It has been six months since 11-year-old dancer Sidara Akalloo was diagnosed with a common type of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
But despite being in excruciating pain, Sidara is adamant that she will write the Secondary Entrance Assessment examinations next year and pass for her first choice—Naparima Girls' High School.
Sidara's story has been making the rounds on social media, inspiring many other cancer patients as well as classmates from the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School.
Sitting on her hospital bed with her books around, Sidara could be seen doing her classes online along with her friends. She has refused to take a year off.
Her grades have always been in the mid-90s and even though she has lost 60 pounds and can no longer walk on her own, Sidara is confident that she will overcome her ailment and achieve her dreams.
"School is what is keeping me going. It keeps my mind off the possibility of dying," Sidara said. Knowing the importance of staying positive, Sidara refuses to believe that her life could be cut short.
"There are so many things I want to do when I grow up. I am a dancer, an artist, an inventor and a teacher too," she said smiling.
Her father, David Akalloo stood at her bedside, beaming proudly. She had been a member of the 5678 Dance Studio at Carlton Centre, San Fernando, since she was three and she loved modern and ballet dances. But now walking has become a challenge.
"One of the side effects of the chemotherapy affected her ability to walk but the doctors say that should go away when she completes the treatment. That is the only way she will walk again," Akalloo said.
Her parents sometimes have to lift her to go to the bathroom.
Since the diagnosis came, Akalloo, a teacher of Presentation College, San Fernando, has been making daily treks to and from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex so that his daughter can get chemotherapy.
Sidara Akallo, second from left, pose for a photograph with her family, from left, Sumatee Akalloo, mother, David Akalloo, father, and brother, Nicholai.
RISHI RAGOONATH
With his nine-year-old son, Nicholai doing his online schooling in the back of the car, Akalloo said it was both heart-wrenching and motivating to hear his daughter speak.
"She has been weathering the phase very good. There were several points where it was very low for us to see all the side effects of the different chemo. She was probably the first in the world for each one," Akalloo said.
At one point Sidara began hallucinating and saw spiders everywhere. This has left her so traumatised that she refuses to take any painkiller drugs that could leave her with the side effects of hallucinations.
For now, all Sidara wants is to do well at school and to overcome her predicament.
Akalloo said apart from doing her schoolwork, Sidara also loves art. Her teachers Aunty Vijaya and Aunty Adelle have been her source of motivation.
"The hospital staff were so inspired by her drawings that they bought expensive art supplies for her. She grinds the pain and she draws when she is in the hospital. She has a friend here who also draws and they build each other up," Akalloo said.
He said coming to Mount Hope daily was tedious but they were thankful for the support of family, friends and even strangers.
His wife, Sumatee Akalloo is a Dean at Rio Claro West Secondary and together they take turns in bringing their daughter for rigorous chemotherapy treatment.
She said her daughter's spirit of positivity was encouraging.
"She wants to do her online classes and stay with the year group. She doesn't want to stay away from school even though the principal said she can take the year off. She has a wonderful teacher, the principal is helpful and understanding," Sumatee said.
"Uncles and aunties in America have sent stuff for her. One of them sent a trophy for her. It is giving her strength to know that all of them care for her."
Sidara has been given a 78 per cent chance of survival. Both parents said they have total faith in the team of doctors who are caring for her at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.
Sumatee said it may cost over one million dollars to take her daughter abroad, money which they do not have.
While they are not raising funds for Sidara, the parents said they were hoping that other survivors of blood cancer can step forward to share their stories with Sidara.
"Hearing how other people got over cancer is what keeps her going. We want to hear about other success stories," Akalloo said.
Anyone wanting to contact Sidara can call 686-7575.