Warriors and Survivors - 115

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 115

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. 

 

Zain is 12 years old healthy-looking male child. He was doing well and was a confident child until he was ten. One fine morning he woke up with a fever and later he developed neck swelling. But with symptomatic treatment, he was better within a couple of days. 

A few days later, he again developed fever and this time it took a week for him to settle down. Later the fever was frequent, and his parents were worried. 

They took him to the hospital as they were done with the local physicians and Zain’s condition was alarming. He was immediately admitted after his history and diagnostic workup for him initiated. Within a couple of days, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. “Nothing worst than news for a parent that their child got cancer at the blooming age.”

Zain’s treatment started and the brave child received chemotherapy bravely, playing and smiling all the time with other children and he never let his parents realize that he was fighting a great battle. 

Zain had to discontinue his school for two years to get his treatment done. He was not allowed to go to school as his immunity most of the time was too low to expose him even to a normal environment. He had to be at home or hospital. Restrictions for a ten-year-old male child in itself were a nightmare, Zain had not only these restrictions but also a horrible disease and chemotherapy, but the brave guy faced it valiantly.

He completed his treatment with the utmost efforts of his parents, and he was doing well when one day poor family received the worst news of their lives. Zain’s disease had come back. Zain was in relapse and this time the disease was more severe. 

Zain who had started dreaming about his normal life and school and his friends has been admitted again. Who knows how long his treatment will take. 

Please join me in praying for the complete and safe recovery of Zain. May he fully recover and remain in good health. Let's also pray for his parents to have a happy and easy time with him. Amen.

Lots of prayers for Zain and his family, and for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Amen.

 

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 114

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 114

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. 

“There is nothing more important than saving a child's life” Laila’s mother.

 Laila was a bright, bubbly, joyous child with no health issues or concerns but when she was eight months old, her family knew something was wrong. Laila had a fever that wouldn't go away. At first, her parents thought it was teething issues, so they took her to the hospital for further tests but never made it home after that.

It was initially thought that Laila was suffering from constipation, but then blood tests revealed that Laila's iron levels were terribly low. 

Many doctors and tests later, Laila's fever was still refusing to dissipate. The family was sent to Children's Hospital, Lahore where they found a tumor in her abdomen and extensive cancer in her bones and bone marrow.

“Being told your child has cancer is every parent's worst nightmare, you can't ever be fully prepared to hear those words”. Laila’s mother said.

The tumor in Laila's abdomen was the size of a grapefruit. She was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma and started immediately on chemotherapy but did not respond to her first six rounds.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of childhood cancer with a survival rate of about 50%, making it most difficult to treat. Neuroblastoma is a cancer of the nervous tissue, which forms solid tumors.

Laila's lack of response meant her case was upgraded to high-risk. Today, aged just eight, she has undergone a dozen rounds of chemo, several surgeries, radiation and an immunotherapy trial.

I think sometimes, for cancer like these we desperately need more effective, less toxic treatments to improve the survival rates of neuroblastoma and give kids like Laila a brighter future. 

Laila's case continues to be a challenge and she is still not cancer-free. Her family is now playing an anxious waiting game; hoping for some miracle and breakthroughs in scientific research that may lead to some new drug discovery for neuroblastoma. 

Please join me in praying for the complete and safe recovery of Laila. May she fully recover and remain in good health. Let's also pray for her parents to have a happy and easy time with her. Amen.

Lots of prayers for Laila and her family, and for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Amen.

Note: Names have been changed to 

Warriors and Survivors -113

 Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 113

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. 

Aira was only two and a half years when she started having off-and-on fever. In just a few days she also developed abdominal swelling with abdominal pain. Five days later she had bleeding from her mouth, It was like an emergency situation for the family and they rushed to the emergency of their community hospital. 

On admission, she had a fever, cough, and low platelets. She was symptomatically treated in the emergency and referred to the oncology department for further workup. In the next two days, she was diagnosed with pre-B ALL (Acute lymphocytic Leukemia). 

Her parents were counseled and with a heavy heart, they agreed to start treatment for their small pretty sparrow.  “When we were given the news... it was like a knife wound to my gut, it was horrible,” said her mother. 

Without having any other options, they had to go for chemotherapy for that little spirit who just had landed in this world two years ago. 

Aira had chemotherapy, designed to treat her cancer and give her a bit more time. The disease was controlled, and Aira was well for a while. Her parents made the most of this precious extra time, often taking Aira to her favorite park where she would slide down a slide over and over again, screaming with delight. And yet, her mother says she believes Aira knew she was not well, that something bad is happening to her.

Her treatment continued for a few months, and she was doing well, later she developed meningoencephalitis and had to remain admitted in the hospital for several weeks. It was a horrible time for both parents, they used to believe they may not lose their child. Aira was most of the time sleepy or semi-unconscious due to medicines and the disease. 

Aira fought the disease valiantly for 18 months. She is now three and a half. She still has to undergo treatment and seeing her condition there is no certainty that she will survive the treatment and disease both. 

Please join me in praying for the complete and safe recovery of Aira. May she fully recover and remain in good health. Let's also pray for her parents to have a happy and easy time with her. Amen.

Lots of prayers for Aira and her family, and for all sick children to recover quickly and never experience their illnesses again. May they lead happy and healthy lives once more. Amen.

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 112

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 112

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. 

Hamad was not even two years old when the family had a shock with diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Meaning he would end up spending the next year, a third of his short lifetime, in hospital undergoing grueling treatment. It all happened so sudden and fast that his mother was shocked. She said, I was thinking "they’re all wrong. There’s no way that it’s cancer, there must be a mistake in tests."

At not yet two years of age, happy and easygoing Hamad loved fun family times: playing in the park, playing with siblings, and laughing heartily. Both parents were like any other parents, enjoying life with their third-born child. But within weeks Hamad’s life as a care-free child changed altogether, not only Hamad’s but the whole family.

Hamad had developed an ongoing chest infection, and just didn’t seem to be getting better. “He was pale and lethargic, and his parents couldn’t do anything to get him better. The family doctor did a blood test and, within hours, suggested they should visit hospital and the family head straight to the local hospital Emergency. In a couple of days Hamad was admitted at oncology unit of Children’s Hospital, Lahore.

Hamad’s blood results showed increasing levels of blast cells, a key indicator of leukemia. He underwent a bone marrow aspirate and lumber puncture for doctors to confirm the diagnosis as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. When the formal diagnosis came, the news hit very hard.

“I pretty much just cried the whole couple of weeks after they told us that it is confirmed blood cancer. It was like a mental crash”, said his mother.

The day after diagnosis, Hamad had a port inserted in her chest for chemotherapy to be administered, but after the first round, the port became badly infected, and he had to be put in isolation. This precious young boy had a wound in his chest so large he had to go under general anesthetic every time the dressing was changed.

The treatments often triggered high fever, while Hamad’s reaction to steroids led to terrible screaming until he fell asleep. Hamad lost weight, which meant that he couldn’t walk for a time. As a 2-year-old, such difficult side effects were very hard to understand.

Hamad is now three and his intensive chemo treatment has stopped, meaning fewer hospital trips. Now Hamad has to attend Outpatient once a week, Both parents are so grateful to welcome a return to their normal family lives. 

Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery of Hamad, may he recover completely and stay healthy. Aameen. May his parents have happy and easy time with him. Aameen

Lots of prayers for Hamad and his family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 111

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 111

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. 

Farah was a happy and healthy 12-year-old girl until she started having fever and diarrhea. She had high grade fever for six days in the first episode. After few days she had again intermittent fever with body rash, and she was tired and run down. Her mother took her to hospital where she was treated and advised some diagnostic tests to know the exact cause of her frequent symptoms.  

After initial tests, the family was counselled about higher chances that their daughter might be suffering from blood cancer. To confirm and to know exact stage and cancer type, she needed some more confirmatory tests. Later she was diagnosed with ALL (Acute lymphocytic leukemia). 

Her parents were again counselled for the duration, mode and complexity of treatment and the family had no other option accept agreeing for chemotherapy despite all the side effects and concerns. 

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood. It causes the body to produce too many white blood cells, which can crowd out the healthy cells. This can lead to a number of problems, including fever, infection, and anemia.

Farah's diagnosis was a devastating blow to her family. Her parents were heartbroken, and her brother was scared. They didn't know how they were going to bear the treatment, or how they were going to take care of her while she was sick.

The entire family was stressed and exhausted by Farah's illness. They were worried about her health, and they were also worried about how they were going to cope with this. But they never gave up hope. They knew that Farah was a fighter, and they were determined to help her get better.

Farah was immediately admitted to the hospital and started chemotherapy. She had to have chemotherapy every week for months. During her treatment, Farah had to spend a lot of time in the hospital. She missed her friends and her school. She also had to deal with the side effects of her treatment, which made her feel sick and tired all the time. Farah's older brother, Omar, was also very supportive. He would visit her in the hospital, and he would bring her favorite books and food. He also made sure to tell her funny stories to make her laugh.

Farah's recovery was long and difficult, but she never gave up. She had been admitted in ICU due to her neutropenia and related issues. She fought hard, and she eventually went into remission. She is now back in school and spending time with her friends again and looking forward to starting high school in the fall.

Farah's story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope. With the support of her family and friends, Farah was able to overcome her leukemia and get back to her life.

Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery of Farah, may she recover completely and stay healthy. Aameen. May her parents have happy and easy time with her. Aameen

Lots of prayers for Farah and her family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 110

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 110

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. 

In 2021, when Omer developed an ear infection and a cough at two years of age, his parents thought of a visit to local doctor for an antibiotic. It helped for a while, but soon his symptoms were back. And this time, Omer was pale.

On persistent symptoms, father took him to his regular pediatrician who ran some blood tests and arranged for Omer to be admitted to the hospital. Not tomorrow. Right now. He was admitted, and within three hours, his parents were informed there was an 80 percent chance Omer had leukemia.

The news left the parents into a panic attack, and as per them, their world was turned upside down. Mother was so shaken that she had to be wheeled to Omer’s room in a wheelchair. Her first question was to a nurse. “Do any kids survive this?” she asked. “Oh yes,” replied the nurse, who introduced her to a fellow nurse who was a leukemia survivor. It gave mother some hope.

In next few days, Omer was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). “You never think something like this will happen to your child,” said mother. But it did, and now the fight began. While older children who are diagnosed with leukemia have an 80 percent survival rate, infants struggle to reach 50 percent survival. That’s because infant leukemia is very different from other childhood leukemias, both biologically and in how each patient respond to treatments.

Omer underwent chemotherapy treatment to wipe out his leukemia. He tolerated the first round of chemo pretty well and spent his third birthday in the hospital. The second round hit him harder, with more side effects like nausea and weight and hair loss. He developed fever and he had to be admitted in hospital several times. After the second chemotherapy round, post-chemo testing revealed that his leukemia was back, this time in Omer’s spinal fluid. It was another major trial for already turned down family. They were unbale to think any further.

In desperation, the family approached another consultant and he really brought for them a ray of hope again. Doctor said, “now a bone marrow transplant is his only option”.

“Bone Marrow Transplant” really? Was the parent’s response. There are so many prerequisites and care attached with the treatment and obviously finances are a big issue. 

A matching donor is required and lots of pre blood work needed for both donor and recipient. Bone Marrow transplant is also associated with lots of post-transplant complications so does the chemotherapy. A large number of patients are being cured all over the world with this treatment. 

Let’s pray for Omer and family. May he find a good match from siblings and may his transplant go smoothly. I may discuss Omer in my future blogs after he is done with his transplant. 

In the last couple of years since Omer’s diagnosis, the family has learned not to take life for granted. “Money means nothing,” says mother. “Material things mean nothing. I hear friends complaining about people’s bad behavior, and I just say, ‘Really? Do they matter’?

Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery for Omer, may he recover soon. Aameen. May his parents have happy and easy time with him. Aameen

Lots of prayers for Omer and his family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity

Warriors and Survivors - 109

Children Cancer Stories by Rukh Yusuf - Blog # 109

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. 

Farman Ali is only 2 and half years old. He was a happy and healthy toddler, until one day his mother noticed a lump on his stomach. Parents took it as normal but in few days, Farman seemed to be in pain and his abdomen enlarged a bit. It was not something normal.  Parents took him to the hospital, after several tests and multiple visits Farman was diagnosed with Wilms tumor, a type of kidney cancer.

Wilms tumor is a rare type of kidney cancer that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. It is the most common type of kidney cancer in children, accounting for about 60% of all cases. 

The symptoms of Wilms tumor can vary depending on the size and location of the tumor. Some common symptoms include:

A lump in the abdomen, Pain in the abdomen, Blood in the urine, Fever, Fatigue, and loss of appetite

If a child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to see a doctor right away. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for a good outcome.

The treatment for Wilms tumor typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The specific treatment plan will vary depending on the size and location of the tumor, as well as the child's age and overall health. Surgery is usually the first step in the treatment of Wilms tumor. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor as completely as possible. In some cases, the entire kidney may need to be removed. Chemotherapy is often used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy may also be used to kill cancer cells.

Farman Ali 's parents were devastated. They didn't know what to do or how to help their son. They followed their health care provider’s advice and treatment was initiated. Farman Ali started chemotherapy right away. The treatments were tough, and Farman Ali often got sick.

One of the biggest challenges that Farman Ali and his family faced was the right nephrectomy that he had to undergo. A nephrectomy is the surgical removal of a kidney. Farman Ali 's right kidney was removed because it was the one that had the Wilms tumor. The nephrectomy was a major surgery, and Farman Ali had to stay in the hospital for several days. He was in a lot of pain, and his mother had to learn how to take care of her child’s new surgical wound.

After the surgery, Farman Ali had to go through a period of rehabilitation. He had to learn how to walk again, and he had to build up his strength.

The rehabilitation process was tough, but Farman Ali’s mother was determined to do everything for her son. She worked hard, and he eventually made a full recovery.

After many months of chemotherapy treatment, Farman Ali was finally in remission. His parents were so happy, and they couldn't wait to get back to their normal life. But family knew that things would never be the same. Farman Ali will have to survive with one kidney, and he was so young, he had a whole life ahead.

Farman Ali 's story is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. With Allah’s grace and the love and support of family and friends, anything is possible.

If you are a parent of a child with cancer, please know that you are not alone. There are many people who care about you and want to help you through this difficult time. 

Let’s pray for complete and safe recovery for Farman Ali, may he recover soon. Aameen. May his parents have happy and easy time with him. Aameen

Lots of prayers for Farman Ali and his family. May all the sick children recover soon, and their diseases never come back and may they live normal, healthy life again. Aameen

Note: Names have been changed to protect identity