Warriors & Survivors Blog # 76

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf – Blog # 76

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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. 

Sometimes random moments leave unforgettable memories. These moments can be happy and sometimes they are unbearably sad. Happy moments or incidents become a lifetime joy and sad moments keeps hurting you until you try to remove the source of grief or do something to alleviate pain. 

An incident is hurting me since I saw that, and I hope to do something positive to alleviate the pain and suffering of the little innocent soul.

Our oncology department is on the the third floor and adjacent to our pharmacy there is a bridge that leads to the other building. The door opens to that bridge and there is a guard on duty who monitors public movement.

On a fine afternoon, I saw a young girl around ten years of age, asking the guard to open the door as she wanted to go to bridge on third floor. As she was alone, and the guard assessed her intention, so he was not allowing her to go out. So, she was crying loudly, I heard that and tried talking to the little soul. She was too angry to talk. I hardly managed to calm her down and asked her the reason behind her attitude. I am still extremely sad since she poured her heart out to me.

She is leukemia patient, and her name is Sataish. She is only eight years old, and she is tired of her disease and long illness. She wanted to be discharged and her doctor did not allow her to go home as her disease was active and she was under treatment. 

Sataish was so sick of the treatment that she wanted to die by jumping from third floor bridge of the building. The guard took her intention, and she was angry at him. This thought is scary, a child who is only ten years old wants to kill herself out of disease distress.

Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she was saying it would be better if I die.  I was stunned while she was telling me, and the saddest moment stayed in my eyes.

Sataish belongs to a poor family of Sialkot and her father died few years back due to diabetes, rather I would say he died due to misery. He has three daughters, Sataish is one of them. Her mother, the poor widow is hardly managing her three daughters, and one with a serious disease of blood cancer.

She was diagnosed as a case of Leukemia one year ago and she is under treatment, her condition is not that good to be discharged. She is afraid of being there in the ward. She can’t see other sick patients and do not want to believe that she got that terrible disease. So, she decided to die after long struggle of one year. Ah…

She is the one who expressed her grief by doing this bold act of dying and just imagine all other children who have similar feelings but cannot express their pain. 

Sataish treatment is going on, we tried to counsel her, relax her and she is under observation, but complete treatment is of three years, and I only can pray that she and her family are courageous enough to bear this treatment. 

Let’s pray and do something positive that no child thinks of dying in such an age of blooming and growing. Let’s take every possible step to make our society better for our new generation. 

We pray for the ease of Sataish’s mother and her family. We pray for the health and happiness and dreams of Sataish and her safe and successful future life and ease of her family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors -75

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 75

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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.

 

AML (Acute myeloid leukemia) Is a cancer of the bone marrow and the blood that Progresses rapidly without treatment. AML mostly affects cells that aren't fully developed; these cells can't carry out their normal functions.  AML can be a difficult disease to treat. Researchers are studying new approaches to AML therapy in clinical trials.

There is no known cause for most cases of AML. For most people who have AML, there are no obvious reasons (risk factors) why they developed the disease. You cannot catch AML from someone else.

While the cause of AML is unknown, several factors are associated with an increased risk of developing AML, including, Age: The risk of developing AML increases with age. Sex: Males are more likely than females to develop AML. Exposure to dangerous chemicals: Long-term exposure to high levels of certain chemicals, such as benzene, is linked to a greater risk of AML. Smoking: AML is linked to exposure to tobacco smoke, which contains benzene and other cancer-causing agents.  Previous cancer treatment: People who received radiation therapy or chemotherapy have an increased risk of developing AML, called "treatment-related" or "therapy-related" AML.  Exposure to very high doses of radiation: People exposed to very high levels of radiation are at increased risk of developing AML (for example, survivors of an atomic bomb blast or a nuclear reactor accident). Other blood cancers: Certain blood disorders may evolve over time into AML.  Genetic disorders: Genetic disorders present at birth that seem to increase the risk of AML include Down syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Bloom syndrome, Trisomy 8, Fanconi anemia, Klinefelter syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Kostmann syndrome and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome. Familial risk/germline predisposition: Certain gene mutations present at birth may increase the risk of developing AML. 

Alishba is only 10 years old and a very cute child. Like all other children she has dreams and plans for her future. She is a lively child and loves to roam around and meet different people. She loves her teacher and wants to be like her.

While she was playing, her mother saw a lump on her neck, and she observed that the lump increased in size with time. Since she was under observation, blue spots appeared on her knees. It was a matter of concern for doctors. Alishba was admitted in hospital, and to familys’s surprise she was diagnosed for AML (acute myeloid Leukemia). The family had no previous history of cancer.

Alishba was admitted in hospital, her treatment started, and the brave child had multiple chemotherapy sessions in four months. She is getting little better. Her treatment is continued.

The poor family belongs to Sargodha and Alishba has four siblings. Father is a daily wager and though it is difficult to run the family like this, but he is working hard for uninterrupted treatment of her lively daughter.

We pray for the ease of Alishba’s father and his family. We pray for the health and happiness and dreams of Alishba and her safe and successful future life and ease of her family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 74

 

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 74

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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.

 

Rubab was only seven years old when she had sudden pain in her abdomen. It was so severe that her parents had to take her to hospital immediately. As a routine, the doctors gave medications, and she was fine for the time being. But the pain became a routine since then, and every time it was severe enough to take her to emergency.

Finally, the poor parents decided to visit tertiary care hospital for her complete check up to find out the real cause behind her pain. Rubab had to go for so many difficult lab tests and the result was frightening for the Rubab and her family.

The day they got the result was a depressing day, she says she can’t forget that worst day of her life when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was diagnosed with “Germ cell carcinoma”. Her parents were not able to share the news with her and she knew she has got something bad, but she had no courage to ask from her mother.

Rubab had tumor in abdomen and that burst and after surgery she remained in ICU for many days. Her chemotherapy started after she was discharged from the ICU. It was another challenge for a seven-year child.

She could not tolerate chemo and she had many side effects after initial doses. Her parents refused further chemo doses and left for home. Rubab’s condition got worse at home. Some of the relatives counseled them that treatment was crucial for their daughter and that without treatment she might die.

The poor parents took her to hospital again, and treatment was started again. Rubab started tolerating chemotherapy better, and she started improving slowly and gradually. It was not easy though. The family belongs to locality near the hospital, even then it is difficult to go to hospital every now and then for the injections.

The brave child got the courage to undergo full treatment and she is improving by grace of Almighty. Her parents are poor, and they are hardly managing her treatment despite the fact that it is free of cost in the hospital. But leaving their daily life for the sake of treatment is itself a cost that all family members have to pay.

Rubab and family are happy that she is improving, and this is the reason they want to complete the treatment despite the difficulties they are facing.

Rubab has also started dreaming of her future life which she once thought she would not have. Rubab wants to be a doctor and become the hope for other sick children like her.

We pray for the health and happiness and dreams of Rubab and her safe and successful future life and ease of his family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 73

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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. 

One can imagine the level of suffering and ailment in a sixty beds pediatric oncology inpatient unit where eighty percent patients belong to poor economic status. In this desperate situation, success stories of patients give us hope. Recovered patients are a source of light and hope for the rest of the oncology kids.

Dua Zahra belongs to a poor family from a village in Bhakkar. She was five years old when she started having blood cancer symptoms. She was quite young and from a poor family, and though she was having symptoms like fever, malaise, body ache etc. since long, but the family used to have medicines from a local dispensary. When she was too sick, the local doctor refused to treat her. For six months, she remained sick without treatment. Her parents brought her to children’s hospital at Lahore and she was admitted here.

Her parents started weeping when they heard their daughter was having blood cancer. Word “cancer” itself is frightening and the issues associated with its treatment are enough to disturb a whole family, particularly the poor families who are already suffering from poverty issues.

Dua Zahr’a other siblings were alone in the village, and she was with her parents in Lahore for the long treatment. In the oncology unit, every child and their family had their own hardships and stories of struggle. Dua Zahra and her parents were already depressed, and in addition, the conditions there did not raise much hopes..

The treatment started anyway, and her chemotherapy was initiated which made Dua more ill. She used to have mucositis and she was not able to eat anything. She had to have repeated blood transfusions. She lost her beautiful hair too. Blood arrangement was not easy for the family. 

It took one and half year for the chemotherapy and then she had to come for monthly injections. Despite problems and hardships, the family did not lose hope. They struggled for the health of their young one and now by the grace of Almighty Dua Zahra has recovered. 

Her counts are normal, and she is doing fine Alhumdolillah. We pray for her permanent lifetime health. May her disease never come back. Aameen. May she live healthy and happy life always as she has already seen enough in such a young age.  May all the cancer warriors see the day of recovery in their lives. Aameen

We pray for the health and happiness of Dua Zahra and her safe and successful future life and ease of his family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 72

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 72

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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.

 

Even in daylight, very often Feroza becomes afraid of darkness. She asks her mother, “Mama please turn on the light” and starts crying.

Feroza is eleven years old girl who cries often, whenever she is unable to see. It is unfortunate that her eyesight is diminishing day by day.  

Feroza is suffering from AML since few years. She was treated for Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Lahore Children’s hospital, and she had recovered luckily. The chemotherapy and hardships associated with this long treatment duration was not easy to bear. But the family managed to complete treatment somehow. Feroza and her mother managed to stay in hospital for such a long time. In addition, they had to pay multiple visits to hospital.

 After this long struggle, Feroza remained symptom-free for only one year after treatment. Later she developed symptoms again. Her mother brought her to hospital and it was revealed that her brain tumor was growing again and it was affecting her vision and lower limbs. Sometimes she was unable to move her lower body. Feroza is on some palliative medicines and the family is facing financial issues to manage these medicines.

Situation is very unfortunate; her disease is not curable anymore and the doctors have put her on palliative care. An eleven-year-old knows that she is now counting days of her life. The mother is dying daily seeing her only doll waiting for the death.

Her father could not bear this news and has become emotionless. He has become a machine who only works for some times and then becomes still. Time is difficult to pass, every second is heavy. It seems time is still for this family as their only beloved doll is preparing to leave them for good.

It is hard to bear sudden death of a loved one, but this family is seeing their princess dying every second. Her eyesight is no more, the one who once used to be happy with colorful dresses and dolls not unable to see the bright colors of her toys and her clothes.

The family has four sons and one daughter pnly. Two sons do some work and help their family. Her father is diabetic and works in some factory. Allah has blessed the family with one daughter and its great trial that one and only doll is going through this suffering in front of their eyes and the parents are helpless.  They cannot do anything to save their one and only princess.

Feroza is extremely sad that she is unable to see while she is still alive, she wants to see this world before leaving. But no one can fulfill the desire of the young one.

The humans have reached Mars but still helpless for his dear ones.

We only can pray for some miracle for the health and recovery of Feroza and her safe and successful future life and ease of her family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 71

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 71

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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.

 

Hussain is fourteen years old, tall child. His disease has given him a grim and lean look. It hurts seeing a little one suffering with cancer, but it hurts more seeing a teen life affected by this cruel disease. A young teen who has dreams for his future and plans for his family has to fight with such a horrible disease.

In one of my previous blogs, I had discussed that in our part of the world, a male child is considered as the future pillar of the family. When some family has to stand on only one pillar with three or four female siblings, it adds to the responsibility of the sole pillar.  The parents and family have so many dreams and plans associated with their son, but it is heart wrenching when the dear prince gets the cancer like disease in his early teens.

Hussain was thirteen when he started having pain in his arm. Later a mass appeared on his arm which was resected by the surgeons. Hussain felt better for some time, but he started having pain again. Then the poor child shifted to Lahore for proper management of his disease.

Hussain had to go for many diagnostic tests and the results were shocking for the poor family. Hussain himself was very upset as he was old enough to understand the disease and suffering associated with cancer. I am helplessly sad to see him lying quietly.

Hussain belongs to a family in Mansehra, he has three younger sisters and he is the only son of his parents. His father is a daily wager. Sometimes he finds some and sometimes he has no work and earning. Financial burden adds to the disease burden. Though public sector hospital provides free medicines and food but frequent travelling from Mansehra to Lahore for child’s treatment needs both finances and courage.

Brave parents are facing both burdens but seeing their one and only beloved son in such a grim condition is really hard to bear. Hussain’s treatment started, he had four chemotherapy cycles and his condition was improving. His disease did not get worse, and he was discharged in April 2022. He was called for further follow up. When he appeared and his tests were performed for the evaluation of further treatment, the reports were sadly shocking. Hussain’s disease was spreading. He was suffering from metastatic Ewing Sarcoma.

It is grave situation; it is not guaranteed that further treatment will improve his condition so now his case will be discussed in panel for further decision of his treatment.

The parents are helpless, and Hussain is silent too. The worst fact is, he understands his condition and possible outcomes of his disease. In his age other children plan and do things for their future and he is thinking about death and his sick life.

I have no words to write more for him.

 

We only can pray for some miracle for the health and recovery of Hussain and his safe and successful future life and ease of his family. Nothing is impossible for our Lord.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 70

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 70

I am Rukh Yusuf, Clinical Pharmacist, also specialized in Total Parenteral Nutrition and Bone Marrow Transplant. I have been working in 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.

 

Today I saw an eight years old girl and wished to talk to her. I could see her sitting on bed while passing by the corridor. At the end of the day I finally managed to talk to her. I am extremely sad since I met her.

Aqsa is only eight years old and suffering from T cell ALL (T cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia). She got the disease when she was six. She is under treatment since more than an year and worst part of story is, “her disease is not curable anymore”.

I am in deep pain since I met her and family.  Aqsa was discharged by consultant today. She was sent home for further management of her palliation in hospital in her hometown. She has swollen lymph nodes and neck. She is having so much pain and needs morphine for pain management.

When I was talking to Aqsa, she was with her both parents and an uncle. Parents had still so many questions despite consultant had briefed them clearly. The reason of their multiple questions are many. First of all, denial about the condition of their child. Second, hope that there is still something that can be done to save their dear child. Third, they want to try every possible thing to save their beloved child. Because of above all reasons they were knocking every possible door.

No doubt it was a miserable condition not only for the patient and her family but for the health care providers as well. We can’t do anything for a dying child. It is worst kind of helplessness. This helplessness cannot be described in words. We leave our workplace with heavy heart and it happens daily.

Aqsa is from Bagh, Mirpur. She belongs to a middle class family. She has two sisters and one brother. She was student of class two when she got this terrible disease. Parents did their best for her treatment in their hometown but then they  had to take her to Lahore for the complete treatment. Her treatment started here but Aqsa’s disease was not responding well to the treatment.

She got three chemotherapy cycles and upon retesting it occurred that her disease has come back and that she is not responding to treatment.

I still cannot forget the hopeless faces of Aqsa and her family, the faces with too many questions. Sometimes we only can pray for these patients.

A lot of prayers for some miracle for the health and recovery of Aqsa and her safe and successful future life and ease of his family.

Prayers for the complete health and recovery of all other warriors who are suffering with their families. May Allah ease and cure all patients and cancer warriors.

 

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity