Ali Asad

Life is really a unique puzzle in itself. Like the heartbeat, it is full of ups and downs. Sometime you fall into a pit of darkness that you may not see any ray of hope, but only those who love you, those who care for you, those who sacrifice every comfort for you are the ones who prove to be glim of light. For me it was the support of my family and the love and care of staff and faculty of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) when I was a cancer patient of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

I remember as if it was yesterday when I felt a little swelling in my armpit. For a boy like me who had recently entered in his teens, this was of no worry, as I was enthusiastic and full of dreams to peruse my life goals. But time had planned something else for me. The swelling grew more and more. After a brief course of time I experienced symptoms of nausea, abdominal pain, severe fever, night sweats and fatigue. My family got concerned, but they had not predicted what was next. When the symptoms got more severe I agreed for a biopsy of the swollen node in the armpit.

“Asad has cancer stage three” the doctor gave the heartbreaking news to my family. Although I was not informed, but I heard my mother crying in the room, my brother prayed with his eyes wet and all of them drenched in sorrow. I felt their expressions drowned in pain and their hearts mourned for me as they were afraid to lose me.

Even a single ray of light can drive out darkness. That ray of light for my family and I was Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital. Even though the treatment plan was very hard, the medications and chemotherapy gave me more nausea and a feeling to quit everything but the caring staff of the Shaukat Khanum Hospital helped me go through these tough times. That was the time I realized there are still good people in the world. The experience was bittersweet, but thanks to Shaukat Khanum, I was given a second life to chase my dreams with even more vigor.

Ali Asad