Aliya Salajee (9) from Secunda is in remission

After one year and two months of chemotherapy, Aliya Salajee (9) has hit the milestone of remission.

The year-long battle of undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia has not been the easiest road for Aliya and her family.

However, the road through remission means that Aliya and her family’s lives can slowly begin to go back to “normal”.

Her chemotherapy began as a daily treatment and after two months it became twice weekly. She has to still take daily chemo tablets for as long as two years.

Aliya is at a high risk of infection due to a low immune system because the treatment and the next two years are critical for her.

During Aliya’s treatment, her family felt it would be best to relocate to Johannesburg to ensure they are close to the hospital.

Aliya recently underwent a lumbar puncture and they now await results.

Aliya struggles with not being able to see her friends or socialise. She misses her school, friends and the “normal life” she once had.

“One of the most difficult things for her was when her grandmother passed away. Because of her immune system being so low and at the peak of her treatment and because mom was not well, and as we speak, Aliya continues to talk about not being able to hug her one last time,” said Aliya’s father, Imraan Salajee.

“We did not have time to grieve or heal as a family, because my mother was laid to rest on a Saturday and on the following Monday Aliya had to go for an operation,” said Imraan.

Besides the loss of her grandmother, Aliya also faces the loss of not being able to be with her beloved dog Simba which she got for her sixth birthday.

Friends of the family have since been taking care of Simba because the apartment where the Salajees are staying now does not allow big animals.

“She misses Simba a lot.”

Imraan said Aliya just wants to be normal again.

“Because of her low immune system, she struggles to walk long distances. She does not have the same energy levels as she use to.”

Imraan said that Aliya has a phobia when going out in public spaces because of fear of getting an infection. So much so that she will not go out in public without a mask on.

“She is so scared of getting an infection.”

Aliya who was a learner at Curro Secunda is now being homeschooled.

“We are not putting too much pressure on her to go to school. If she does, great. If she can’t then that is also fine,” said Imraan.

Aliya’s siblings are also adapting to online schooling since relocating to Johannesburg.

“We would like to get our lives back to normal and go back home. Secunda is still our home.”

Imraan said that the support from the family friends, local residents of Secunda as well as the business fraternity of Secunda has been amazing.

“I would like to thank each and every person who has prayed and supported us. You made it easier on us because we knew people were praying for Aliya,” said Imraan.

Imraan also gave a special thanks to Aliya’s Pediatric Oncologist, Dr Kate Bennett, from Donald Gordon Hospital, for taking special care of her.

Aliya’s hair has begun to grow back and Imraan said he can see his daughter “blossoming” and becoming herself again.