Suhayla has faced many challenges since she was diagnosed with cancer in May 2023. But the 19-year-old’s journey through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation has been a testament to her strength and the expert care provided by the cancer and blood disorders team at Children’s Minnesota.
Sign of concern
Suhayla was in the final weeks of her senior year of high school when she began feeling severe pain in parts of her body. She went to go to see the doctor who recommended she monitor her symptoms and to come back for a referral to a specialist if they did not improve.
Suhayla’s mom, Deeqa, was an interpreter at Children’s Minnesota during this time. She had talked about the pain her daughter was in with a colleague, Dr. Samreen Vora, who was then the medical director of the Simulation Center. When Dr. Vora checked in to see how Suhayla was doing after seeing the doctor and heard the pain had not gone away – she told Deeqa her daughter needed to go and see a specialist right away.
Suhayla drove herself to the clinic and, thankfully, was able to get an appointment that day. After an examination, she was immediately sent to the emergency department (ED) at Children’s Minnesota and from there to the operating room for a biopsy to get a sample of tissue for testing.
The diagnosis that changed everything
A few weeks later the tests results were in – Suhayla had rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor that develops in the body’s soft tissues, usually the muscles. Deeqa is forever grateful to Dr. Vora for encouraging them to seek out a specialist sooner. “I always think back and wonder what could have happened if we had waited and the cancer had not been caught early.”
The news was devastating, but one of Suhayla’s first reactions was one of determination: “What are we going to do about it? What do treatments look like?”
As an interpreter, Deeqa had experience helping families understand their child’s diagnosis. But nothing could prepare her for this.
“There are so many emotions all at once. It was very scary in the beginning. But Suhayla’s determined personality is what got us all through,” said Deeqa.
One example of Suhayla’s determination and strength: she graduated high school and continued to work in the weeks between diagnosis and the beginning of treatment.
Surgery and chemotherapy
Suhayla’s treatment journey began with a critical question from her care team: Did she want to start with chemotherapy or surgery to remove the tumor? After being given a couple weeks to decide she chose surgery. “It was very scary,” she recalled.
Following surgery, Suhayla started on an aggressive chemotherapy plan that last nearly 10 months, starting in July 2023. Chemotherapy was tough and left her feeling sick most of the time. She had to be admitted to the hospital many times to manage the side effects.
Radiation and recovery
After completing chemotherapy in May 2024, Suhayla moved on to radiation therapy, finishing the treatment in August.
Thankfully, her care team says there is currently no evidence left of cancer. Her road to recovery is ongoing, but Suhayla remains optimistic. She is focused on getting healthy and spending time with family and friends.
Deeqa’s message to other families going through similar experiences is one of faith. She points to a saying from the Islamic faith: “Tie your camel and trust in God,” meaning take the steps that are within your control while maintaining hope. Deeqa encourages families to be active advocates for their child’s care while also putting trust in the expertise of the care team.
