Warriors and Survivors - 135

 Warriors and Survivors - Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 135 

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.  

 

Zeeshan appeared to be a healthy, very happy, contented baby. When he was ten months old, he began to take less feed, needed to be fed more often, and didn’t appear to enjoy solids. The parents weren’t overly concerned.  

One morning when his mother was changing his dress, she noticed a lump protruding from under his ribcage when he was lying down. It felt very big, and it was hard and solid. 

She talked to a doctor on phone and later visited him within few hours. The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned either, but advised to take him to Children hospital over the next few days. 

She got an appointment for the following morning, and thus began of the worst time of their lives. 

The mother told that she remembered sitting in the waiting room with Zeeshan asleep. He looked so healthy and contented. It would be nothing, she thought. 

The doctor in outpatient clinic examined him and referred him immediately to Oncology unit as he wanted a scan done and blood taken. He didn’t alarm the family too much, but he was persistent and serious. 

They spent the afternoon at the hospital, while Zeeshan had an ultrasound scan, CT scan and numerous blood tests; it was very distressing for parents. They informed them in the evening that their baby boy had cancer – but they didn’t yet know what type and how serious it was. 

“Babies don’t get cancer! There must be a mistake,” the mother thought.  

Zeeshan was transferred to a bed in Oncology unit. Both parents and Zeeshan spent next week in  oncology Ward whilst the oncology team did further tests, a biopsy of the lump, and inserted his central line, he had an MRI scan and another CT scan. 

Zeeshan at only ten months of age went through so much that week but was still the happy baby boy who was loved. The parents were missing their other two children terribly and it was a very difficult time for children too. Luckily, they had grandparents to help as much as they could. 

In August 2023, he was diagnosed with High Risk hepatoblastoma – a very rare tumor in his liver. 

Only one in a million children develops this disease and this poor little soul was one of them. 

High Risk was not good as it meant the tumor had spread, it was 12cm wide and was squashing most of his abdomen, including his stomach, which answered why he wasn’t eating very well. The tumor was so big, it was inoperable at that time. 

Zeeshan endured three rounds of toxic chemotherapy for three months, followed by major surgery lasting six hours to remove the tumor once it was small enough for them to remove safely. 

He has to go for further chemotherapy now to ensure that no cancer was left inside him. 

He still has regular follow-ups and will continue to do so for years to come.   

He is having a high-risk disease which is scary for the whole family. Though he is under treatment and the parents are doing everything they are capable of, every passing second is horrible for them thinking a ten month old baby has a high-risk disease... 

Prayers for Zeeshan’s recovery and 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. 

 

Warriors and Survivors - 134

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 134 

 

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 Muhammad Ahsan was eight years old, his mother’s instinct led to a diagnosis that no parent wishes to hear: ALL (Acute Leukemia).  

In her own words, Muhammad Ahsan’s mother shares the story of her son’s diagnosis and the journey to treatment.  

There is no possible way to prepare yourself to hear the words “I am sorry to tell you, but your son has cancer of the blood”.   Those words came from a complete stranger.  This doctor was in our life for a total of 5 minutes.  I had never seen her before.  I have never seen her since.  But those words completely changed the trajectory of our lives in an instant and introduced us to a life that no child, no parent should ever endure. 

Time stopped, but time also became an expedited blur – which doesn’t make sense. But your child having cancer doesn’t make sense. 

At first, Muhammad Ahsan had on and off fever since a month and then he developed pallor for a week, later he had petechiae on his arms. Soon his jaw dropped, and he was unable to speak properly. Without wasting time, his parents took him to Children hospital, and this was the horrible day of the start of this critical era for their family. Within next few days Muhammad Ahsan got his final diagnosis of B-Cell ALL. Muhammad Ahsan was admitted in cancer unit of Children’s hospital on 1st Nov 2022.  

His mother shared, “we were told at the time that your child’s B-Cell ALL has a 90% cure rate.  Muhammad Ahsan responded quite well at every stage. They were all confident that Ahsan would leave this horrible stage behind.  Muhammad Ahsan would go on to enjoy childhood as it was meant to be enjoyed”. 

His treatment is continued, Family is excited to return to a “normal” life with a “normal” schedule and “normal” family problems that people take for granted on a daily basis. 

Hospital, IV alarms, endless waiting for appointments, hospital admissions, finger pokes, blood infections, spinal taps, daily chemo, radiation, constant nausea was a sharp contrast to the children outside playing in the park behind our house, riding their bikes and playing with friends.    

Ahsan is a happy-go-lucky child with this incredible sense of humor.  Every smile – every laughter – every hug has been a gift that can never truly be expressed.  Things most people take for granted with their children are cherished to a level that is inexplicable.  We pray for the permanent cure of his disease.  

Prayers for Muhammad Ahsan’s recovery and 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. 

  

Warriors and Survivors - 133

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 133

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 Maria was three, she began occasionally vomiting and complaining of headaches. The symptoms continued for about a week. Her parents took her to her pediatrician and the local emergency room, but no one was sure what was wrong. Finally, on July 17, her pediatrician sent Maria to the Children's Hospital for an MRI.

Before Maria woke up from sedation and rejoined her parents, they received a phone call from her pediatrician, who told them that Maria had a brain tumor and that she needed hospital admission for further diagnostic tests. 

The next day they had a consultation with a neurosurgeon. He told them Maria had a tumor in the cerebellum, the lower portion of the brain. Parents were in complete and utter shock after the news. Everything was happening so fast, but they had to go for treatment. 

The neurosurgeon said that based on the tumor's location, he would likely be able to remove the entire tumor.

Being only three, Maria didn’t understand much, she just knew that she had a headache and that being in the hospital would help her feel better. Everyone at the hospital was extremely compassionate and understanding.

Her surgery was planned for a week. It was a difficult day when she had to be operated.  

After seven hours, the parents were called into a consult room to meet with Neurosurgeon. He had been able to remove the entire tumor, but he suspected medulloblastoma, a rare cancer. Pathologists quickly confirmed this diagnosis. While the news that the tumor was malignant was very difficult, the parents were heartened by the fact that Mary’s cancer was not metastatic (had not spread).

Maria spent a week in the Hospital to recover and then was able to spend some time at home.

She returned after a few days to begin chemotherapy. For the next three months, Maria was in and out of the Hospital for chemotherapy courses.

Maria is again in the hospital for her chemotherapy, she got sick and had to spend some days in the intensive care unit. But she is better now and ready to complete her treatment. She has a long way to go to complete her treatment at this younger age. 

Prayers for Maria’s recovery and smooth life ahead. Many prayers for her 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.