When Ayesha was 2, we treated her for cancer. When she was 10, she treated us to cake.

When Ayesha, a naughty two-and-a-half-year-old was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, a rare form of blood cancer, the family felt like someone had pulled the rug from under their feet. It was unimaginable for one to see a little child suffer through such a disease. However, as reality set in, Ayesha’s family started finding support in their friends and family. With absolutely zero exposure to the illness within the immediate family, they relied on a close friend who recommended them to visit HCG.

Ayesha was administered chemotherapy treatment that lasted for one year. During this time, HCG supported Ayesha and her family to the fullest, whether it was cheering up the little one or helping the family with resources, HCG went all the way to make sure Ayesha received the best treatment. The children at the hospital, the nurses and the treating doctors became Ayesha’s friends. In fact, she uttered her first words while she was in the hospital.

The chemotherapy had gone well for Ayesha and she had recovered fully. It was soon time for her to head back home. This was a tough thing for her to do and she refused to leave. Over the course of the treatment, HCG had become her new home, the kids there, her playmates and the nurses and doctors she adored and loved, her best friends.

Today, Ayesha is 10. She lives a life any girl her age does. She is also busy topping her class and acing at sports. Some things never change though, she is still the naughtiest in the family, says her father, with a gleam of pride. She still loves visiting HCG and saying hello to the nurses once in a while. Her father says that HCG became that extended family that stood by them and gave them the strength they needed to ride through this tide - HCG did what they promised, added life to Ayesha’s years!