photo captured moments before transplant
"I didn't think my chances were very good that I would survive. There were no guarantees."
overcoming the odds
After a routine check up, Fariha was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. A rare type of blood cancer that can rapidly progress to Acute myeloid leukemia which has a survival rate of 27%. Her doctors gavee her a 25% chance of surviving the treatment that could heal her, but she decided to go ahead with the treatment. After three months of chemotherapy, she went into remission, and was ready for the awaited procedure: stem cell transplant. Together, this was over a year long process with many trial and tribulations.
"It is a tough process to see if it is going to work, because it can still fail. They give you a year if it's going to work, and for me they said two years because of the type of transplant."
learning a new life
The Destination
After two years, Fariha is still cancer free and she still has not had any graft versus host issues with her transplant.
Living Adventurous
Fariha's favorite hobby is traveling. Colorado was her first trip of many post recovery. More specifically, her visit to Pikes Peak. With an elevation of 14,114 ft most individuals get elevation sickness, but she surprised herself.
"It was a really great feeling. I felt like I was in a whole different body. The energy I had was just amazing."
A Reflection
Beating the odds and getting a second chance at life has changed Fariha's perspective on life.
"Surviving that, you're faced with death in a way that you don't often face. It's a very challenging time physically and emotionally. It's bound to make anybody stronger to get to the other side of that."
Looking Ahead
Fariha's journey has been an eye opening and life changing one. Now, she wants to spread awareness about Myelodysplastic Syndrome in hopes to educate and help others. Hoping to spread the massages of getting check-ups often and listening to your body. Her MDS was caught early from routine check up, but if she had not gone to the doctor her MDS would have progressed into AML, which after treatment still have a 50% relapse rate. Doctors are racing to create new drugs and treatments for AML, in fact, Fariha's combination treatment of chemotherapy and stem cell transplant was released as a journal article in August of 2020 and she started it in January of 2021.
"Have a good support system, keep your body healthy, listen to your doctors, and stay positive."