Her first thought was that Aisyah (not her real name) might have hurt herself while playing, but the pain persisted and even worsened. The 10-year-old would often feel tired, sometimes to the point of almost passing out.
“I didn’t know what was going on. I thought it might be Covid at first,” said Lilis, who helps to sell clothes at a shop in Kuala Lumpur. “I was so worried for her and just hoped she would be okay.”
When Aisyah lost her appetite and began to vomit blood, she was rushed to hospital, where she was initially diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
This rare disorder, which begins in the cells that help fight off infections, damages tissues and causes lesions to form on the body.
It has now developed into B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a form of cancer that affects cells in the immune system. Left untreated, it is a painful and potentially fatal condition.
Thankfully, with proper treatment, patients have a high chance of survival.
Aisyah will require chemotherapy for the next two years – the cost of which Lilis and her husband, textile shop worker Rakib Bul Islam, cannot afford.
The couple have five children, of which Aisyah is the fourth.
The family is now being helped by the team at children’s welfare organisation Yayasan Chow Kit, who are reaching out on their behalf to seek financial aid from the public.
The NGO has set out to raise RM50,000 for Aisyah to cover her weekly chemotherapy sessions, as well as other costs including blood tests, a bone marrow checkup, and hospitalisation. As of press time, just over RM12,500 has been collected.
“I am thankful to Yayasan Chow Kit for helping us,” Lilis told FMT. “Everybody, from the doctors to our friends, has been very good to us and we are very grateful.”
She said her daughter has been responding well to treatment so far and is able to cope with the side effects.
“At first, I wanted to give up. I don’t understand why this had to happen. I wish we could trade places so that I could suffer instead of her,” Lilis added emotionally.
“Aisyah is still so young and has yet to see the world.”
To make your donation to help Aisyah, or for further information, click here.