The ManicaPost
Martin Muleya
Ryan Kwari (11) who resides in Penhalonga, Mutare was diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, an aggressive type of cancer, and requires a whooping $150 000 to undergo the second phase of his surgical operation in Medanta, India.
The ailment has forced Ryan who was doing his Grade 6 studies at Hillcrest Preparatory School to drop out of school.
The young boys who is the second born in a family of two was taken ill in June this year and underwent an emergency surgery in Harare to remove a mediastinal tumour later diagnosed as cancer.
The surgery was followed by a series of specialist treatment in September and successfully completed the first cycle of a ten month intensive protocol which is now to be followed by another 18month of maintenance and therapy.
According to Miriam his mother, Ryan is as still as handsome as any other ‘normal’ boy could be.
“We are appealing for financial assistance in the sum of $150 000 for my son’s treatment over the next 18months. Being teachers (my husband and i) and on civil salary scales we have virtually struggled to meet the costs associated with Ryan’s hospitalisation and surgery in Harare.
During the first cycle of his treatment we raised enough money for the nearly two months that he spent in India,” lamented Miriam.
Miriam underscored that a result of this daunting financial challenge, she and her husband are making a passionate appeal to help her son go through this rigorous treatment regime.
Setting eyes on the brave little boy for the first time one would be forgiven for thinking that he is not ill at all.
The little boy says he finds nothing fascinating in life and sometimes just watches time pass by.
The extended nature of Ryan’s treatment has compelled his parents to take extended leave from work.
Unlike many other young boys in his area who enjoy playing recreational games in the dusty Penhalonga area, Ryan who was very active in athletics, rugby and cricket, now prefers keeping an eye on his 16-year old sister.
His friend is Miriam (his mother) who raises his self-esteem.
Ryan sat alone on the bed while other family members were busy watching a movie on the television when this reporter visited her.
He shies away from any sporting activity at home as taking part will result in a lot of unwanted diseases.
His mother is proud of her and subscribes to the Chinese proverb, “There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it”. She believes her son is God-send and dismisses allegations that he might have been bewitched.
Mrs Kwari believes she did not disown Ryan because of her condition and treat him like any other child.
Mrs Kwari says she experienced emotional turmoil since June this year as a result of Ryan’s unexpected illness and has made several trips to Harare for chemotherapy session thrice a week.
“We are looking forward to go to India in December this year but as of now we have not raised substantial amount t start the long trip to India. As of now Ryan is undergoing chemotherapy three times a week at St. Clements hospital in Harare. The chemotherapy costs us US$36 000, said Miriam.
Asked whether she could go to India next year for her son’s treatment, Miriam was quick to note that it was tricky to delay treatment as Ryan was already following a protocol. She further reiterated that the delay in surgical operation in India would mean that they would have moved two steps backwards, as signs of the first cycle of chemotherapy were bearing fruits.
“It is tricky to go for late treatment in India because my son is already following a protocol, and missing it would mean he would have absconded his second 18month cycle of surgery and chemotherapy which will deal a heavy blow on him. The only thing that keeps my hope is at least with the first cycle of surgery and chemotherapy the doctors managed to remove the tumour that causes Lymphoblastic Leukemia cancer,” she added.
According to www.worldchildcancer.org Lymphoma is ‘the most common blood cancer and occurs when cells of the immune system called lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, grow and multiply uncontrollably’.
Cancerous lymphocytes can travel to many parts of the body including the lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, blood or other organs and form a mass called tumour.
There is hope at the end of Ryan’s tunnel if she gets money for her operation as some people with the same ailment have had successful operations before. — New Ziana.
