Donate

It was a normal summer break for Kinza and her family. They planned to spend their time together travelling and blowing off the steam from a year of hard work. Little did they know that their plans would come crashing down when, six-year-old Kinza got diagnosed with cancer. Her mother noticed a growing swelling on her right leg and upon a check-up by the local hospital, they were told of the devastating news that no parent should ever hear.

Kinza had a history of cancer in her family. Her maternal side was afflicted with cancer frequently which is why her mother was always fearful of this disease impacting Kinza or any of her immediate family. Kinza’s eventual diagnosis was very hard for her mother, as her worst nightmare had become her reality.

They were advised to take Kinza to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), in Lahore and the first good piece of news was relayed to them as she underwent the early tests; that their daughter had been diagnosed at an early stage of bone cancer and therefore had a good chance of successfully fighting the disease. Kinza’s treatment, which started in May, 2016 included chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and corrective surgery on her leg, so as to enable her to walk on both her feet. The Hospital has a child-friendly environment that greatly helped in convincing Kinza to attend regularly for her appointments. Even before she fell ill, she had wanted to be a doctor. The Hospital’s Schooling Program ensured Kinza stayed in touch with her books and her dream was never interrupted by her illness. The diagnosis that Kinza is undergoing, including diagnostics, surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, costs approximately Rs. 1,075,000/- (one million seventy-five thousand Pakistani rupee).

Kinza’s treatment is still ongoing, with a long journey ahead of her. Despite the hard treatments, Kinza is a bright young girl who doesn’t let all the pain apparent to the outside world. Her bravery and resilience have been resounding throughout the process and she continues to inspire many others in the same boat with her. Your support and contribution to her treatment can greatly help Kinza and her family in these hard times.