“I know it’s hard to stay strong. If you need to cry, cry. Then stand up again. Hold on to the support around you, that’s what keeps me moving forward.”
For 24-year-old Nor Shamira Irwani Farid, these are not just words, they are the mantra that carried her through the darkest chapters of her young life.
Battling stage four cancer and a frail body, Shamira refused to let her illness rob her of the chance to stand tall on her graduation day. Against all odds, she walked across the stage at Dewan Mu'adzam Shah, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), to receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Award from the Sultan of Kedah, Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
A Bachelor of Social Work Management graduate, Shamira’s world changed on August 19, when she was diagnosed with Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, just ten days after completing her industrial training. By September 17, doctors confirmed her cancer had reached stage four, spreading to her liver, lungs, and spleen.
“In the early phase, the treatment was very intense, and I had to be awarded,” she recalled softly. “I accepted that I probably wouldn’t make it to convocation. But after two cycles, the doctors said there was positive progress, the cancer had shrunk significantly. The treatment was then changed to a milder regime, and I was allowed to attend.”
The youngest of three siblings from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Shamira now undergoes chemotherapy once every two weeks at a daycare unit, a sign of her steady progress.
“This is the first time I’ve been allowed to travel far from home since starting treatment. I was worried, but thankfully I’m stable. My appetite is good, and my mood is steady,” she said with a calm smile.
Her journey, however, has been far from easy. Alongside cancer, Shamira has also been living withbipolar type 2, receiving psychiatric treatment throughout her studies.
“I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck back in October 2022, but with classes and student responsibilities, I ignored it,” she said. “When I began my practicum earlier this year, the lump grew larger and multiplied.”
Even while enduring relentless medical tests and biopsies, Shamira maintained her academic excellence, graduating with a CGPA of 3.94.
“I see it as God’s perfect timing. At least I managed to finish my degree before finding out. If I had known earlier, I don’t think I would have been this strong,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Now, Shamira dreams of becoming a lecturer in medical social work, hoping to help others who face similar struggles.
“My parents, my family, my friends, my lecturers, they’re my backbone,” she said with gratitude. “Whenever I felt like giving up, their prayers kept me going. The three things that anchored me were determination, prayer, and support.”
To others battling illness or mental health challenges, she offers heartfelt encouragement:
“Don’t give up. Illness doesn’t dictate your success. Hold on to hope, no matter how small, because there will always be people praying for you.”
Now in her third chemotherapy cycle, with three more to go, Shamira continues to fight her battle with grace and faith.
Her story is all about rising again, even when life brings you to your knees.
Source : Malay Mail
For 24-year-old Nor Shamira Irwani Farid, these are not just words, they are the mantra that carried her through the darkest chapters of her young life.
Battling stage four cancer and a frail body, Shamira refused to let her illness rob her of the chance to stand tall on her graduation day. Against all odds, she walked across the stage at Dewan Mu'adzam Shah, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), to receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Gold Award from the Sultan of Kedah, Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah.
A Bachelor of Social Work Management graduate, Shamira’s world changed on August 19, when she was diagnosed with Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma, just ten days after completing her industrial training. By September 17, doctors confirmed her cancer had reached stage four, spreading to her liver, lungs, and spleen.
“In the early phase, the treatment was very intense, and I had to be awarded,” she recalled softly. “I accepted that I probably wouldn’t make it to convocation. But after two cycles, the doctors said there was positive progress, the cancer had shrunk significantly. The treatment was then changed to a milder regime, and I was allowed to attend.”
The youngest of three siblings from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Shamira now undergoes chemotherapy once every two weeks at a daycare unit, a sign of her steady progress.
“This is the first time I’ve been allowed to travel far from home since starting treatment. I was worried, but thankfully I’m stable. My appetite is good, and my mood is steady,” she said with a calm smile.
Her journey, however, has been far from easy. Alongside cancer, Shamira has also been living withbipolar type 2, receiving psychiatric treatment throughout her studies.
“I noticed a small lump on the right side of my neck back in October 2022, but with classes and student responsibilities, I ignored it,” she said. “When I began my practicum earlier this year, the lump grew larger and multiplied.”
Even while enduring relentless medical tests and biopsies, Shamira maintained her academic excellence, graduating with a CGPA of 3.94.
“I see it as God’s perfect timing. At least I managed to finish my degree before finding out. If I had known earlier, I don’t think I would have been this strong,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
Now, Shamira dreams of becoming a lecturer in medical social work, hoping to help others who face similar struggles.
“My parents, my family, my friends, my lecturers, they’re my backbone,” she said with gratitude. “Whenever I felt like giving up, their prayers kept me going. The three things that anchored me were determination, prayer, and support.”
To others battling illness or mental health challenges, she offers heartfelt encouragement:
“Don’t give up. Illness doesn’t dictate your success. Hold on to hope, no matter how small, because there will always be people praying for you.”
Now in her third chemotherapy cycle, with three more to go, Shamira continues to fight her battle with grace and faith.
Her story is all about rising again, even when life brings you to your knees.
Source : Malay Mail
