Zuri's battle with Leukemia: It takes a Village...

Hi caring people, fellow cancer warriors!

Join me in this Journey to find healing for Zuri as she fights Leukemia. Your support, no matter how small, will help on her journey to healing. Below is a small write up per her dad Luis.

 

When I saw Zuri (Swahili for 'good', 'nice') in her green checked school uniform in January 2022, beaming next to her dotting little sister Taji (Swahili for crown), it was all I could do to hold back tears of joy, pride and optimism. You see, this was Taji's first time joining school at 4 years old, and Zuri's second 'first time' returning back to school after her first term was cut short by a Leukemia diagnosis in January 2019 when she was a tender 4 years old. On the porch that day, my heart was at peace even as the significance of this moment was obviously lost on two innocent perfect little siblings; I would not have it any other way.

 

And so begun Zuri's first foray back into the world 5 months after swallowing her last oral chemotherapy pills on August 7th. With her doctor's keen guidance on the delicate balance between encouraging her resumption of a normal growth trajectory and a compromised immunity, we took all necessary precaution. Her school administration remembered her from her first term 3 years ago, and offered all possible support to ensure a smooth transition back into a life in search of education and socializing.

 

As happens during initial school days, Zuri and Taji both battled coughs and running noses that we obviously attributed to interactions with tens of other kids all at once. One month in and Zuri's cough had gone from persistent to worrisome, and on Sunday 20th February, she was admitted to Gertrude's Children's Hospital, Muthaiga, Nairobi. Initial tests confirmed that Zuri had broncho-pneumonia and had to start a course to stabilize her damaged lungs. While this was disconcerting, it's when her paediatric oncologist, Dr Doreen Karimi, called me into her office that our worst fears were realized. Zuri had relapsed, and we needed to take her to India for further treatment as soon as she is stable. 

 

And so from a supremely optimistic January where we caught a glimpse of a normal life for our precious daughter after 3 years of battling Leukemia, we are once again thrust into the uncertain journey of transfusions, indescribable trauma that is chemotherapy and an inevitable Bone Marrow Transplant. While Zuri has maintained her calm nature and artistic view of the world, as her parents, we are yet to process this news, and instead dove deep into making preparations for her trip to BLK - Max Hospital in Delhi, India. As we did during the first battle that started in January 2019, we remain optimistic that she will beat this once again, and hope against hope that this optimism will offer strength for a second round with our adversary.

 

While it is common knowledge that fighting cancer has a significant impact on a family's emotional and psychological well-being, the financial strain especially in countries without a robust public healthcare system cannot, similarly, be overstated. It is for this reason that friends and family of Zuri are welcoming people of goodwill to walk with us, and help in raising the estimated cost of the full treatment which the hospital has pegged at 70,000USD and potentially requiring between 3 to 9 months to cover re-induction chemotherapy, all the way to an allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant with tissue matched from her little sister Taji. The first time Zuri battled Leukemia starting in 4th February 2019, the total cost of treatment over the next 2 years spiralled to a little over 55,000USD which was only made possible by friends and family engaging in earnest and honest fundraising efforts. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of individuals, institutions, as well as our hospital Gertrude's Children's Hospital. It is therefore disheartening to receive these news of a relapse just as we were recovering financially as a family, but as before, we are putting our best foot forward.

 

Zuri's well documented journey on Facebook has been a source of inspiration for many facing their own personal battles, with our followers praying for us during the hard times, and celebrating every milestone. She has demonstrated not just positivity and good humor, but a resilience that has motivated us, her parents, to stay strong. We wish to maintain the same outlook this second time despite the overwhelming sense of defeat, and call upon your thoughts, love and light.

https://web.facebook.com/luise.indimuli/ 


We have also done a few TV interviews speaking on childhood cancers, using our journey to encourage parents not to shy away from screening their children because early detection plays a significant part in increasing the chances of a full recovery. A few links to watch below....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ikeJtVanww