SANA'A: A young 23-year-old woman from Sana'a was buried last week by her family after her cancer spread to her brain and other organs. Fatma, whose life was cut short by cancer was diagnosed 8 months ago with a stage 2 breast cancer, which doctors said they could treat through surgery and an aggressive round of chemotherapy. From a modest family, Fatma's father explained he sold his land in Hodeidah to raise money for his daughter's treatment in Jordan where he decided she stood the best chance of recovery. As neighbors came to express their hope for Fatma's prompt recovery a friend of the family mentioned that Sheikh Abdel-Mageed al-Zindani, a prominent cleric and tribal leader, as well as high ranking leader of al-Islah, Yemen's Islamic political faction, was running free programs at his clinic, promising great results against cancer and other deadly diseases using only “natural” remedies instead of aggressive chemical treatments. Dubious at first, Hassan, Fatma's father decided to go and have a look, wanting to explore every avenue for his beloved daughter. Hassan said that his meeting with the Sheikh impressed him a great. “I never expected that Sheikh al-Zindani would be there to talk to me. He's a great man for me, a man of faith and compassion. He promised Fatma would be cared for and that she would be cured if we agreed to follow his doctors' instructions to the letter without wavering. We did! I believed him. He was so convincing, so mildly mannered. How could I not believe he wanted to help my family?” enquired Hassan. Fatma's family decided to give the Sheikh's treatment a shot, thinking that they could always get back to a more “regular” treatment if it failed. After a month of herbal drink, prayers and various treatments, Fatma' sister said the young woman was so frail and sickly that her father has to carry her everywhere. “Her legs would not carry her and she kept crying out in pain at night….Nothing we could do made her feel batter. It was horrible to see her suffer this way. My mother prayed and prayed for her until her knees were bruised.” As her mother could not bear to see her child wither away before her eyes, she took Fatma back to the doctor, only to be told that it was too late. “The doctor told my mom, Fatma's cancer had spread to her brain and other organs He said that he could only tried to make her feel comfortable. My mom collapsed at the doctor.” Fatma' sister told Bikyamasr.com that she was holding her sister's hand when she drew her last breath, hopefully leaving for a realm where her pain would forever vanish. “It became quiet around her, as if life just receded…she looked at me and I could see hope. I swear it is as if her eyes were smiling at me. She went away quietly. I know God is looking after her now. She left with so much light on her face… she is with Him now.” Hassan feels responsible for his daughter untimely death. “If only I had listened to my doctor! Maybe she would still be with us.”
