[UPDATED] SIDARA'S NEXT STEP – 12-yr-old cancer patient’s brave journey continues

When cancer patient Sidara "Sid" Akalloo stepped into secondary school for the first time on Tuesday as a student, she felt overwhelming joy for herself and all the ill children fighting for an education.

On Monday, as she waited patiently to start her new journey at Naparima Girls' High School (Naps Girls') in San Fernando, she spoke candidly with her mother Sumatee Akalloo.

Akalloo repeated her daughter's statement, "Mummy, I know when I walk into that school, it would not be me alone. It would be for every ill child and fighting for an education."

Sidara was so full of energy that she hardly slept on Monday night.

Within minutes of arriving at school on Tuesday at around 7 am, she befriended two students.

Sidara, who turned 12 in June, also fulfilled a lifelong dream on Tuesday.

"I went on the swing. That has been my goal since I was in primary school. I would look across from Presentation College and see students on the swing. I always wanted to do that, and I did that today," Sidara told Newsday on Tuesday.

Her father, David Akalloo, works at the nearby college, and she frequently visits him there.

Last year, the former Grant Memorial Presbyterian primary student lost the use of her legs because of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Chemotherapy damaged nerves in her feet, leaving her immobile for several months. She also suffered two bouts of pancreatitis and pneumonia.

She could not sit the Secondary Entrance Assessment exam in March owing to her illness, but in April, she sat the supplemental exam at Presentation College and passed for her first choice, Naps Girls'.

"I am very excited. I am also proud of myself for getting here, and I am looking forward to being in the school. I am looking forward to meeting my friends. I made two friends today. I have a friend from primary school, but she is in another class," Sidara said, standing next to her father and younger brother Nicholai.

"I could not sleep because I was so excited to get to school. Mummy was excited too. She could not sleep because I could not sleep."

Sidara did not attend classes on Monday, the first day of the new school year, because of body aches. She felt some ease after taking medication, her mother said.

"There are so many ill children who cannot go to school for some reason or the other. Yesterday (Monday), she told me it felt surreal to go to school. Sid said she tried her best but did not think she could have done it," Ackallo said.

"At around 3 am (today), when I got up and opened my door, she was already asking to get ready. I told her it was too early. At around 5 am, I told her she could get ready. She was so excited to put on the uniform. That meant the world to her. Sid got remission, and I do not think it meant as much to her as wearing that uniform."

Despite being in pain due to her treatment, Sidara has maintained a positive attitude and bubbly personality. Such traits have allowed her to make friends fast.

Akalloo added, "At the hospital, she has made it her business to go around and chat with the other patients. She would try to cheer them."

Sidara has been in treatment for the past 17 months and has to undergo chemotherapy every day for the next year.

"She keeps going. She does not let things hamper her. Many parents called me today to find out how Sid was doing at school. I told them I would only know when she returns because the school does not allow cellphone use," Ackalloo said.

"For the first time, she has not been hospitalised in three months. Every three months, she was hospitalised, especially with pancreatitis."

Last week for the first time since her diagnosis, she rode her bicycle on the road with her elated brother.

Ackallo recalled, "He said, 'Wow, Mummy, I am no longer alone. I have my partner back."

Ackallo said Sidara recently attended the funeral of cancer patient Sanjay Sampat, 21, who died in India. The Mayaro resident was diagnosed with leukaemia in December 2021.

Sidara's father said everyone woke up at 3 am, "for some reason."

He joked that once his wife is in the kitchen, the family cannot go back to bed because of the noise. She had prepared breakfast by the time they got out of bed.

"When we left home, she was getting ready to work in Rio Claro. She took a lot of selfies with Sidara, and we left home 6.09 am."

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) says September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

IARC, the specialised cancer agency of the World Health Organization, estimates that in 2020 almost 280,000 children and adolescents (0 –19) were diagnosed with cancer worldwide.

This story was originally published with the title "Sidara excited to be in secondary school" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Bursting with excitement to step into secondary school for the first time on Tuesday, 11-year-old Sidara Akalloo hardly slept on Monday night.

Akalloo, a cancer patient, said she befriended two students within minutes of arriving at Naparima Girls’ High School in San Fernando. Sidara also fulfilled a lifelong dream.

“I went on the swing. That has been my goal since I was in primary school. I would look across from Presentation College and see students on the swing. I always wanted to do that, and I did that today,” Sidara said on Tuesday.

Her father, David Akalloo, works at the nearby college, and she frequently visits him there.

Last year, the former Grant Memorial Presbyterian primary student lost the use of her legs because of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Chemotherapy damaged nerves in her feet, leaving her immobile for several months. She also suffered two bouts of pancreatitis and pneumonia.

She could not sit the Secondary Entrance Assessment exam in March owing to her illness, but April, she sat the supplemental exam at Presentation College and passed for her first choice, Naps Girls'.

“I am very excited. I am also proud of myself for getting here, and I am looking forward to being in the school. I am looking forward to meeting my friends. I made two friends today. I have a friend from primary school, but she is in another class,” Sidara said, standing next to her father and younger brother Nicholai.

“I could not sleep because I was so excited to get to school. Mummy (Sumatee Akalloo) was excited too. She could not sleep because I could not sleep.”

Sidara’s father said everyone woke up at 3 am, “for some reason.”

He joked that once his wife is in the kitchen, the family cannot go back to bed because ofthe noise.She had prepared breakfast by the time they got out of bed.

“When we left home, she was getting ready to work in Rio Claro. She took a lot of selfies with Sidara, and we left home 6.09 am.”

The school year started on Monday.