A then-two-year-old Zakariyah stubbed his toe two years ago in the UK. While you could expect the minor injury to be insignificant, in Zak's case, it wasn't. His toe did not heal. Thanks to his mother's instincts and insistence, doctors detected and diagnosed Zakariyah with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Two years later, he continues to receive treatment, but the now-four-year-old faces his cancer with joy.
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"When he was diagnosed I felt disbelief and shock. Our whole world was turned upside down," Amina, his mother, said, according to the New York Post. She noticed Zak's toe was not healing and she became worried. Amina knew something was wrong. She insisted that doctors at St. George's Hospital see her son. They would later confirm Zarakiyah's diagnosis in May 2022: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), which explained Zak's toe not healing.
According to Cleveland Clic, ALL affects children mostly, and it targets their white blood cells. These are responsible for a body's immune system's fight against infections. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, anemia, bruising, fever, joint pain, and weakness, among many others.
Living With Cancer
After hearing her son's cancer diagnosis, Amina was "overwhelmed and extremely worried." "First thing in the morning we were told he had cancer and that an ambulance was waiting outside," she said. "I felt numb. It was all very rushed and happening fast. There was no way and no time to take it all in."
At first, Zakariyah didn't handle the cancer very well, according to his mom. After all, he was just a little two-year-old with a life-threatening disease. Zak even became afraid of doctors for a time, after he was examined constantly. However, he was able to overcome his fear as he grew older.
Weeks after his diagnosis, Zakariyah began receiving treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital. He received chemotherapy and steroids as part of his treatment. He lost his hair as a result. Two years later, Zak continues his treatment with a bi-annual lumbar puncture and monthly chemotherapy. Zak's treatment will end in June 2025, but he will still have regular check-ups for at least five years, according to the Post.
Amina is very proud of Zakariyah, describing him as playful and joyful and saying that everyone is in love with him. "He's handled his cancer journey amazingly well. He's a little fighter," she said. "From when he couldn't talk or walk to riding his bike. He's an inspiration to all of us. Even when he's feeling down or in pain he carries on and laughs it off"
