Anisah Abbas
Extraordinary Circumstance:
Wilm’s tumor
Words, Design & Illustration, Photography
by Dallas Graham
Editing by Jeri Larsen
Anisah Abbas, 16, is a brave, selfless, and dynamic young woman who makes an impact on everyone she meets. Her bright and bubbly personality never fails to bring joy to others, which makes her a light in many lives. Her genuine care for people has never been hindered by the hardships she’s experienced throughout her life. When she was just 2 years old, she was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumor, a rare kidney cancer, and had one of her kidneys surgically removed. Since then, she has had 3 relapses and is currently recovering from various surgeries that occurred in the past year, including a cryoablation. Although it has been one of the toughest years for Anisah medically, she has been able to maintain a positive attitude with the support of her friends and family. Growing up in Georgia, she’s always been very close with her cousins, and being able to spend time with them has helped her stay hopeful for the future. Creating this book is a way of saying thank you to everyone who has cared for her during these difficult times. Her “lions” help her keep a smile on her face and know that she is loved no matter what.
Anisah's book has been happily sponsored by the Kahlert Family Foundation!
Some images from her workshops.
Read her book.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 BY DALLAS GRAHAM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM BY ANY ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL MEANS INCLUDING PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING, OR INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL WITHOUT PERMISSION IN WRITING FROM THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER.
LEARN ABOUT
Wilms’ tumor
Wilms’ tumor, also known as nephroblastoma, is a rare cancer affecting the kidneys. It almost always occurs in children, with only a small number of cases documented in adults. Around 650 cases each year are identified in the US. Wilms’ tumor is linked to certain genetic syndromes in some cases, but in others, the cause isn’t clear. This tumor often first appears as a noticeable mass in the abdomen, often with no other symptoms at first. If the cancer progresses, symptoms such as appetite loss, elevated blood pressure, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody urine, and fever appear. Wilms’ tumor can usually be treated effectively, with a five-year survival rate of 90%; however, the staging and timing of treatment is critical. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove the tumor or the entire affected kidney.
Want to learn more about Wilms’ tumor? Check out these resources:
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wilms-tumor/symptoms-causes/syc-20352655
www.cancer.org/cancer/wilms-tumor/about/what-is-wilms-tumor.html
www.stjude.org/disease/wilms-tumor.html
RED FRED PROJECT WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR FRIENDS AT PATIENT WORTHY FOR THEIR RESEARCH AND PARTICIPATION IN SHARING THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR WORK AT PATIENTWORTHY.COM.