This picture shows the incredibly brave nine-year-old girl who has endured more than 100 major surgeries and is determined to beat her cancer diagnosis so she can grow up and become a nurse.
Little Samira from the town of Pfungstadt, in the State of Hesse, Germany, has been fighting to stay alive ever since she was diagnosed with advanced Burkitt lymphoma in August last year.
At the time, she had reportedly suffered severe digestive problems when doctors performed an ultrasound and discovered a massive dinner-plate-sized tumour in her abdomen.
Her mother, Julia Habes, 35, said: “The paediatrician prescribed laxatives.”
However, nothing happened, and the mum said: “At one point, my daughter looked like a pregnant girl.”
Samira was then immediately scheduled for surgery, but when medics failed to remove the tumour completely, the primary school student was prescribed chemotherapy.
Julia said: “The tumour was already so large that it had affected the surrounding tissue and especially the intestine, a piece of which had to be removed.”
However, even though the medications effectively eliminated the cancer cells, the treatment had to be stopped after she suffered an allergic reaction to the drugs that caused her to suffer a bowel rupture.
The condition known as gastrointestinal (GI) perforation occurs when a hole develops in the GI tract, which includes the stomach, small intestine, and large bowel.
Ever since, she has undergone more than 115 surgeries to prevent food, digestive juices, or other intestinal contents from leaking into the abdomen.
Julia explained how her daughter had been in the hospital almost continuously since last summer, spending both Christmas and her 9th birthday there.
She said: “There are a lot of bad days, but also good ones.
“But she inspires us all daily with her strength, and we firmly believe she can do it!”
Now, the family is reaching out for donations to help, as Julia needs to commute to Frankfurt University Hospital every day to be by her daughter’s side in the intensive care unit.
Meanwhile, her partner had quit his job at a car dealership to take care of the other children.
In the GoFundMe campaign, Julia said, “Her dream was even to become a nurse – now we are doing everything we can to help her get well and make her dream come true!
“I therefore ask for your financial support and thank you for every amount, no matter how small, on behalf of Samira and my entire family!”
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Story By: Georgina Jedikovska, Sub-Editor: Georgina Jedikovska, Agency: Newsflash
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