Hussain, Maldives

March of 2003 began with pain. As the doctors ran tests to figure out the cause, I saw tears in the eyes of my beloved doctor . However, I was still unaware of the gravity of the situation. Over and over, I was asked, 'When are you leaving?' My answer was, 'The day after tomorrow.' But with each repeated question, my anxiety grew, and I remained lost in a haze of confusion about what was really happening.

After consulting a doctor at Manipal Hospital in India and undergoing an endoscopy, my world was shattered. The moment I heard the severity of my condition and the surgery I needed, fear and despair took over. I felt like the ground beneath my feet had disappeared. There was no way out, I had to face it. With a heavy heart, I went through with the surgery. When the doctor said it was successful, I wanted to feel relieved, but then I learned that part of my stomach, small intestine, and gallbladder had been removed. Even in that moment, countless thoughts raced through my mind, but I soon realised that the surgery had been the easy part. A month later, my first dose of chemotherapy and radiation began, and that was when my true battle started. It was like falling into a deep, endless abyss. The pain, the exhaustion, the loneliness, it consumed me. I felt disconnected from the world, as if life itself had lost its meaning. I questioned everything. Yet, in that emptiness, I found something unexpected, a reminder of Allah’s Boundless Mercy. I understood that I had two possible destinations ahead of me, and no matter which one I faced, I had to be prepared. For the first time, I truly confronted my own fragility and my weaknesses. Yet, with every hardship came a sense of clarity. I had been given a second chance, a chance to change and to shift my direction. With the guidance of my doctors and complete trust in Allah, I knew this battle was not just about survival, it was about transformation.    

With unwavering courage, I stepped into the battlefield against cancer. I refused to let fear dictate my journey. Instead, I chose to fuel it with faith, faith in Allah’s Mercy, faith in His Plan, and faith in the wisdom of the doctors guiding me. With each step, I surrendered to His Will, trusting that whatever was written for me was meant for me to endure. I aimed to face this battle with relentless determination.