When Mimi turned one, her parents noticed something unexpected—her soft, baby hair began to fall out. Soon, her eyebrows and eyelashes disappeared too. It was the first sign of something her parents never imagined would lead to a much larger battle.
Doctors diagnosed Mimi with alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss. While the condition itself wasn’t life-threatening, her parents, Mohamad and Fatina, were told her hair might never return.
But it was during a routine blood test for her alopecia treatment in December 2023 that doctors discovered something far more serious—possible signs of leukaemia. Suddenly, what seemed like a manageable condition became a medical emergency.
“She was so full of energy,” Fatina recalls. “She was jumping around, smiling. We couldn’t believe she might be sick.”
But their worst fears were confirmed at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Little Mimi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a fast-progressing form of childhood cancer.
“I screamed,” Fatina says quietly. “It was like the world stopped.”
The news brought back painful memories for Fatina, who had lost her father to a brain tumour when she was just a child. Now, as a mother herself, she faced the terrifying possibility of losing her own daughter.
But hope arrived in the form of a dedicated medical team. One of Mimi’s doctors, Paediatric Oncologist Dr Claudia Toro, comforted the heartbroken parents with words they’ll never forget.
“She put her hand on my shoulder and said, ‘Don’t worry, we’ve got this.’ And in that moment, I believed her,” Fatina said.
Mimi began intensive chemotherapy almost immediately. The first six months were grueling.
“There were days she couldn’t even open her eyes,” Mohamad shared. “She didn’t want to move, to talk, to do anything. It was heartbreaking.”
Their home, once filled with Mimi’s laughter, became a place of quiet resilience. Her parents and siblings took turns to lift her spirits on the darkest days.
Then came a moment of light: within a month of starting treatment, tests showed no more cancer. Mimi was in remission.
“That was the happiest moment of our lives,” Fatina said with a smile. “Every parent waits for that news. I’ll never forget it.”
Mimi’s journey isn’t over yet. She still needs ongoing chemotherapy to ensure the cancer doesn’t return. But her care has transitioned from hospital to home through the RCH Wallaby Program—a service that brings hospital-level care to children in their homes.
“With five kids, it’s a blessing,” Fatina says. “The nurses come, give medication, change dressings. It takes a lot of pressure off.”
The support from the RCH team has been nothing short of life-changing for the family.
“They’re not just doctors and nurses,” Mohamad says. “They’re family now.”
Through the fear, the hospital stays, the needles and the chemo, Mimi has remained a little spark of joy. And recently, something incredible happened—her hair began to grow back.
“I got goosebumps,” Fatina said, her eyes welling up. “I’ve never had the chance to brush her hair. And now, I will. That’s one of the best things.”
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Mimi’s story is one of strength, family, and a community of care that turned fear into hope. In the face of the unimaginable, this brave little girl—and the people who love her—have shown what it means to fight with everything you’ve got.
Disclaimer: This story was originally published in Good Friday Appeal Website.
