Mom thought daughter sought attention, now battles terminal cancer diagnosis
Her condition deteriorated last week when she could no longer eat normally and had to rely on a feeding tube for milk and medication.
KOTA BHARU – What a mother first thought was her daughter’s attempt to seek attention turned into heartbreak when the eight-year-old was diagnosed with critical brainstem cancer.
Nik Nur Atiqah Rusdi, 34, said her eldest daughter, Nur Elyana Umairah Mohd Khairul Nizam, had appeared weak, unsteady and often complained of headaches over the past month.
She initially believed her daughter was trying to avoid school or asking for attention, as she had been focusing on caring for her youngest child, six-month-old Nur Eleena Huwaina, who was born with a cleft lip and palate and needed to be fed through a tube.
According to Atiqah, Elyana, a Year Two pupil at Sekolah Kebangsaan Mentuan, began experiencing severe headaches while at school, prompting her teacher to ask her mother to take her home.
“She once said, ‘Mama only loves baby sister,’ and I thought she was sulking. When she started walking unsteadily with droopy eyes, I thought she just wanted attention. But after taking her to hospital, I was shocked when the doctor confirmed it was cancer,” she said on Tuesday.
Elyana was taken to the Binjai Health Clinic before being referred to Hospital Kota Bharu, where a CT scan revealed a three-centimetre tumour at the base of her brain.
Further examination at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM) confirmed that she was suffering from critical brainstem cancer, which could neither be operated on nor treated with chemotherapy due to the tumour’s high-risk location.
She has since been bedridden and undergoing daily radiotherapy for the past 15 days to slow the tumour’s growth.
Her condition deteriorated last week when she could no longer eat normally and had to rely on a feeding tube for milk and medication.
“She used to be cheerful and loved going to school, but now she can only say one or two words.
“The doctor told us there is no chance of recovery and asked us to prepare for any eventuality,” she said.
In the meantime, the family continues to face challenges caring for baby Eleena, who cannot feed normally due to her cleft lip and palate, which could cause milk to enter her brain or lungs.
The infant also depends entirely on a special feeding tube, which must be used every four hours.
“The first surgery to repair her lip was supposed to be done last month but has been postponed to Nov 22 due to health concerns,” she said.
Her husband, Mohd Khairul Nizam Ghazali, 32, works as a lorry attendant earning about RM1,700 a month.
“It’s not enough to buy special milk, disposable diapers and to cover hospital trips that cost up to RM3,000 a month,” she said.
Atiqah stopped working at a fast-food restaurant in May last year and now lives with her mother, Maheran Tengku Jusoh, 55, who is also unemployed.
The family previously received food aid from the Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK).
She is now focusing on caring for her two sick daughters and two other healthy children aged four and six.
Persatuan Generasi Sejahtera (ISejahtera) chairman Datuk Mohammad Hamizan Amzah, who visited the family, handed over a reclining wheelchair, milk, diapers and financial assistance.
He said the family would be adopted under the association’s care and assisted in obtaining monthly aid through the relevant agencies.
“ISejahtera will continue to help and monitor their situation to ensure they receive the necessary support,” he said.
Members of the public wishing to donate may channel their contributions to Bank Islam account 03018021725015 under the name Nik Nur Atiqah Rusdi.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
