Cancer patients looking forward to a more celebratory Hari Raya this year

SINGAPORE - During the month of Ramadan last year, Mr Imran Osman and his wife were distraught and worried as their two-year-old son was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia - a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.

In early May of that year, days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Amirul Wafiy started his first cycle of intensive chemotherapy.

During the procedure, he developed a blood infection and had to be hospitalised for nearly a month.

The chemotherapy side effects rendered the toddler weak and unable to walk until July, said Mr Imran, 45, a building technician.

Now, after nine cycles of chemotherapy, things are starting to look up for Wafiy and his family.

They are looking forward to meeting relatives during Hari Raya Aidilfitri next week.

Wafiy is also well enough to return to pre-school, and he will be enrolled at a learning centre run by the Children's Cancer Foundation next month.

"Wafiy is getting stronger by the day," said Mr Imran, as his son ran around the premises of a cancer centre on Thursday (April 28). Wafiy has three older brothers aged nine, 10 and 12.

The boy and his family were among 25 beneficiaries of Ain Society who received cash, groceries and festive food items which were distributed by President Halimah Yacob on Thursday at Serenity Cancer Care centre in Haig Road.

Ain Society is a Malay-Muslim organisation that provides cancer care support to patients and their families, and Serenity Cancer Care is one of two centres run by the society.

A total of 456 beneficiaries have received festive packs and up to $160 each from Ain Society, ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri next week.

Madam Halimah, who is the patron of Ain Society, spoke to a few cancer patients and caregivers at the centre on Thursday.

This year, Ain Society set aside a fund of $150,000 to help needy patients and their families alleviate financial constraints caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Eligible beneficiaries will also continue to receive monthly financial assistance from the society.

Beyond financial aid, Ain Society also provides services such as counselling, cancer support groups and spiritual support.

With the easing of pandemic restrictions, in-person support groups and programmes will resume at both Serenity Care and the society's second branch, Young Heroes Cancer Care centre in Eunos.

Stage two breast cancer patient Eryannie Mohd Sah, 41, is another beneficiary who is looking forward to a more celebratory Hari Raya period this year, after undergoing mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in March last year.

She was in recovery and bed rest for a few months after her surgery, and had to undergo intravenous chemotherapy until September 2021.

She mostly dealt with her treatment alone last year.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, her husband and three children could not visit her during the week she was in hospital after her surgery.

She also kept her illness a secret from her second child, who had to focus on her PSLE last year.

Ms Eryannie's treatment is less rigorous now, with a pill to be taken each day and an injection every month.

"None of my relatives know about my diagnosis. I will inform them during visiting next week."