Warriors and Survivors - 170

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 170

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. 

Farah hadn't even had her first birthday when she was diagnosed with brain tumor. Her life ahead was unpredictable even before her first year of age.

Initially, her parents noticed that their eight-month-old daughter Farah had a lazy eye. Both her eyes were lazy and flickering and her perception had deteriorated so much that she started crawling into furniture. She was irritated because of poor vision. 

They consulted a doctor in a local hospital. The doctors realized even during the first look that Farah’s case was serious. The family was told to go to specialized hospital in Lahore and see a cancer specialist. 

A scans and other tests at hospital showed up a mass on Farah's brain that was putting pressure on her optic nerve. The parents were devastated when they found out the mass was on the brain.

An MRI also revealed that the mass had components of three different types of tumors. However, the doctors suspected it was a very rare brain tumor.  She was advised surgery for her tumor. By the time she went in for brain surgery, Farah had lost her vision completely and the pressure on her brain was making her aggressive and frustrated. 

The cancer and its long, ongoing, difficult treatment has left Farah with no vision in her left eye and at high risk of secondary health problems like poor immunity and frequent infections. 

Farah and her family still have a long way to go, they had enough in just first year of Farah’s life. May they have an easy one for the rest of her life. 

Lots of prayers for young Farah and family, May Allah make their future easy and may her disease be cured easily and never comes back. Aameen

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.