Shaheer for a day, Shaheer for Life!!

We teachers at Old Orchard Junior High School noticed our student, Shaheer, was absent a few days this past February. But it seemed like a bug was going around and some kids had been out for a week or so, so we weren't worried. Then one Monday morning shortly thereafter our Dean of Students grabbed a few of us from the hallway, closed the door to my classroom, and let us know that our sweet student had just been diagnosed with Leukemia and had four fractures in his spine.

What?! Noooooooo!

Fast forward a few weeks and one of our co-workers was dispatched to be Shaheer's at-home tutor.  Shaheer, always a good, hard-working student, took well to his afternoon lessons when he had the energy. John, the tutor, in the meantime, developed a nice relationship with Shaheer's family and began to understand the situation they were in. 

The day Shaheer was diagnosed with Leukemia, was his elder brother Nehaal's 21st birthday. Shaheer and his dad came home from the appointment to find their apartment decorated with birthday balloons and a cake for Nehaal.  Then they had to share their news about a second son with Leukemia. The news hit the family hard - Nehaal had also suffered from Leukemia when he was in high school! Hard time for a birthday celebration. (Good news, though! Nehaal has been declared cancer-free as of 3 months ago - that's him below, he's studying to be a doctor!) 

Fast forward a few more weeks and the family could not pay their rent. Dad, a cab driver for the past 30 years, accompanies Shaheer to all of his appointments and treatments - and stays by his side if he develops a fever and has to stay in the hospital. The treatments will continue weekly for 8 months and every month for the next 28 months.  They involve long needles and other things no kid should have to know about, let alone endure! 

Our goal is to get their rent covered, so dad can support his son and his son can take comfort in dad being by his side. Their landlord is being patient and has given several extensions. You can imagine the hardship facing this family, who was just getting back on its feet after the first cancer diagnosis.

Shaheer is sporting the likeness of Spiderman on his body brace. Please do what you can so he can get his spidey sense back and the family can focus their energy on helping their son and brother knowing they will keep the roof over their heads. 

(As to the nice-ness, and generosity, of the family...Several of us went to visit and as we were leaving, dad sent me home with an order of biryani that he had brought home the previous night with assurances that where I had been eating Indian food was for those of us who don't know better...and that this would be THE BEST! And... it was! I am changing my ways!)