Warriors and Survivors - 176

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 176

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. 

“Before his diagnosis in September 2023, 9-year-old Taha was a fit and healthy kid, who loved his toys. After several months of Taha telling me he couldn’t breathe, doctors found a large tumor on Taha’s chest that revealed Taha had B-cell leukemia. The tumor covered Taha’s chest, and it pressed on his lungs, and that was what was causing him difficulty breathing.” His mother reported.

Taha’s mother, is one of thousands of families across country whose lives have been turned upside down by their child’s cancer diagnosis. We know families are forced that one parent must remain available 24/7 to care for their sick child. But for single parent families like Taha, the emotional, physical and financial strain is beyond imagination.

The financial stress was and still is a huge burden. One year later Taha is still on treatment and struggling to get by. Being a single mother there had always been only one income which is no more since the start of treatment. Either she can be by her child or go to earn. 

If she is not earning, they don’t eat. But how does one choose between being by their child’s side or earning money? So, for four to six months, they had zero money coming in. 

It’s a very scary situation to be in and risky for child’s treatment as well. No one can ever be prepared for something like this, friends and family leave gradually. Such families need support and financial help along with cancer treatment of their child. 

Taha is still in treatment, and he still has another year to go, needing a lumbar puncture and starting another round of chemotherapy and steroids again.

The unexpected costs associated with cancer can build up, whether it’s taking time off work, having to give up other life responsibilities and work completely, traveling to hospital or having to rent somewhere closer to hospital. Taha’s mother is going through a lot. 

There are no such arrangements officially that children and families like Taha can be helped financially. There are some donors or social workers who help these patients’ individually on need basis, but the problem is bigger than this and should be managed properly in order to save these souls.

Lots of prayers for young Taha and his mother, May Allah make their future easy and may his disease never come 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.

Warriors and Survivors -175

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 175

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. 

Ali started learning to ride his bike when he got flu. Parents took him to child specialist, and she diagnosed pneumonia. In a follow up appointment, doctor felt his chest was not right and there was a swelling on his chest.

Physician sent Ali and parents to emergency. The x-ray showed that the whole of Ali’s left side of his chest was whited out, possibly due to a buildup of fluid, and Ali was admitted to daycare.

In day care, more blood tests were performed, and the results had come back abnormal. Later doctors came to tell parents that it was looking like leukemia.

There was a big mass in Ali’s chest that was visible in X ray. This mass was affecting his breathing, and he had pneumonia-like symptoms. Ali was later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. Further testing confirmed the diagnosis as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia . The news terrible, how can an apparently healthy child be diagnosed with cancer within a day? It was hard to engulf this truth for family. 

Over the next year and a half, Ali underwent a total of 15 procedures. Treatment consisted of steroids to shrink the mass, and 5 rounds of chemotherapy to kill the cancer in his blood and bone marrow. Initially he was too sick to bear surgery to place a central line through which medications could be administered, he required multiple cannulas, something very traumatic for a child.

But all the suffering and hard work paid off, Ali’s bone marrow biopsy came back showing no sign of leukemia and he was declared in remission. 

It was not an easy journey though. Family life was disrupted by treatment. Family was living a very chaotic life. Everything was on hold except Ali and his treatment. After a long and hard time the family now has started to see the end of the tunnel. 

Ali still has ups and downs with his treatment and follow up visits, but he is preparing to go to school. Ali and his family are very optimistic about Ali’s future, fearful at the same time that his disease never comes back. 

Lots of prayers for young Ali and family, May Allah make their future easy and may his disease never come 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.

Warriors and Survivors -174

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 174

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. 

Erum was just eleven months old when she was admitted to Children’s Hospital. She had been, unwell for a couple of weeks so her parents took her to hospital and later had to admit her for timely treatment. A scan revealed a tumor in her chest so large it was pushing her tiny heart and lungs to one side.

Within few days she was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit and they had to put her on life support because she could no longer breathe without aid.

Her parents had waited for eight years for Erum to arrive in this world. Now they were told by the physicians that Erum may not survive. The condition of the parents hearing this news is beyond words. Poor mother wanted to take the cancer away from her child and she would have taken it on herself rather than see her suffer as she did. 

Erum was in a critical condition. She went on chemotherapy but after two weeks, the tumor showed no signs of responding. In fact, it continued to grow bigger. Nothing seemed to be working, and time was running out.

Her tumor biopsy was subjected to detailed analysis and her parents’ consulted physician and seeing the biopsy report they decided in a meeting that they will start her treatment with another regimen. After couple of weeks, her treatment was initiated again, and this time Erum was responding to treatment. It was with prayers of her parents and hard work of her physicians and nurses that Erum was responding well and there was a hope for her life. 

 Within four weeks, the cancer had shrunk to a point where Erum could be taken off life support, and within six weeks she was moved out of Intensive Care. Erum’s parents couldn’t believe the amazing results — they had a feeling that their little girl was coming back. No words could express their gratitude.

Today, Erum is better than before, she still has to undergo more chemotherapy cycles. So far, she is responding well to the treatment and there is quite a hope that her tumor will be treated completely with the treatment. Her parents are praying for the day when they will have the news that Erum’s tumor is gone, and their daughter is off treatment for good.

Lots of prayers for young Erum and family, May Allah make their future easy and may her disease never come 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.

Warriors and Survivors - 173

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 173

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. 

Nadia was a normal healthy child until seven years of her life when she began to complain about having back pains. Just in a few days, she was not able to run and play with her friends in school, or even walk at times. She was upset at this and informed her elder sister. When her mother came to know, she decided it was time to visit an orthopedic. So, soon she visited orthopedic with young Nadia. After several blood tests and an MRI, it was determined that Nadia had not any bone related disease, rather she was suffering with leukemia and associated symptoms with it.  Like every parent and child affected by cancer, the family was devastated but they took no time to decide about treatment. 

Nadia was referred to Children’s hospital for treatment and her treatment initiated, it was another phase of trials and challenges. The family was informed about the duration and details of treatment and also the hospital visits frequency. The family was informed that she may need hospital admission and stay if needed, and it will all depend on how well she tolerates the treatment and how well they obey the treatment guidelines. Nadia was worried about the hospital stay and admission. She was hesitant to stay at hospital.

Soon her chemotherapy sessions were initiated and she had to spend some time in hospital for her chemotherapy. Initially she did not need to stay in hospital for longer and she was happy with it. 

Later she got an infection, and had to be admitted in hospital for few days for treatment. Initially, it was a big challenge for Nadia and her mother but soon she adjusted herself and made some friends. When Nadia saw other younger children admitted, she forgot her pain and discomfort. 

After young Nadia was in remission, that meant her chemotherapy was working and she was responding well to treatment. But she needed regular follow up, check-ups and tests to ensure the disease did not return or progress. 

 

Today, Nadia is a happy, curious and charismatic girl who enjoys reading and writing. She wants to write a book for children who have or had leukemia.

Cancer is a difficult disease, a monster that behaves differently with every patient. The key is to follow treatment guidelines and instructions with a healthy lifestyle. 

Lots of prayers for young Nadia and family, May Allah make their future easy and may her disease never come 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.

Warriors and Survivors -172

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 172

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. 

When Rimsha started her sixth grade, she had a swelling on her neck, it was a big lump in just few weeks. It was so pronounced that several friends at school asked her what was wrong. Her parents took her to a local doctor who treated initially and later referred her to oncologist.

Rimsha’s parents were highly concerned about the word oncologist. They took her to ENT (Ear, nose and throat) specialist, ignoring the general physician’s concerns. After examining her neck, ENT doctor wanted them to see an oncologist.

The family had to go to Children hospital to see the oncologist. After some tests, the oncologist recommended lymph-node biopsy. Lymphoma was suspected, and the only way to get a definitive diagnosis was biopsy. 

In next week, Rimsha was admitted in hospital for surgery. The surgeon removed lymph nodes and sent them to pathologists for biopsy evaluation. After a week, the family got the biopsy result, and it was the terrible news of their life. Rimsha had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Her parents were shattered on the day when they got the diagnosis, they felt the world has ended for them.  The didn't understand illness of their beloved daughter or what paths this could take. They just knew word ‘cancer” and life risk associated with it.

Soon, the oncologist gave a plan for chemotherapy. She started receiving the drugs as an outpatient at Children’s hospital; they have planned four chemotherapy cycles over five months.

It is a difficult time. Rimsha is not able to attend school frequently but keeping up with her schoolwork. She has to be admitted to children’s hospital sometimes for close monitoring when she becomes ill. 

Rimsha is elder sister of two brothers, she is also staying on-point as caring older sister even in her sickness except the days when she is too down due to chemotherapy.

Rimsha has inquisitive nature; she asks questions about her disease and treatment. Sometimes she comes to ask about her chemotherapy and asks questions about her drugs.

Her parents are satisfied so far with their beloved daughter’s treatment, and they seem hopeful that their precious child will come out of this as a survivor.

Rimsha has still a long way to go in this cancer treatment journey, those who know cancer and its treatment are also aware how bumpy the road is.

Lots of prayers for young Rimsha and family, May Allah make their future easy and may she recover soon and her disease never come 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.