Behind every one of our patients there is a success story, supporters of family and friends who pray for them and a lot of encouragement from 57357 which offered them best quality medical and psychological care, enabling them to overcome their fears and to hold on to their dreams despite all the circumstances.
Mariam: I used to study during chemotherapy sessions, and nurses used to help me revise my lessons.
With faith, determination and perseverance, there is nothing impossible, this is what I learned in 57357 school.
Mariam Mostafa, from Alexandria, was an athletics champion. She was in high school grade 2 when she discovered a tumor in the lymph nodes, neck and lung.
“I started my treatment during exams time and I used to study during chemotherapy sessions, said Mariam. My friends the nurses used to help me studying. I used to go through 12 hours of chemotherapy sessions, and return to Alexandria at night to sleep and wake up in the morning to go to the exam. My friends in the art therapy workshop used to call me after each exam to check on me and my performance in the exam, added Mariam.
The treatment journey was long, but I received support from everyone at the Hospital, from my family and my schoolmates, until I obtained the high school certificate. I cannot forget Samar and Shymaa’s cuddles in the art therapy workshop in the beginning of my treatment journey, how Amani and doctors liked my wig when I lost my hair. I cannot also forget the day when I didn’t perform well in the exam, in second grade, I was in a very bad mood but I was surprised by my friends the 57357 volunteers who kept on calling me to alleviate my sadness and encourage me.
Bassem: In 57357 school I resumed my studies, defeated my illness and started a new hobby
Illness completely changed my life, but it couldn’t defeat me. I had to leave the sport I love, kick boxing, but in 57357’s school I learned that the ordeal can be a blessing, illness is not the end of the world and I can start a new hobby and master it, as 57357 is not just a Hospital, it is a big school.
Bassem Mousa’s story started in Alexandria in 2017 when he was in high school grade one. One day the kick boxing champ felt pain in his left shoulder. In the beginning doctors treated it as tissue rupture as a result of the violent sport he practices. Bassem pursued his training until he felt strong pain, swelling in his shoulder and weakness in his hand nerves. In Alexandria the doctor discovered a tumor in the joint, and referred him to 57357. Bassem started chemotherapy sessions then he went through a surgery to change the joint and then resumed chemotherapy. Despite the fact that the tumor was removed, he was shocked when doctors told him that he cannot go back to kick boxing.
“It was a big shock, but at that time I was getting ready for the end of year exam”, shares Bassem. In the examination room in Hospital 57357 I found 32 other patients in the same school year. With the doctors and nurses help, we were introduced to each others and we became friends. I knew their stories and learned a lot from them. The Hospital became a second home for me and all the staff are my friends. In the art therapy workshop I didn’t want to draw, but Ms. Amany and Samar encouraged me to find another hobby, so I discovered that I liked playing music, and Guitar in particular. I started training on guitar and in the workshop they used to encourage me to study and to practice my new hobby. Dr. Ghonaimi told me that playing guitar will strengthen my arm nerves. After a while my arm nerves returned back to normal condition, and I became a good guitar player. I successfully passed grad one and two of high school and started studying for the certificate. My treatment period ended during the school year and I started the follow up period. Thanks be to God, I passed the high school exam with a grade of 85.6% and will join faculty of engineering to achieve my dream.
Fatema: In 57357 I discovered my drawing talent, and am dreaming of joining the faculty of fine art
Fatema Ahmed Fawzi’s treatment journey was long and hard. It started in 2012 when she was 11 years old. Fatema shared with us her story that started with pain in the knee and difficulty walking. After x-rays they found a tumor in the knee. The treatment was long and harsh: I started with 6 chemotherapy sessions, then I had a surgery to remove the tumor followed by another 12 chemotherapy sessions then a new surgery to implant a joint. The tumor was aggressive, in 2016 doctors had to perform an amputation surgery. It was such a hard time for me, but everyone in the Hospital supported me and encouraged me to join the art therapy workshop where I discovered that I like drawing. In the workshop they discovered that I had a talent, and I felt that I am starting a new stage. I pursued my study while dreaming of joining the faculty of fine art. With the Hospital I shared in many exhibitions including the Dubai exhibition, and was so happy to see people buying my paintings. Thanks be to God I passed the high school exam with a grade of 60%, and I am dreaming of the faculty of fine art or the faculty of art education. Although I finished my treatment and go to Tanta branch for follow up, but my relationship with Cairo branch’s art workshop is continuing, as achieving my dreams started with them, and there is still more dreams in store.
57357’s laureates are numerous, Abdel Rahman Hazem 93.6%, Yasin Mohamed 55.6%, Noha Adel 82.7%, Ehab Allaqani 86.1%, Ameer Mohamed Alshimi 88.5%, Khaled Amr Saraya 92.7%
Our sons in 57357 are young in age but heroes in perseverance and determination .