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Aysha needs help and blessings.....

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by ambika ananth, Apr 9, 2006.

  1. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    Dear fellow members

    Please read this heart wrenching account -written in first person by a young girl- she looks beautiful like a half-bloomed flower- but may wither away in the cruel ways of fate...When News Papers carried my article about her, people were SHOCKED at her resilience and 'never say die' attitude.....
    Read on to know how much pain a girl in her early twnties can take...
    If you feel like helping her- morally financially, pvt msgg me- shall give her contact
    I spoke with her just now...so couldn't help posting this..SHE NEEDS HELP BADLY..
    ambika





    <TT>My Experience- Aysha Fazal</TT>
    <TT>=============</TT>

    <TT>My life, until december of 2000, was quite wonderful </TT><TT>and nice. During that time i was doing my graduation </TT><TT>in computer science from </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:place><st1:placeName><TT>New</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeName><TT>Horizon</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeType><TT>College</TT></st1:placeType></st1:place><TT> at </TT><TT>Indiranagar, </TT><st1:City><st1:place><TT>Bangalore</TT></st1:place></st1:City><TT>. It was then that I was referred to </TT><TT>Dr.M.G.Bhat at </TT><st1:place><st1:placeName><TT>Manipal</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeType><TT>Hospital</TT></st1:placeType></st1:place><TT>, with history of </TT><TT>recurrent vomiting since one month, which had </TT><TT>increased since a week. At that time, the doctor also </TT><TT>noticed a bony mass in the lower abdomen.</TT>

    <TT>Further on examination, I was found to have congenital </TT><TT>skeletal abnormalities with multiple exostosis arising </TT><TT>from the knee and elbow. I had my X-ray and CT scan </TT><TT>done. X ray pelvis with both the hips showed a large </TT><TT>tumour in the pelvis more on the left than the right </TT><TT>with specks of calcification. CT scan showed multiple </TT><TT>exostosis involving the iliac blades and large mass </TT><TT>arising from the left body of pubis and superior pubic </TT><TT>ramus occupying the whole of the pelvis displacing and </TT><TT>compressing the urinary bladder, ureters, uterus, </TT><TT>ovaries and recto sigmoid bilateral moderate </TT><TT>hydronephrosis was seen.</TT>

    <TT>Routine investigations showed a very high serum </TT><TT>creatinine level of 8.8 mg% and k+ of 6.0 meq/L. Hence </TT><TT>consultation was given to nephrologist and urologist, </TT><TT>who tried bilateral stenting of ureters. but both the </TT><TT>ureteric orifices were not visualised. Thus bilateral </TT><TT>percutaneus nephrostomy was done. Following this, my </TT><TT>general condition improved and the serum creatinine </TT><TT>came down to 1.4mg/dl and serum k+ to 4.0.</TT>

    <TT>I was taken up for excision of the bony tumour on </TT><TT>13-12-2000. A large mass 30X20 cms was removed along </TT><TT>with superior and inferior pubic ramci(Left)side, body </TT><TT>of pubis(Right), floor of the acetabular(Left) and </TT><TT>sent for biopsy. Since the bleeding (vesical plexus) </TT><TT>was present, the area was packed and wound sutured. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>After 48 hours, I was taken back to the Operation </TT><TT>Theatre(OT). The O.R Bleeding had subsided, a large </TT><TT>chumk of iliac crest from left side was taken from the </TT><TT>left iliac creat. The pelvis was fixed with ten </TT><TT>screws. Thus the biopsy came as Chondrosarcoma, i</TT><TT>ntermediate grade. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>Though the surgery was a success, i had to undergo </TT><TT>several compliation during the post operative period. </TT><TT>The most terrifying feeling was when i was unable to </TT><TT>see anything immediately after the surgery. I was </TT><TT>rushed back to OT once again. The doctors said that </TT><TT>prolonged effect of anaesthesia during the surgery </TT><TT>might have affected the nerves and it could be the </TT><TT>reason behind my blindness. For a moment, I thought my </TT><TT>life had ended without eye sight. But my Gods Grace, I </TT><TT>could see after few hours. There were many other minor </TT><TT>complications, which I faced boldly. </TT><TT>I was discharged from the hospital on 10th of January </TT><TT>2001. </TT>

    ( continues ...)
     
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  2. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    Aysha's story of struggle

    <TT>Though my wound did not heal completely, my </TT><TT>condition on discharge was satisfactory. Moreover, I </TT><TT>was fed up being in Manipal Hospial for nearly 40 </TT><TT>days. The stay in the hospital costed a fortune from </TT><TT>my father's income. Once I reached home, I wanted to </TT><TT>get back to my college as well. Hence the doctors </TT><TT>adviced for a physiotherapy to be done. I slowly </TT><TT>started moving around with a walker for a month and </TT><TT>then gradually shifted over to crutches. I also had to </TT><TT>visit the hospiatl for daily dressing of the wound. As </TT><TT>a result, I could never attend my regular classes. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>Since I was a farely good student, I was granted three </TT><TT>months leave. The college authorities were kind enough </TT><TT>to issue my hall ticket too. My lecturer and friends </TT><TT>helped me to prepare for the final exam in a very </TT><TT>short span of time. My friends carried me to the </TT><TT>examination hall, and I am really thankful to them. By </TT><TT>Gods Grace, I passed the exam with first class. My </TT><TT>happiness knew no bounds then.</TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>One year passed by, but still my wound did not heal </TT><TT>due to some sinus problem.The doctors suggested me to </TT><TT>wait for some more time so that it would heal by </TT><TT>itself or else they'll have to do another surgery for </TT><TT>the sinus. So I waited patiently. Finally in the month </TT><TT>of April 2002, my surgery wound healed completely. I </TT><TT>was quite fine then. It was at this time that the idea </TT><TT>of preparing for civil service exam striked my mind.</TT>

    <TT>Though I never had such plans earlier on. I started </TT><TT>attending the civil service coaching class in Jasma </TT><TT>College. I occupied my mind completely into this </TT><TT>preparation. Infact, these classes helped me to </TT><TT>deviate my mind from my illness.</TT>

    <TT>Life was going smoothly again until April 2003, when I </TT><TT>was admitted in </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:place><st1:placeName><TT>Manipal</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeType><TT>Hospital</TT></st1:placeType></st1:place><TT> again, with history </TT><TT>of pain in lower abdomen. CT scan revealed recurrent </TT><TT>tumour occupying the entire pelvis with compression on </TT><TT>rectum and ureter. The doctors refused to operate and </TT><TT>remove the tumour this time. They were not quite </TT><TT>confident on the success rate of this surgery. </TT><TT>Instead, they adviced me to undergo colostomy. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>Initially, the word "COLOSTOMY" terrified me, the </TT><TT>reason being that i was completely unaware about it. </TT><TT>My doctors expalined to me about how colostomy exactly </TT><TT>works. When I realised that i will have to carry an </TT><TT>external bag within me, I could'nt bear it. I just </TT><TT>could'nt stop crying. At that moment, my doctor </TT><TT>introduced me to Mr.Glen Williams, who had undergone </TT><TT>several surgeries and is now carrying an external bag </TT><TT>as well. Interaction with Glen helped me recover my </TT><TT>confidence. With the support of my family and by Gods </TT><TT>Grace, I survived the colostomy surgery too. Infact, I </TT><TT>had been managing colostomy very well for several </TT><TT>months.</TT>
     
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  3. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    Read on the real life story..

    <TT></TT>
    <TT>My life took another twist in the month of august </TT><TT>2003. I suffered with severe pain in the lower </TT><TT>abdomen. The reason being that my tumour was growing </TT><TT>rapidly. The doctors said that I was almost in my last </TT><TT>stage of cancer and that they cannot do anything about</TT>
    <TT>it. But my family did not give up hope. They asked the </TT><TT>doctors if i could be treated else where in the </TT><TT>country. It was then , that Dr.M.G.Bhat suggested me </TT><TT>to meet Dr.Parul Shukla at </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:place><st1:placeName><TT>Tata</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeName><TT>Memorial</TT></st1:placeName><TT></TT><st1:placeType><TT>Hospital</TT></st1:placeType></st1:place><TT> in </TT><TT>Mumbai. My parents took me immediately to Mumbai. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>When I discussed about my case with Dr.Shukla, he was </TT><TT>quite upset as it was almost in the last stage. But he </TT><TT>did not give up hope. He suggested for a CT scan to be </TT><TT>done. The reports revealed a large pubic defect, </TT><TT>probably related to the left ilio-pubic ramus and </TT><TT>pubic symphysis, associated with expansile abnormal </TT><TT>soft tossue, which shows significant necrosis, </TT><TT>extending into the pre and retro-pubic soft tissue. In </TT><TT>the pelvis, the soft tissue was intimately associated </TT><TT>with a left lateral wall of the urinary bladder, which </TT><TT>appears involved. The fat planes between the mass and </TT><TT>the uterus were also effaced. A component of the soft </TT><TT>tissue extended posterior to the uterus, probably </TT><TT>within the peritoneal cavity. Minimal free fluid was </TT><TT>seen in the peritoneal cavity. The mass also touched </TT><TT>the vagina. Artifacts were seen, but contiguous </TT><TT>involvement of the left obturator and quadratus muscle </TT><TT>was also noted. Another large mass was seen in </TT><TT>relation to the left iliacus and psoas, extending </TT><TT>superiorily upto the level of the iliac crest, at this </TT><TT>stage appeared to be within the peritoneum. The mass </TT><TT>partly encased the left external iliac vessels. The </TT><TT>left ureter was also compressed by this mass, with </TT><TT>proximal hyroureter.</TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>After complete study of my reports, Dr Shukla was </TT><TT>ready to operate me. He explained the seriousness of </TT><TT>the surgery. He also told that they may have to </TT><TT>perform the following procedures during the excision </TT><TT>of the chondrosarcoma pelvis : </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>(1) Hemipelvectomy - which would mean loss of left </TT><TT>limb.</TT>
    <TT>(2) Radical Cystectomy with ileal conduit i.e., </TT><TT>alternate pathway for the urine to come out through </TT><TT>anterior abdominal wall [ which mean, permanent </TT><TT>urinary diversion]</TT>
    <TT>(3) Nephrectomy (removal of left kidney) </TT>
    <TT>(4) Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)</TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>(5) Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries</TT>
     
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  4. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    more real than any horror story..a life being mutilated

    <TT></TT>
    <TT>Initially, I was upset listening to all of the above. </TT><TT>But later agreed to it. Probably because I had no </TT><TT>other option. Moreover, I believed that God had some </TT><TT>plans for me and that i had to face it. On the night </TT><TT>before my surgery, the doctors from various department </TT><TT>reminded me about the seriousness of this surgery. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>I</TT><TT>nfact, they also told me that I would be undergoing </TT><TT>"SUPRA MAJOR SURGERY", which would last for more than </TT><TT>10-12 hours, having high risk to life due to the high </TT><TT>magnitude of surgery and anaesthesis. It was then that </TT><TT>I got to know that my surgery would be 90% risky. To </TT><TT>be very frank, I never had any kind of tension at that </TT><TT>moment. Probably God gave me the courage to withstand </TT><TT>everything. All my doctors were quite surprised by my </TT><TT>cool behaviour just few hours before the surgery. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>O</TT><TT>n </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:date Year="2003" Day="15" Month="9"><TT>15th September 2003</TT></st1:date><TT>, at eight in the morning, I was </TT><TT>taken into the Operation Theatre. The surgery lasted </TT><TT>till nine in the night. I was then shifted to the ICU. </TT><TT>When I gained my conscious, Dr. Shukla was right in </TT><TT>front of me. The first line he told me was "aysha, </TT><TT>move your leg". I was quite surprised and could'nt </TT><TT>respond to him immediately. He repeated the lines </TT><TT>once again and that was when i realised that i had'nt </TT><TT>lost my leg. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>My happiness knew no bounds then. It was </TT><TT>almost like a rebirth experience. That was indeed the </TT><TT>most wonderful moment of my life and I am really </TT><TT>thankful To God. The doctor told that the surgery was </TT><TT>a huge success and that they had removed the entire </TT><TT>tumour out along with the metal plate. He also told </TT><TT>that they had to remove only the urinary bladder out </TT><TT>of my body and nothing else. I heaved a great sigh of </TT><TT>relief at that moment. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>As the days passed by, my </TT><TT>general condition improved. After few days I started </TT><TT>walking and also tried to live normal life. But, this </TT><TT>time I had two external bags to be managed. But I </TT><TT>was'nt disappointed, because I believed that whatever </TT><TT>happens in our life, happens for a good cause. By Gods </TT><TT>Grace, I could carry myself very well with the two </TT><TT>bags.</TT>
     
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  5. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    the fight for life continues

    <TT></TT>
    <TT>I also underwent radiation in the end of October 2003, </TT><TT>for a period of six weeks. The radio therapy was very </TT><TT>tiring. Due to high frequency radiation, my skin in </TT><TT>the lower abdomen was completely burnt. I suffered a </TT><TT>lot during that time. But it was worth eperiencing the </TT><TT>pain I guess. With the success of radiation, the </TT><TT>doctors adviced me for a colostomy closure a month </TT><TT>later. I was immensely happy with the thought of </TT><TT>getting rid of atleast one bag. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>I</TT><TT>n the end of December 2003, I underwent endoscopy to </TT><TT>dilate my intestinal passage, in two different </TT><TT>intervals. It was quite painful experience. By Gods G</TT><TT>race, the dilation was successful. So in the month of </TT><TT>January 2004, I had my colostomy closure done. Since </TT><TT>my condition was good, I was discharged from the </TT><TT>hospiatl and the doctors adviced me to consult them </TT><TT>after three months. So I finally came back to </TT><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place><TT>Bangalore</TT></st1:place></st1:City><TT> and spent wonderful time with my family and </TT><TT>friends after a long time. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>In the month of April, I visited Tata Memorial </TT><TT>Hospital again. The doctors suggested for a CT scan to </TT><TT>be done, just to check if the tumour had grown again. </TT><TT>I was really worried then, because i did not wanted to </TT><TT>suffer all over again. By Gods grace, the scan reports </TT><TT>revealed that I had no more cancer cells in me. It was </TT><TT>a pleasure listening to this. It was at that time, </TT><TT>that the doctor asked me if I would like to have the </TT><TT>urostomy closed as well. I agreed to it because I </TT><TT>wanted to live life as normal as possible. So the </TT><TT>doctor said that he would contact a specialist in this </TT><TT>field and plan for the surgery accordingly. He also </TT><TT>told that he would let me know about his plans in a m</TT><TT>onth or two. </TT>
     
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  6. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    she wouldn't give up...this brave young girl..

    <TT></TT>
    <TT>The only thought, that is worrying me is about our f</TT><TT>inancial status at home. Having come from a middle </TT><TT>class family, my parents had not had much problems in </TT><TT>bringing up my two brothers and myself. But after </TT><TT>having undergone five major surgery, we are almost </TT><TT>bankrupt. I really wonder as to how are we going to </TT><TT>pay for the next surgery. Though my parents dont tell </TT><TT>me anything about it, I can very well understand their </TT><TT>state of mind. I just pray that everything goes fine. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>I</TT><TT> really want to continue my preparation towards civil </TT><TT>service examination after the surgery and serve </TT><TT>people, Insha-Allah (God Willingly). Infact, I would </TT><TT>love to serve people like me and help them live a </TT><TT>better life. I am sure that with Gods blessing and </TT><TT>with the support of my family, I will succeed in my </TT><TT>dream. </TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>I</TT><TT>f I were asked to give what I consider the single </TT><TT>most useful bit of advice for all humanity, it would </TT><TT>be this:- Trust in God and believe in yourself, will </TT><TT>help you solve any kind of problems in life. Expect </TT><TT>trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it </TT><TT>comes, hold your head high and say, "I will be bigger </TT><TT>than you. You cannot defeat me". Last but not the </TT><TT>least, Never give up hope in life. Always fight back </TT><TT>for your life, because I believe that God helps those, </TT><TT>who help themselves.</TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT></TT><TT>Thank You!</TT>
    <TT></TT>
    <TT>( Dear friends, right now Aysha is under going Radiation ..I don't want to mention.her family's financial status here..this is meant as a tribute to a girl's courage to face life...Pls help her if you want to..) </TT>
     
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  7. Vidya24

    Vidya24 Gold IL'ite

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    Dear Ambika,

    Thank you for posting this and bringing it to our attention. I am amazed by Aysha's courage and mental resilience. Has she completed her Computer Science course?

    It is good that u mentioned your conversation with her. It instantly proves that her case in real and credible.

    warm regards
    Vidya
     
  8. ambika ananth

    ambika ananth Bronze IL'ite

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    Aysha is a 'reality'

    Dear Vidya

    Thanks for your response.
    I think you missed the first part of my post- " I had written an article in Deccan Herald in " SHE" column about the fighting spirit of this young girl. Her case was referred to me by the Principal of the College she was attending as an IAS aspirant( ofcourse now she is in too much of pain and discomfort to think of anything else..).
    When I met her three years back she was looking so beautiful, for a minute I felt like refusing that she is a cancer survivor. But after seeing her Medical file and meeting up with her College Principal, I felt such a shock run through me, its hard to describe. You know Vidya, I didn't want to write about the terrible financial status of her father now, because they are such respected family and they fiercely believe in protecting their daughter from any of these issues which may trouble her further. Let me tell you one more sad part of their lives- Ayasha has a mentally challenged brother. Its the greatest traumatic experience her parents are going through with both the children suffering physically and mentally - but they are coping, with the spirit of true devout Muslims-" Allah will take care"
    This morning when I spoke with Aysha, she told me about her Radiation therapy.
    I wondered- why is this girl, who is in her early twenties, instead of enjoying the privileges and pleasures of 'youth' is 'in and out' of Hospitals- instead of enjoying the sweet fragrance of life, is confined to the smells of medicines and jabs of needles, instead of her beautiful body being nurtured by life, is being ravaged, cut open by the scalpels .....?? I felt like helping her in whch ever way possible ( for last Ramzan I sent her some money asking her to buy some music cassettes to take her mind off her pain...though a small gift, she felt very loved and cared..)
    So dear Vidya, Aysha is a reality...not definitely a fictitious character. Why I asked everyone to message me was because - her computer had to be given away ( for reasons you all know now dear friends) and she cannot answer all the mail enquiries herself. I will give her mobile number , but please make it a short conversation.
    My desire is to see that this young girl is helped through the spirit of 'sisterhood'.. which I am sure is prevailing in this site abundantly....
    Any thing else any of you would like to clarify- please feel free to ask me
    I will ask Ayasha and post her pictures - before the disease struck her and after...I assure you, you will all cry....
    ambika
    ( dear Induslady, I would appreciate if you can handle the format of my first post- I am not able to - sorry for the inconvenience )
     
  9. Vidya24

    Vidya24 Gold IL'ite

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    Hello Ambika,

    Thanks for yr follow up. A couple of points:

    1) I did miss the first part of yr post. I looked again at your whole post today and still cannot find it. Am I looking in the wrong place?

    It would help if Induslady can reformat the piece, to make it easier to read.

    2) From the beginning, there were no doubts in my mind that Aysha's case is real. What I meant was, when u say that u spoke to her this morning, it makes her situation more credible.

    I am not in a position to phone her. As you say, in the spirit of sisterhood, would like to know more.

    regards
    Vidya
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2006
  10. Kamla

    Kamla IL Hall of Fame

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    Hello Ambika..

    Needless to say how heartbreaking it was to read about Aysha. I can fully empathize. It feels trivial to write my thoughts. I will pray for her and hope she and her dear parents and family recieve generous support both in kind and action.

    Very moved..Kamla
     

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