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.