Hakim

In January 2023, at only 12 years of age, Muhamad Hazim Hakim and his family were confronted with the news of his cancer diagnosis. In a matter of seconds, their lives drastically changed. This is his story, as told by his mother:

Noticing Strange Symptoms 
My son loves football. His favourite player is Cristiano Ronaldo. If he were indoors, his favourite thing to do is to play mobile games; but if he were outside, you would most certainly find him playing football with his friends, the sound of their laughter echoing through the field.

However, in May 2022, Hakim’s fever kept returning, never fully recovering despite us frequently bringing him to the clinic. The fever was on and off for a prolonged period. We then noticed a small lump, the size of a marble, on his left collarbone. We brought him to the clinic again and the doctor referred us to Klinik Kesihatan. 

The Diagnosis 
At Klinik Kesihatan, they realised the lump had moved to the back of his ear. The doctor did a blood test and biopsy of the lump. When the results came back, Hakim was confirmed to be diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

ALL, a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer in children. If not promptly treated, the leukaemia cells could quickly spread and become fatal within a few months. 

My son and I immediately flew from Miri to Kuching to receive treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), the only place in the whole of Sarawak that has a fully-equipped Paediatric Oncology Ward. Upon further check-ups, it was found that Hakim had another lump the size of a ping-pong ball under his arm as well.

Hakim and his mother posing inside a dinosaur egg during an organised outing at Dinosaur in Borneo.

The Treatment Process
Doctors immediately instructed Hakim to receive chemotherapy. When a child undergoes chemotherapy, their immune system becomes very weak. Hakim would often get fevers during treatments and would be put on antibiotics to bring the fever down. 

Getting a fever has become a common thing for Hakim after he completes one cycle of chemotherapy. When this happens, his upcoming chemo cycles will also be delayed, thus further delaying his entire treatment. Delayed treatment inadvertently means that both of us would need to stay in Kuching for longer. 

The journey is a long and hard one. The two of us are taking each day at a time. As Hakim’s mother, it is very difficult to see him ill. We have already been separated from our family in Miri for more than a year due to the constant delays, and our only wish is to go home to Miri as soon as possible.

SCCS Halfway Home
SCCS welcomed us warmly into Halfway Home during Hakim’s treatment period. They provided financial aid which has greatly eased my burden as a widowed single mother who also needs to take care of four other children. The accommodation at the centre is comfortable, with no shortage of food and daily necessities. Our flight tickets from Miri to Kuching for treatment were also borne by SCCS. The Support Services staff keeps our spirits up, always giving us words of encouragement and moral support during hard times. I feel better knowing that SCCS will always be there to support us so Hakim can solely focus on completing his treatment.

Hakim, next to a dinosaur at Dinosaur in Borneo.

Hakim was very quiet in the first few months at Halfway Home. Eventually, the staff and other patients’ families started seeing how friendly, helpful and kind he was as he slowly warmed up to the new environment. At times, he would even invite the other children at the centre to play badminton with him too.

Many of the families staying at the centre also have similar journeys regarding their children’s treatments. As I got to know them better, we naturally came to understand each other’s struggles and exchanged stories and tips on how to care for our children during this difficult time. Both Hakim and I formed a close bond with other patients and caregivers and it feels like we have gained a new family away from home.

A Word of Encouragement
Throughout our stay, we have seen other families completing their treatment, going back to their hometowns and recovering healthily. I too, wish the same for Hakim, that he could recover quickly and go back home healthy, without a worry. Hakim’s older sister is also a childhood cancer survivor and has started working after graduating from university. I hope that Hakim can follow in his sister’s footsteps, beating cancer as well.

To all fellow parents who share the same experiences, 
“Don’t give up. I know it is difficult to care for your children especially when they are sick, their emotions volatile like a roller coaster. There are a lot of people who care for you and your child. Put your trust in the medical team from start to finish. Chin up and stay strong for the sake of your child. ”

SARAWAK CHILDREN'S CANCER SOCIETY