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A helping hand is being offered to the parents of children suffering from cancer in a bid to ensure they have all the assistance and advice necessary as their loved ones undergo treatment and recovery.
Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle can enable the youngsters to tackle the side effects of chemotherapy and radiology and as they build up strength once in remission.
Tips on the best way forward, such as keeping within a budget and handling such a devastating diagnosis are just some of the sensitive topics tackled by the monthly cancer support group set up by The Smile Initiative. Isa Ali Fulath, its vice chairman and executive manager, said: “Groups of volunteers from the Smile Initiative visited Salmaniya Medical Complex at Eid and we realised a lot of families had questions.
The new meetings have become a great way for parents to come and talk about what they’re going through.
“The main aim is to provide social and psychological support as well as to offer a back-up. The mission is to provide long-term projects that will help parents and children.
“We want to follow up on the social and home environments of the sick children to see if conditions can be made more comfortable. Many institutions help in this regard but there is always a need for more help. For example, the Ministry of Health provides support and generous donations from sponsoring companies that help in improving social standards of needy families.
“We have guest speakers that focus on the many different areas that need to be considered by carers of children with cancer. We sometimes ask parents to share details of experiences they may have found frustrating and help them understand that it is not their fault as many people in similar situations face the same issues.”
One of the guest speakers at a recent meeting was GulfWeekly columnist, author and nutritional therapist Alia Almoayed, offering advice on affordable foods to eat and the ones to avoid when battling to recover from ill health.
The Smile Initiative was established three years ago under the Future Youth Society to provide social services by investing and supporting children with cancer. It has held five community meetings to aid parents of patients on the path to recovery.
Mother- of-two Marwa Abdul Moneam’s five-year-old son has suffered from leukaemia (blood cancer) for two-and-a-half years. He recently finished chemotherapy treatment and has now been able to start school after a year of waiting.
On top of caring for Mohammed, the busy mum and her husband Alaa also have to care for one-year-old daughter, Asyah. Marwa, from Muharraq, said: “Before his illness Mohammed was easy-going and very sociable … but all that changed. He didn’t talk and stopped interacting with people. However now back at school he has started to become just like the old Mohammed.
“Coming to these meetings has helped us greatly on how best to communicate with him. I used to look at the condition as an outsider, now I feel like I am on the inside and understand it. It’s good to see families going through the same situation as you and you don’t necessarily feel like you’re on your own.
“Psychologically it is very beneficial to meet others trying to handle the same challenges in the best way they can. Dealing with a sick child is very difficult. These meetings are a sort of psychotherapy.
“It’s also good to see Mohammed playing with other kids during the meetings too in the play area. It brings a smile to my face.”
Father-of-two Ebrahim Hassan had attended two meetings with his wife and two children, Zahra and Hassan. His five-year-old son has suffered from cancer since he was four months old and has gone through many health scares due to his low immunity as a result of chemotherapy treatment.
Mechanical engineer Ebrahim, 32, from Al Dair, said: “Hassan used to ask why he could not play with other children and it was so difficult to explain.
“These meetings have really helped with various issues – not just interaction, but food and health too. If I could rate the meetings, I would say they were excellent. Hassan also has a lot of fun, especially when he paints.
“In the beginning I thought they would be meaningless but I have found them to be very useful.
“They guide you, motivate you, as well as inform you about things you may never have thought of. For example, pollutants found in some foods, such as hormones and pesticides, can prove problematical to the recovery process. I will continue to attend, you never stop learning.”
Hassan is being home-schooled by his mum at the moment assisted by an auntie who works in a nursery, but next year he will be well enough to attend school full time and he said: “I can’t wait!”
For more information about the Smile Initiative or to find out when the next meeting takes place, call 17725517 or visit www.smileofbahrain.org
