bad behavior, and I just say, ‘Really? Do they matter’?
Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery for Omer, may he recover soon. Aameen. May his parents have happy and easy time with him. Aameen
Lots of prayers for Omer and his family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen
Note: Names have been changed to protect identity
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