Abdalridha’s family moved to the United States almost three years ago. He was eight years old. In September 2014, Ridha (as his family calls him) was having the first of three biopsies to evaluate a tumor on his ankle.
The doctors weren’t sure what it was, and during the time it took to perform multiple biopsies and tests, the tumor began to spread. The doctors gave Liqaa two options: to start treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, or to amputate Ridha’s foot. This is a tremendously hard choice for any parent to face. Liqaa chose treatment, as opposed to amputation, for his son.
One year later, treatments were finished and Ridha had recovered. “We thought we were done with it,” Liqaa said. But then, this past spring, Ridha became very sick and ended up in the ICU for about a month. It was at this time that the oncologist diagnosed him with leukemia – a possible side effect from one of the strong chemo medicines.
“Sometimes I feel like maybe I caused it because I made the choice to treat it this way,” Liqaa often wonders. “I thought we had given him the best treatment and it was all over and we’re able to move forward, then this happened. It affects all of us. Now we are back to the beginning.”
This is not the first hard choice Liqaa has had to make. Liqaa, the father of five, is originally from Iraq. He chose to care for a family of seven after the father was killed in an IED explosion. Liqaa also chose to become an interpreter for the US military in Iraq. As a thank you, the US provided visas for most of his family to move to the US.
In order to be near Ridha during his many treatments, he has had to quit four different jobs, but he works when he can. “Every time I leave to go to work, Ridha gets sick, so I try to be around as much as I can, but I have to try to work and provide, too,” Liqaa explains. His wife spends a lot of time with Ridha at the hospital, in addition to caring for their family.
And yet, Liqaa says, “Ridha is the toughest person I’ve ever met. He’s my tough guy, my hero.” According to Liqaa, Ridha is an outgoing, naturally active guy, who loves soccer, basketball, tennis, swimming, and table tennis.
“All of his friends love him a lot. He is a good friend. He’s patient and polite,” his father says. “But sometimes he gets frustrated. Sometimes he says ‘why-why?’” Ridha, who is named after Liqaa’s late father, dreams of being a doctor or a pilot, among other things.
Ridha is currently receiving multiple rounds of in-patient chemo, approximately 2 weeks apart, before potentially receiving a stem-cell transplant. The chemo causes nausea and he is experiencing all types of side effects. All of this means many 164-mile round trips to the hospital for them, plus parking costs and toll fees. The family was put in touch with Compass to Care to help with these mounting costs.
“Compass to Care has helped a lot. It’s a big weight off my shoulders. Thank you and God bless you guys. The world needs more people like you. More people need to know about Compass to Care. God bless everyone who gives – it really helps a lot,” Liqaa said in gratitude. “I believe you give whatever you can, with no expectation, because God will give it back to you and you will be even more blessed.”