By NANISE NEIMILA
RISHAV Lal has gained a new lease of life after completing his last round of chemotherapy in April last year.
The 8-year-old, Year 2 student of Indira Gandhi Memorial Primary School is now a happy and healthy boy after being diagnosed in 2016 of cancer at the tender age of one year and eleven months.
As his mother Shareen Lata recalls those dark days, she shares how she overcame being a mother and wife while dealing with a cancer-stricken son- an experience she had never imagined for herself.
“When my Rishav continuously got sick, I told my husband that we needed to take him to hospital. The fever would come and go which was not normal. When the doctors advised us that they needed to carry out more tests for my Rishav I was scared because I knew there was something wrong with him.”
Mrs Lata explained that after various tests, the doctors finally sat them down to reveal the news that Rishav had cancer.
“I was told that it would be treatable but Rishav had to be hospitalised so he could undergo chemotherapy. It was hard seeing my son in pain and always weak after every chemotherapy.”
“My Rishav is a strong boy at a young age. He endured so much pain but we overcame all of this.”
Mrs Lata said her life mostly revolved around Rishav’s trips to the hospital and home to her family.
Despite how tired she was, she always made sure she was there for her sick son.
“I was there almost every day feeding him, clothing him and making sure he was comfortable at the hospital. I did all that because I am his mother and it was really hard for me to see him in such a weak state. The hospital was our second home and my Rishav wouldn’t have made it out if it wasn’t for the friendly nurses and doctors that work there.”
She said while nursing Rishav at the hospital, she would often give advice to new mothers in the ward.
“I would see the new mothers struggling to feed or cope with their children so since I was experienced, I would help them and answer their questions.”
“We are all trying to keep our children safe so I always made sure to help the mothers in the ward.”
Rishav’s family received good news in May last year when doctors told them he was 99 percent cancer-free.
“My husband, eldest son and I were so happy when the doctors told us the news. It was like a huge weight, been lifted off our shoulders. “We have seen a huge change with him. He enjoys school and is running around — something he could not do before.”
She thanked the Walk on Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids Fiji staff, Dr Savenaca and the nurses for their help while Rishav was admitted at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.
“We were blessed by so many people and thanks to them Rishav was able to get the necessary medical treatment he needed.” Mrs Lata has encouraged and urged all parents to get their children checked.
“Taking care of our children’s health should be a priority for every parent and guardian since we never know when our children will be ill. Our children are the future, we must protect them.”
-ENDS-