I was walking from the Pul-e Company area to our house in Dasht-e Barchi with a friend. My phone rang. When I answered, someone asked me how I was.
“How?” I asked him. He said my voice has changed. My friend also confirmed his words.
I had a headache an hour ago, but it was not that severe. When I examined carefully, my tongue was thick, and the right side of my body was numb from head to toe. My headache gradually became so severe that I had lost my strength by the time I reached Shahid Mazari Road.
I checked my blood pressure; it was too low. The pharmacist prescribed a serum with several ampoules.
I got home, but my headache did not go away. However, I waited until 11:00 pm and then went to Imam Zaman Hospital in the Pul-e-Khoshk of Dasht-e Barchi. I stayed there until 2:00 in the morning and returned home.
I had a headache for two more days. On the third day, I returned to normal and went to work. After almost a week, again, as I was walking to a meeting, the left side of my body was numb from head to toe. I stopped the car. I waited for about ten minutes and started walking after I felt better. I was supposed to speak on behalf of a group. I was anxious about the meeting and that my tongue would not get stuck. But nothing happened. At the end of the session, my head started to ache a little, and it got worse until I got home. This time I went to Alimi Hospital in Pul-e Khoshk. After examining and injecting a serum and a few ampoules, the doctor said you have a stomach problem; you should have several tests, including endoscopy. I slept another night and day to get back to normal. Again, I did not take the warning seriously. I attributed the headache to low blood pressure and the numbness in the left side of my body to the effects of Covid-19.
After two weeks, I had a headache around 11:00 pm. I went to Seyed Al-Shohada Hospital at the Haji Nowruz crossroads. Because the doctor was not a specialist, I went to Imam Reza Hospital in Dasht-e Barchi’s Qala-e-Naw. The doctor was familiar. I explained my condition. He said you should go to a neurologist. I jokingly asked: Am I crazy? He said: No, but your headache is not usual, you should act as soon as possible. I interrupted him, saying to give me a painkiller for now that I can’t stand. He provided housing and recommended that I see Dr. Esmatullah Rasouli at the Alimi Clinic.
The next day I went to the clinic. The doctor said to take a CT scan. The next day, when I got the CT scan result, he said, “Get a CT scan with Contrast.”
I did not sleep until morning. I researched brain tumors and found that there are two types: cancerous and noncancerous.
Its cancer is divided into benign and malignant categories, in which 50% of tumors can be treated.
I assumed that my brain tumor was cancerous and incurable. I asked myself: Now, how can I deal with this disease that does not affect my morale, family members, and friends, and I can reduce the social panic of this disease?
I thought about Corona. I reviewed in my mind those who had died of heart disease and whom I knew. Most of the victims were killed by the fear of Coronavirus rather than the virus itself. With this premise, I concluded that cancer victims, like Corona, may die more from fear than from the disease itself; So I have to face this demon without fear.
In the morning, my wife and I went and had a CT scan with contrast. They were supposed to give the result after 72 hours.
I went to the radiologist on time. I reported the result to the doctor. After the examination, the doctor said that according to his previous prediction, I have a brain tumor.
Everything was clear; A large lump was seen on the right side of the brain. The doctor said, “Unfortunately, you have been negligent.” This gland has been growing in your brain for years, but you have not noticed. It is now too large and untreatable in Afghanistan; You have to go to India.
I asked the type of tumor. Dodging a little, he said: It seems to be cancerous; But if you act sooner, it can be treated. When he came out, an old woman cried and said, “May God heal him, have mercy on his youth.” I thanked him and said: I will not give up, cancer can not kill anyone, we must not give up against illness.
I sent the results of the examinations to Dr. Qudratollah Mohammadi in Iran. He endorsed Dr. Rasouli’s career and gave him hope. Dr. Mohammadi said the tumor had become very large and attached to the right side of the brain to the middle wall of the skull, each of which may rupture nerve capillaries. In this case, the left side of the body is paralyzed; But the clear point is that the tumor is available to the surgeon.
I researched to find a good hospital. At first, I decided to go to India, but my friends advised that the specialty of Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan is cancer. I researched and decided to go to this hospital.
A month later, I went to Shaukat Khanum Hospital. During this time there was always headache and nausea. I was referred to a walking clinic. I saw an Afghan who introduced me to a translator named Ghulam Rasool.
I referred to this section with an interpreter. The doctor was a frowning and mischievous man. He placed the radiograph in a special place and examined it carefully. He also studied Dr. Rasouli’s medical report and theory. He asked, “Do you understand the army?” The translator before me said no, but he understands English.
He asked about the current situation, the history of headaches, the presence of cancer in family members, and whether any of my parents had died of cancer. He also asked about the medicines I had taken and the tests I had done and the opinion of Afghan doctors. I answered everything carefully. He said it was too late. I asked if it could not be cured. “I’m not saying it can be cured, but the level of hope is very low,” he said. On the other hand, your illness is not equal to the standards and contracts of Shaukat Khanum Hospital.
He did not accept me and told me to go to the faction hospital or private hospitals.
I asked: If I have surgery in other hospitals, what is my probability of survival? He said, “I pray for you.” The interpreter could not speak, but I had vowed not to give up. I speak with insistence, laughter, and jokes.
The slave of the apostle seemed to be an honest, sensitive, and emotional person. He was upset and upset by the doctor’s talk about my condition. He did not know what to do with me; Whether or not to accept the responsibility of an interpreter and the care of a dying patient. He said that the head of the neurosurgery department at Khalid Mahmoud Hospital was very prejudiced against Afghans; If we go there, he will not accept. If he agrees, he will again say the cost is so high that it is beyond our power. I asked what is the solution? He told us to get the opinion of some other doctors. I accepted.
We went to a few doctors. Everyone said the risk was high. None of them claimed responsibility for the treatment. After seeing the last neurosurgeon, Rasool suggested that we see a chemotherapist named Prof. Akram. The next day at 10:00 we had an appointment with Dr. Akram. An 85-year-old man with esophageal cancer also had an appointment with Dr. Akram.
He also said that it was too late and the size of the tumor was bigger than usual, and he did not do anything. He also told me to see a surgeon.
The old man and I went to see Dr. Akram at home. In the afternoon, the old man came to my room and said that the doctor of your disease considered both of them incurable, do not waste your money on this, your tumor has become very large.
I told him I knew, but I had decided to change the equation, not accept death, and bring down cancer.
The news that my illness was incurable in the hotel was complicated. Most of the hotel residents came to see me and treated me with pity and compassion; But I greeted everyone with hope, an open forehead, joy, and a smile.
After Eid al-Fitr, another week was spent with pain and attacks, warnings, and threats from cancer. This weekend I went to Shaukat Khanum Hospital again, this time with the head general and another translator.
The hospital staff did not recognize me, and my name was deleted from the database. They asked for my medical documents and reports, but I said they are left at Kabul airport.
This time it was a young, good-looking, well-behaved doctor. He greeted me with a smile and an open forehead, and, like the previous doctor, asked about my background and that of my family and parents. He ordered “MRI” and “CT scan” examinations.
The next day I had an MRI at the same hospital. They said the result would arrive 24 hours later. I was asleep at night when Ms. Shaukat called from the hospital. I answered and wanted to speak in English. He said he did not know. I went to the messenger’s room and woke him up to speak. During the conversation, the color of the messenger changed.
When the phone rang, I asked Rasool what he said. He first evaded and then said that based on the MRI result, his brain was bleeding. They asked if Mohammad Reza had not fallen into a coma. I said that he was standing next to me and was refreshed. The party called us to the hospital at 7:00 in the morning.
The next day the doctor asked about my pain, fever, vomiting, numbness, and mood. Then he said that your brain is bleeding, you should have surgery as soon as possible. He explained that your time is short and it is not your turn at this hospital, you have to find somewhere else.
We went straight to the faction hospital. It was too crowded. The patients were lined up. I also stood in line. After 20-25 minutes, I reached the reception area.
When the doctor saw the results of the MRI, he angrily told the Prophet that you Afghans would not go to the hospital or the doctor until your patient was in a coma.
I walked before the Messenger followed me. This doctor, like the doctor of Shaukat Khanum Hospital, looked at me in surprise and said: How are you?
I said: I am fine.
After questions and answers about my physical and mental condition, he also said that he could not accept me because of my limited opportunities.
We came straight to the hotel from the faction hospital and called a doctor named Professor Atiqa al-Rahman. We met him the next day at 3:00 pm at Hamid Latif Hospital.
The doctor spoke very simply and fluent English. He counted the words. There was calmness in his career. I have been asked for medical examinations and reports. After careful examination, he said, “You have been very negligent, the tumor has grown.” Tumors of this size are usually very dangerous for people with poor moods and maybe paralyzed at the first attack; But depending on what you say and your high spirits, God willing, everything will end well.
The professor’s remarks raised my hopes and strengthened my spirit of fighting cancer. However, he said the chances of success are very low; But he takes responsibility for saving me.
I asked about the percentage of success. He said that if you are as positive as I am and maintain the spirit of action, 90%.
The next day I measured the costs. If the surgery failed, I also weighed in on the risk that it could lead to death or lifelong paralysis. After 4-5 hours of thinking and thinking from different angles, I concluded that I should not procrastinate anymore.
After lunch, Rasoul and I went to Hamid Latif Hospital and arrived at 4:00 pm. I signed the contract and went through the administrative steps. I paid for the surgery and underwent preoperative tests such as blood tests, coronary artery, glucose, and black jaundice. I was supposed to be hospitalized 24 hours later.
Tomorrow at 3:00 pm, without any fear, I walked to the hospital with a feeling of invincibility and complete confidence that I would bring down the demon of cancer.
When we got to the hospital, the receptionist took me to a room that had already been reserved and said that Chaperkat No. 4 belonged to you. I changed my clothes. After about an hour, the professor arrived with the same uplifting smile and asked how I was. He saw the test results and joked a bit. Then he said with a smile: Do you still think we can overcome this disease with the help of each other?
I said: One hundred percent.
He said: “People like you also make the doctor’s job easier and give them morale.” In this way, the treatment process goes better.
He wrote a prescription and gave it to Rasool to prepare the necessary medicines before the surgery. Then he said, “We’ll see each other tomorrow at 2:00, but before that, you have to get 2,000 Liter of blood.”
I stayed in the hospital overnight, and Rasool stayed with me. I slept well. I woke up late in the morning to the sound of other patients’ feet.
Rasool, who had gone to get blood, arrived at a hotel with a friend living in the hotel and another. He said the two had come to donate blood. I thanked them. One of the guests’ blood matched mine and the other did not. It was less than two hours before the operation, but we had a shortage of 1,500 Liter of blood.
The guests say goodbye to me after donating blood, and I thank them both.
The apostle goes again. This time it’s too late. I am waiting for him, I am not restless, a special peace has reigned in my mind. I’m sure that everything will end well, blood will be found, surgery will go well, doctors will not have any problems, and I will miraculously regain consciousness after surgery in perfect health.
After about an hour, Rasool’s head was found. He was very happy and said that the blood problem was solved.
He said he went to a hospital, and two of his guards were willing to donate blood, and their blood matched. The nurses were surprised and said that they had not given blood to anyone so far. The apostle considered this a good sign.
At 2:00, the doctor arrived. He greeted me and asked how I was. I said I’m fine. After signing the consent form, the nurses in pear-shaped clothes came to take me to the operating room. I said I would go myself, but they would not let me. I had to sleep on the bed.
Rasool accompanied us to the door of the operating room gate. We entered the operating room. All kinds of medical devices were there.
The early pear-clad nurses handed me over to the white-clad nurses. They lowered me from the bed they had brought and laid me on another bed, which was electric and surrounded by various devices. They gave me new clothes in sky color and adjusted the bed. They checked the devices and left the room.
After 2-3 minutes, the doctor came in green. He introduced himself and said, “I am someone, Anesthesia doctor.” I said I am glad to meet him.
He was carrying a blue box containing several screws, serum, and other medications when he opened his head. He tied my right hand with a special strap, and after finding the vein, he cannula it. Then he inserted another cannula in my left hand and also pierced my legs. He handed me a tablet with a glass of water. I ate the tablet and started the story with the doctor.
A few minutes later, I saw a faint image of Professor Rahman standing over my head in a green suit, mask, hat, and band on his forehead; But I do not know if it is a dream or a reality.
At 11:50 pm, my eyes fell on the clock in front of me. Until I woke up, I fell asleep again.
I woke up a second time with the voice of Professor Atiqa al-Rahman. It was 6:00 in the morning. I think I woke up one more time; Because I remember asking the nurse for water.
The doctor greeted. I answered with a nod; Because I could hardly talk. My serum was still attached to my arms and legs. Pippi came out of the corner of my mouth. Other pipes came out from near my ear and nostrils.
Another instrument was attached to my left chest, small wires, and the tip of my right finger. The sphygmomanometer was tied near the elbow of my right hand.
My senses of hearing and sight were normal, but my sense of taste did not recognize any taste other than the taste of sweets.
The professor said that the operation was successful and that my colleagues and I carefully removed the tumor completely from the brain on the right side of the head for eight hours and handed it to Gholam Rasool for a pathology test to take to Shaukat Khanum Hospital. I shook my head in thanks.
He asked me to raise my left hand. I lifted as many objects as I could hold. Then he wanted me to raise my left leg. I raised it too. “We used to predict 25 percent of the paralysis on the right side of your body, but now, by God’s grace, it is less than 5 percent on the right side of your body, which will get better over time,” he said with a satisfying smile.
Rasool later said that at 11:00 pm after the operation, I immediately took the tumor to Shaukat Khanum Hospital for testing. The tumor was the size of sheep pollen, exactly like pollen. The doctors worked hard, but I was very stressed and could not sleep. I waited for 8 hours behind the gate of the operating room (surgery). I breathed a sigh of relief when the doctor handed me the tumor and said the operation was successful.
The next day I left the ICU and was hospitalized for another two days.
On the third day, the pipes were removed from my mouth, nose, and near my ears. They stopped the serums that were attached to my hands and feet. They sewed the pipe and said that because the right side of your head does not have bones, do not sleep on the other side. Then I was transferred to the public sector.
I stayed in the public sector for four days. The professor then said that the results of the reports were very good and instructed them to prepare for the leave. He wrote a short prescription and told me to take the medicine according to the instructions.
On the way, Rasool said that the final result will be determined in 20 days by the type, size, and ability of the tumor to grow or not to grow, but before that, we have to go to Shaukat Khanum Hospital and get an MRI test and the good news is that Shaukat Khanum has accepted Continue treatment there.
When we arrived at the hotel, everyone got up and expressed their joy and gratitude.
The doctor did not avoid any food or fruit. He even said to eat more foods such as meat, vegetables, and fruits; Because the bones of the skull need to grow and regenerate.
After the surgery and the removal of the tumor from my skull, I thought I was one hundred percent victorious in the field of cancer.
So far, my only weapon in the face of a wave of problems, disappointing news, scientific facts, and most importantly, a terrifying and invincible taboo called cancer, self-confidence, invincibility, a positive outlook, and the belief that no disease can kill humans. Exhaust, unless he admits defeat.
After the appointment, Rasoul and I went to Shaukat Khanum Hospital to get a pathology answer.
Pathology reported the type, size, and various issues of the tumor as follows:
Tumor length: 10.2 cm
Its width: 7.8 cm
Its thickness: 5.2 cm.
Type of tumor stage 3 (3Stap) and the ability to grow again 50%.
I took the result to the doctor. “Because it is a cancerous tumor and its stage is relatively high, and on the other hand the MRI examination did not show anything to worry about, as a precaution the doctors in the commission have planned 30 sessions of radiotherapy for you to eliminate possible roots,” he said. Go and reduce the possibility of growth. The information department said that radiotherapy would start twenty days later. My wife and I decided to return to Kabul.
We stayed in Kabul for 15 days. My head wound had not healed and his bones had not grown, but I was not in pain and I was not suffering from anything. After the 15th day, I decided to go to Pakistan to continue my treatment; But they reported that it was ten days late.
After that, I left and arrived in Lahore with my problems, but the start of my treatment was delayed for another twenty days due to the crowds.
When the treatment started, I was guided to a molding machine that looked like a human-like robot. At the command of the head of the ward, I first slept on the bed under the robot. The head was placed in a mold. Then the robot’s hands moved to my head from both sides and made the shape of my head and face from plastic-like materials.
After the casting was completed, radiology officials told her to go to the hospital 48 hours later for an appointment.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) was divided into five sessions per week at noon.
In the radiotherapy room was a large device with control and adjustable bed under it. At the front of the device was a flexible, circular arm, perhaps two meters in diameter, with small and large groups around it.
After matching my card number with the mold number, the person in charge of the device spread paper once on the bed under the radiotherapy device and ordered me to lie on the bed.
When I got on the bed, a red light shone that divided the bed into two equal parts. Then I put my head in a plastic semicircle that had already been moved on the bed and cut its radius in half. He fastened the mold they had previously made for radiotherapy to my head, face, and part of my neck.
After the above steps, the person in charge turned on the device and the lights in the room and left the room immediately.
I closed my eyes first after the device was turned on. Then I became curious to find out how the device works. So I looked at what was happening.
As far as I can remember, after turning on the device, the flexible arm began to rotate around my head with a special sound. First, a purple light like a laser gun bullet was fired at four points on the right side of my head. After that, the device rotated once or twice a full circle around the serum, the light color of which was not visible. Then the arm of the device moved in a semicircle several times in front of my eyes from left to right of my head and made strange noises.
The first day lasted about 15 to 20 minutes.
The first week went like this.
In the second week, I changed the radiotherapy time to 9:00 pm due to the midday heat.
In the third week, the eleventh and twelfth sessions went as well as the previous week, but after the thirteenth session, my hair started to grow, my appetite gradually disappeared, I became dizzy and nauseous.
At the end of the fourteenth session, I met with the doctor. He called these symptoms normal and advised me to eat bread and fruit by force and strengthen myself.
After the fifteenth and sixteenth sessions, I was in such a state that I could not eat even one fruit and one bite of food.
I went to the hospital again a week later. Again, the treatment was postponed for ten days after several examinations.
After ten days, I went to the hospital again and had two sessions of radiotherapy. My hair loss got worse and my appetite was still blind.
Although the doctors forbade me from social media, I was constantly following the news of the fall of the districts and then the provinces and this harmed my mood. When the government fell, this pressure further affected my body and disrupted the healing process.
During this time, I was often frustrated with the continuation of my life due to the severity of the pain, but I was reminded of my commitments that I had to fight, so I did not give up. The next time I was asked for radiotherapy, eight sessions ended without delay or problems.
After the examination, the doctor said that you do not have a problem right now, but come for a check-up two months later.
Two patients, a woman and a man who had a disease like mine and were better off than me, unfortunately, died during my treatment, but I still breathe with determination, a positive outlook, and an unbreakable commitment.
Finally, Take the symptoms seriously; Do not give up; Do not consider the opinion of the doctor and the doctor as a definite and definite opinion; Do not kill yourself before the disease kills you; And live until you die.
[box type=”info” align=”alignleft” class=”” width=””]Mohammad Reza Mahboob’s Story, Hasht-e Subh [/box]