Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 120
I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in the 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.
This is the treatment success story of a girl child.
Sohima was only a five year old child, she had been suffering from AML for the last three years.
Her father was a taxi driver, and her mother a regular housewife; Sohima had three siblings. The family belongs to Bannu, KPK, Pakistan and due to their beloved child’s treatment, the family had to move back and forth between their hometown and Lahore.
Sohima didn’t cry as a baby unless she was hungry or tired. To many parents, that seemed like a dream come true. But for Sohima’s mom, something seemed a little off so she talked to her local pediatrician about her.
The pediatrician suggested she be seen by an oncologist at Children’s Hospital for further testing since she was exhibiting symptoms that might be associated with cancer. Sohima had fever for seven days along with decreased appetite and increased fussiness.
At only 16 months of age, Sohima was diagnosed with childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a type of blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes a large number of abnormal blood cells. AML is the second most common form of leukemia in children, after acute lymphoblastic leukemia. About 500 children in the United States are diagnosed with AML every year.
Sohima underwent approximately seven months of intensive intravenous chemotherapy. She was a candidate for stem cell transplant though her parents and sister were not suitable matches. She fortunately was cured with chemotherapy alone though she had a very guarded prognosis based on the treatments available.
Until the age of 18, Sohima visited hospital for yearly checkups and has gotten a clean bill of health. Although Sohima was diagnosed with AML so many years ago and was too young to remember many of the details involving her life-saving treatment, one thing that has stayed with her and her family is the compassionate care that health care staff had provided not only during her treatment but throughout her young adult life.
After getting treatment, Sohima moved back to her hometown with her parents. Despite the long distance and long after her cancer diagnosis and treatment, she was amazed that clinicians continued to reach out to her.
Clinicians says they are very proud of Sohima for all of her courage and strength during the whole treatment.
“It has been very gratifying to see her development from infancy to early childhood and how she thrives as a very healthy and successful child. Sohima personifies the patient successes we have achieved at the Children’s Hospital with healthcare team of medical specialists including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, social workers and support staff.”
Please join me in praying for the complete and continuous recovery of Sohima. May she fully recover and remain in good health. Let's also pray for her parents to have a happy and easy time with her. Ameen.
Lots of prayers for Iman and her family, and for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Ameen.
Note: Names have been changed to protect identity
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