Little cancer fighter continues to defy the odds

TWO-YEAR-OLD Ahana Dhanuk has faced more than most will in a lifetime since she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a very rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer.

Her journey against this cancer recently took her thousands of kilometres from South Africa to Barcelona for a crucial surgery that her family hoped would be lifesaving.

Also read: Public unites for baby Ahana’s 5km walk/run

Ahana’s mother, Avanya Dhanuk, recalled how hopeful they were when they arrived in Barcelona in July. Scans and consultations leading up to the surgery continued, but in a shocking twist, the tumour had doubled in size within just two weeks.

“The rapid growth caused a build-up of fluid in Ahana’s lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe. The medical team, led by some of the most skilled oncologists, deemed her unfit for surgery. Re-section of the tumour, once a viable option, was now out of the question,” she said.

The medical team immediately started working on Ahana and implemented a specialised chemotherapy regime as it was the only hope for keeping the fast-growing tumour at bay.

“Ahana began the first cycle of targeted chemotherapy, but just hours after taking a drug called Dasatinib, her body reacted violently. Within two hours, Ahana started vomiting and then lost consciousness. Her oxygen levels plummeted as her body went cold. She was rushed to the intensive care unit (ICU) and placed on a ventilator,” she said.

Ahana suffered from a cardiac failure, a result of the cardiotoxicity from the drug. Avanya said the drug severely damaged her heart.

“The doctors informed her family that there was nothing more they could do. Ahana was given only hours to live. Life support was the final option to keep her alive, but even that came with no guarantees,” she said.

In the face of such devastating news, Ahana began to defy everything that the doctors had forecasted. Avanya said that six hours later, her vital signs began to stabilise, and Ahana’s heart slowly started functioning again.

Also read: Get moving to help save baby Ahana’s life

“Over the next four days, Ahana’s body fought back. Her heart function began to improve, and by the time she was taken off the ventilator, her recovery was nothing short of miraculous. Her heart had fully regained its function, and remarkably, there were no lasting effects on her other organs or her brain,” she said.

This recovery received recognition from doctors in St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States, who flew to Barcelona to research Ahana’s genetic data, hoping to find some sort of clue that could help save other children under similar circumstances.

After chemotherapy and shrinking the tumour by 50% following the second cycle, Ahana went in for surgery on September 9. For six long hours, Dr Lucas Krauel worked at removing over 90% of the tumour while preserving the vital structures surrounding the tumour. The surgery was a success, and the tiny warrior, Ahana, spent just one day in the ICU, going home four days later.

Avanya said that although Ahana is doing well, the road to full recovery is long. She added that Ahana has immunotherapy, radiation and the clinical vaccine trials to get through. Ahana’s story is about hope, resilience and the indomitable spirit of a child who simply refuses to give up.

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