- J
My name is cancer fighter but you can call me Yousif Fattah.
I was born On March 9th 2002. I was a happy kid, I loved to play with my friends and spend time with my family. At the age of 11, in 2013, I was diagnosed with bone cancer and given a 40% chance to live. I was 11 and full of hopes and dreams. All I wanted to think about was running free, playing video games, hanging out with my friends. The last thing on my mind was death. The last thing on any child’s mind is death but it had to be on mine. My family was devastated, crying and hugging me as if I was already gone. I knew I could sit there feeling sorry for myself or fight and survive like so many others I had read about online.
My bone cancer was very aggressive and my family and I had to leave our home in Iraq to seek proper treatment. We had to move quickly as cancer moves fast and is unforgiving. Luckily God was on my side and my family and I reached St. Jude Hospital in Lebanon within 24 hours of learning my fate. Thoughts and fears rolled around my brain. My head felt so heavy and my tears felt like fire in my eyes. Voices sounded like buzzing in my ears as doctors explained what would happen next.
The next day I started my first round of chemo and radiation I had 14 rounds of chemo, 15 radiation cycles for my leg and 10 cycles for my lungs. The doctors told me they had to take some of my right leg. They said they would do everything they could to save my leg but couldn’t guarantee anything. I prayed to god as they put me under and started the surgery. I woke up and learned they had to remove about 15 cm of bone below my knee and substitute it with metal.
I had to overcome so much pain, both mentally and physically I felt like my life had been sucked out of me. I lost weight, hair, and life felt cold and exhausting. In 2014 after a year of fighting I was considered cancer free. I was a survivor. I had won. I started dreaming again, making plans. My family decided to move to Vancouver Canada and start a new life. I continued to monitor my cancer and worked with doctors at BC Children’s hospital. I felt like I was on top of the world, like I could do anything.
In November 2015 we learned the cancer had reoccurred in my lungs. Everything came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. I felt sick to my stomach but I knew I had to stand tall and prepare myself for round 2 of this fight. I felt confident I would beat the cancer again and started chemo as soon as I could.
After 6 cycles and 2 operations removing tumors in my lungs doctors told me the cancer had spread to my spine. I started trial of medications, which bought me time but the cancer is now spreading to my ribs, pelvis and head. But still I stand strong. I am determined and I have faith. Every step of the way I feel God’s hand on my back pushing me to stay strong, and stay strong I will. My name is not just cancer fighter, it is Yousif Fattah. I will dream again, I will think of more than just what medication I can try next.
I have reached Stage 4 of cancer. I need radical treatment to keep fighting my fight. I have found a cancer care program at the Budwig Centre in Spain. It is farther from home for me but comes at a more affordable cost than the program I originally had planned for in Port Moody. This program will be full on for 3 weeks and offers a full time diet program as well as room and board included in the medical cost. It is a well rounded program focusing on both physical and mental health. I will go through multiple physical exams, body scans, bio therapy, light therapy and more. This won’t be easy but it is my last chance and I am ready to stand up tall, put my fists up and enter the ring.
Even though the cost is more affordable I still need all the help I can get. Anything you can give to support my fight is more than I could ever hope for. If you are reading this, please, consider me as a son or a brother. I pray one day I can be a husband, a father, maybe a grandfather. Or just think of me as a fellow human fighting for more time with my family, time with my friends. Time to enjoy life, time feel the sun on my skin, and time to dream again.
I was born On March 9th 2002. I was a happy kid, I loved to play with my friends and spend time with my family. At the age of 11, in 2013, I was diagnosed with bone cancer and given a 40% chance to live. I was 11 and full of hopes and dreams. All I wanted to think about was running free, playing video games, hanging out with my friends. The last thing on my mind was death. The last thing on any child’s mind is death but it had to be on mine. My family was devastated, crying and hugging me as if I was already gone. I knew I could sit there feeling sorry for myself or fight and survive like so many others I had read about online.
My bone cancer was very aggressive and my family and I had to leave our home in Iraq to seek proper treatment. We had to move quickly as cancer moves fast and is unforgiving. Luckily God was on my side and my family and I reached St. Jude Hospital in Lebanon within 24 hours of learning my fate. Thoughts and fears rolled around my brain. My head felt so heavy and my tears felt like fire in my eyes. Voices sounded like buzzing in my ears as doctors explained what would happen next.
The next day I started my first round of chemo and radiation I had 14 rounds of chemo, 15 radiation cycles for my leg and 10 cycles for my lungs. The doctors told me they had to take some of my right leg. They said they would do everything they could to save my leg but couldn’t guarantee anything. I prayed to god as they put me under and started the surgery. I woke up and learned they had to remove about 15 cm of bone below my knee and substitute it with metal.
I had to overcome so much pain, both mentally and physically I felt like my life had been sucked out of me. I lost weight, hair, and life felt cold and exhausting. In 2014 after a year of fighting I was considered cancer free. I was a survivor. I had won. I started dreaming again, making plans. My family decided to move to Vancouver Canada and start a new life. I continued to monitor my cancer and worked with doctors at BC Children’s hospital. I felt like I was on top of the world, like I could do anything.
In November 2015 we learned the cancer had reoccurred in my lungs. Everything came crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. I felt sick to my stomach but I knew I had to stand tall and prepare myself for round 2 of this fight. I felt confident I would beat the cancer again and started chemo as soon as I could.
After 6 cycles and 2 operations removing tumors in my lungs doctors told me the cancer had spread to my spine. I started trial of medications, which bought me time but the cancer is now spreading to my ribs, pelvis and head. But still I stand strong. I am determined and I have faith. Every step of the way I feel God’s hand on my back pushing me to stay strong, and stay strong I will. My name is not just cancer fighter, it is Yousif Fattah. I will dream again, I will think of more than just what medication I can try next.
I have reached Stage 4 of cancer. I need radical treatment to keep fighting my fight. I have found a cancer care program at the Budwig Centre in Spain. It is farther from home for me but comes at a more affordable cost than the program I originally had planned for in Port Moody. This program will be full on for 3 weeks and offers a full time diet program as well as room and board included in the medical cost. It is a well rounded program focusing on both physical and mental health. I will go through multiple physical exams, body scans, bio therapy, light therapy and more. This won’t be easy but it is my last chance and I am ready to stand up tall, put my fists up and enter the ring.
Even though the cost is more affordable I still need all the help I can get. Anything you can give to support my fight is more than I could ever hope for. If you are reading this, please, consider me as a son or a brother. I pray one day I can be a husband, a father, maybe a grandfather. Or just think of me as a fellow human fighting for more time with my family, time with my friends. Time to enjoy life, time feel the sun on my skin, and time to dream again.