Young lung cancer survivor hides his pain with a smile
Ameena went on to describe the fevers, pain, confusion, loss of muscle control, sores and vomiting that Mohammed endured while on aggressive chemotherapy.
At eight years old, Mohammed Cassim is thinking about how to hide his pain and mask his sadness, because crying makes mum and dad scared.
He has learned how to give comforting hugs, smile his biggest smile, and say to the grown-ups around him, “Don’t worry. It’s going to be fine.”
New toys are not as important to him as they used to be, not when he can see how hard it is for mum and dad to scrape up the money to pay for treatment and everyday essentials.
His favourite thing is what he longed for most during nine months of being in and out of hospitals after being diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma – the companionship of his older brother and younger sister.
“While the doctors were still busy with tests, I heard them talking about the possibility of cancer and I was preparing myself mentally to deal with it, but when they told me it was stage four… I could not wrap my head around that. The fear that comes into you at that time… Things started happening so fast.
“Doctors advised that we should tell Mohammed what was happening from the onset, because he was going to go through a lot. That first round of chemo was hell.”
“There were times when he was looking at me, but he didn’t seem to recognise my face,” added Zaahid.
“He went through a period when he could not eat for 12 days. At one point, he had reached 15kg. He was just bones and the hardest part was when he is looking at you and saying, ‘Help me’,” began Ameena. “And there is nothing you can do,” finished Zaahid.
To read Mohammed’s story, pick up the latest edition of the Newcastle Advertiser on sale today!
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