PERSIA'S HOME AGAIN!

COURAGEOUS teenager Persia Honar is back in Bahrain after a 16-month battle against a rare form of bone cancer that has involved intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and multiple surgeries.

Persia was diagnosed last year with Ewing's Sarcoma which strikes children and young adults. She complained of a persistent backache and on investigation at the International Hospital of Bahrain was found to be suffering from the condition.

Dad, Mehdi from Iran, and mum, Vicky from Fife in Scotland, decided to take their daughter to the UK for treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, a world-renowned hospital which specialises in the treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma.

Wearing her St Christopher's School uniform, a back brace to support her spine following her most recent operation and greeting guests at the family home in Saar with an endearing smile she is confident she can build back her strength.

Persia, 13, is a fighter and revealed how good it feels to be home and is thankful for the love and support she has received from thousands of well-wishers in the kingdom.

With her pet dogs and cats close to her, Persia, a Year 8 pupil, said: "I'm glad to finally see all my friends again. Although it was tough I knew I would get better.

"I often felt unwell physically and a little drained emotionally when it came to missing all my friends in Bahrain. I talked to them thanks to Skype and kept in touch through Facebook. At the hospital, I met many young people who were going through the same thing as I was and made friends with them ... and now I am home they have become my new Facebook friends."

Vicky stayed with Persia. Mehdi and son Sohrab, 17, a sixth form student at St Chris, remained in Bahrain although they visited Scotland whenever they could manage.

Vicky explained: "When your child is sick then that takes priority in your life and you have to deal with it no matter what. Mehdi is a very competent cook so he managed very well and also took care of the house and our two dogs and three cats.

"He also managed to be with us during Persia's major surgeries. Sohrab spent the last summer holidays with us. Fortunately I had my family in Scotland and Persia was surrounded by her supportive cousins."

Persia regularly received cards from her friends in Bahrain and two of her friends from school, Molly and Cari, even managed to travel to the UK to visit her.

"I read a lot and finished all the Harry Potter books and Twilight Series. I even went shopping with my mother whenever I could manage it and loved going to the cinema although I prefer the popcorn here," added Persia.

Persia underwent a gruelling combination of treatment at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children but remained positive throughout. Vicky said: "The doctors thought she was great because she would always have a smile and many questions for them."

Apart from being in the care of specialist doctors at the hospital - her doctor was part of a Europe-wide group specialising in the treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma - Persia received a lot of support from the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity devoted to improving the lives of youngsters suffering from cancer.

In May, Mehdi, vice chairman of Bahrain Rugby Football Club, organised a charity dinner and rugby match at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club as a way of thanking everyone for their help. Former international stars and top provincial rugby players from the UK travelled to Bahrain to raise funds for the cause, as reported in GulfWeekly.

"Mehdi could not be with me and Persia the whole time and this was his way of showing his support and saying thank you to everyone who helped us through it," said Vicky.

The engineering consultant raised almost £40,000 (BD22,775) through sponsorships and the generous support of well-wishers on the island.

He raised £24,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and £14,000 for the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. The Sick Kids' money is being rounded up to £15,000 with a donation from Mehdi's employer, BAM Construction Scotland.

Executives at the two charities thanked Mehdi and Vicky for raising the 'vital' funds and helping to boost the profiles of the good causes. The fund-raising efforts received extensive media coverage in the UK as well as Bahrain.

Maureen Harrison, chief executive of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: "Supporters like Vicky and Mehdi help us to provide extra equipment and services for children who benefit immensely from them, just as Persia has. Without people like them who show such commitment to helping other young people, we could not do the job that we do."

Persia has been in remission for the last three months and has started back part-time at school although it will be breaking up for the summer holidays shortly. She was 'desperate' to return to class and has even bagged a role for herself in the Senior School production.

On her first day back at school her classmates set out a special reception for her and presented her with two of her favourite cakes. Another surprise party was organised by Gillie van der Eyken, assistant head of St Christopher's Infant School and Ina Kalis, a nurse at Little Gems Nursery School at the weekend at Hamala Beach Resort with popular DJ Krazy Kevin.

Mrs Van der Eyken said: "My daughter Hannah and Ina's son Marc are friends with Persia. We have missed her a lot. She is an exuberant and happy person with a superb sense of humour. She has met everything with a forward-looking approach and this is our way of saying 'Welcome Back' properly."

Proud dad Medhi said: "Persia was very surprised and could not believe it when she walked through the door - it was a magic moment. She really enjoyed the night."

The Honar family is now planning to make a donation to the Bahrain Cancer Society to help other young sufferers on the island.