Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 131
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.
Muhammad Hussain is only two years old and so far, all he got is his cancer diagnosis. Muhammad Hussain is suffering from NHL (Non-Hodgkin’s or Burkitt Lymphoma).
His ailment began with harmless swelling on neck and with time the swelling enlarged. Initially M. Hussain was doing well with this but later he was febrile and agitated. His parents took him for checkup and understanding his condition, physician suspected some serious matter and referred him to Children’s Hospital.
Muhammad Hussain went through a series of tests and at the age of 18 months he was diagnosed as a case of Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a very aggressive cancer, at the age of two in June 2023. At that point in time, within seconds, family’s life fell apart and shattered into millions of tiny pieces. No one can ever prepare for the pain and total devastation one feel when they are told: “I’m really sorry but Hussain has cancer”.
Mother told; she fell to the floor screaming whilst Hussain’s father stood listening to consultant in total shock with tears rolling down his face. The following day Hussain’s cancer journey started as he was admitted to Children’s hospital oncology department, for the official diagnosis, placement of his Hickman line and start of his very intensive chemotherapy. The emotions the family went through are so hard to describe and very even harder to see them suffering.
Over the following days Hussain’s family found some strength with support from the other inspirational families and their brave children and also the kind staff helping families through. Mother said, “We could never have prepared ourselves for how ill our precious little boy was to become in order to get him better”.
Chemotherapy is no doubt a cure, but it is way too hard for a two-year-old child. The temperatures, the hair loss, loss of control of his bladder and bowels, his skin breaking down into raw open wounds, the sickness, infections and so much more.
The mucositis he suffered with was horrific, he had ulcers all over his mouth and down throughout his body. He couldn’t talk, couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink, couldn’t open his mouth, couldn’t move and he must have been in horrific pain and felt so ill.
It was heartbreaking and helpless. He was hooked up to so many things to help him through alongside his chemotherapy, anti-sickness, high dose IV morphine, high dose IV paracetamol, IV antibiotics.
He was too weak to have a nasogastric tube and Hussain had to be “fed” through his Hickman line via TPN (total parenteral nutrition) which was able to provide him with the nutrients his body needed whilst he fought this horrific battle.
So far, Hussain is on chemotherapy and sometimes he goes through very hard days and sometimes Hussain does well. Its start of his journey and he has to go through whole treatment. We pray that he will be able to bear his treatment and do well.
Prayers for M Hussain’s smooth life ahead. Many prayers for his parents who are going through a very difficult time.
Lots of prayers for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Aameen.
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