Mialeika wages valiant battle against leukaemia

At just six years old, Mialeika Henry's life took a nightmarish turn when she was diagnosed with precursor B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia--a ruthless disease that would test her strength in unimaginable ways.

Now nine, Mialeika continues her fierce battle, undergoing gruelling chemotherapy every three months. Yet, despite the torment, she remains a warrior, defying the odds with an unbreakable spirit.

Her father, Marvin Henry, remembers the sheer terror when his little girl first complained of agonising joint pain in December 2021. Doctors at the Bustamante Hospital for Children ran endless tests, but the mystery lingered. Tuberculosis was initially suspected, yet it wasn't until 2022 that the shocking truth was unveiled--Mialeika had cancer.

"I knew something was wrong, but we just couldn't figure out what. She wasn't eating properly, and that worried me even more," Henry shared, recalling those agonising days of uncertainty.

Then came the fight of her life. Mialeika has endured three major surgeries--one on her brain, another on her leg, and a third on her stomach, after chemotherapy wreaked havoc on her fragile veins.

But against all odds, this brave little girl is reclaiming her childhood.

"She's a fighter," her father declared. "I'm so proud of her after everything she went through. Trust me, it never easy, but she pushed through, and now she's playing and pretty much living a normal life."

Determined to keep her as strong as possible, Marvin and his mother enforces a strict diet, packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, eliminating sugary temptations.

Paediatric haematologist oncologist Dr Kadine Origgio weighed in on the chilling reality of childhood cancer, revealing that leukaemia, brain tumours, and lymphomas are the most common culprits.

"Over the past five decades, there has been improvement in cancer survival and a decline in mortality," Origgio told THE STAR.

The statistics are staggering--childhood cancer survival rates have skyrocketed from 30 per cent in the 1960s to over 80 per cent in high-income countries. But in low and middle-income nations, the fight is far from over.

"The cause of childhood cancer is unknown in the majority of cases," she explained. "Familial and genetic factors account for less than 10 per cent. There are some genetic syndromes, such as Down Syndrome, where there is a predisposition to developing leukaemia."

February 4 marks World Cancer Day, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the global impact of cancer while celebrating the medical breakthroughs that have led to improved survival rates. The theme for 2025 is 'United by Unique', which highlights the power of personal stories like Mialeika's in the fight against cancer.