5-year-old cancer survivor keeps his first fast P4
Dubai child was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 18 months old
I feel happy to fast. I did not feel hungry. I would like to observe some more fasts and always observe Ramadan fasting.”
Mohammad Nasir | Senior KG student
Afive-year old cancer survivor has decided to observe fast during this Ramadan, much to the surprise of his family.
The brave-heart child from Dubai who had been through aggressive chemotherapy and surgeries for his cancer, is fasting this Ramadan.
Meet, Mohammad Nasir, a senior KG student of Dubai who finds joy in fasting. Nasir, the son of Sana Javed and Abdul Samad, Pakistani expatriates who are long-time residents of UAE, surprised his parents when he announced he wanted to fast.
Liver cancer at 18 months
Overwhelmed by the perseverance of her son, Javed told Gulf News: “I was surprised, as my son was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, the most common liver cancer in kids, when he was only 18 months old.”
Nasir who was admitted for treatment to Latifa and Dubai hospitals spent the better part of 2017 undergoing four cycles of chemotherapy and later an aggressive surgery to excise a large part of his live. “Nasir spent most of 2017, in hospital, but he was such a patient and quiet child, he never ever bother me or cry. He always had the courage and fortitude to bear pain at such a young age,” recalled Javed the mother of three kids, Arousa, 9, Mohammad Nasir, 5 and Abdul Tawab, 3.
“It is only three years since the treatment and Nasir will be declared cancer free in a total of five years. Yet my son, influenced by his older sister who began observing the Ramadan fasts from the age of eight decided to begin fasting this year.”
Elder sister inspired him
Javed recalled, “Nasir loves Arousa and was influenced by her keeping the Ramadan fasts last year. This year he announced he would fast too. As a young kid and a cancer survivor, he is exempt from this, but he insisted,” said Javed who has asked her son to keep only a few fasts this Ramadan.
The shy child who is hesitant to talk to strangers, unequivocally declared, “I feel happy to fast. I did not feel hungry. I would like to observe some more fasts and always observe Ramadan fasting.”