Amina Ali AlMheiri and her husband, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. They had planned everything meticulously, from the colour of the nursery to the clothes her baby would wear leaving the hospital. However, things did not go as planned when she went into labour on Christmas Day. “I was supposed to give birth in January 2021, but my baby girl was in a hurry to meet us,” said Amina recalling the experience. As she underwent the caesarian operation, the doctors discovered something alarming. She had stage three cancerous tumor on her right ovary.
Amina was devastated. She had never imagined that cancer would be a part of her life, let alone while giving birth to her child. She felt like her world had come crashing down. “It was shocking, but I had a lot of support from my family and friends,” said Amina. In the weeks following this discovery, Amina underwent rigorous treatment for her cancer all while taking care of her newborn baby, Faya.
Despite the difficulties, Amina refused to give up. She remained positive throughout her journey, finding solace in her family, friends, and newfound motherhood. “I was so blessed to become a mother before I lost fertility. The very existence of Faya helped me fight through this. I mean, who wouldn’t fight to stay and stare at this adorable smile?”
Today, Amina is a proud mother, cancer survivor, member and volunteer of Majlis Al Amal and has pledged to help women on their cancer journey. “I really wish I had known about Majlis Al Amal earlier in my diagnosis. It’s a serene space for patients, focusing on mental, physical, and emotional health. It’s fantastic that Majlis Al Amal offers these spaces so we can help others – and each other! It’s truly a feel-good place for people to do good and feel good. When you visit the center, you go home with the greatest reward: putting a smile on a survivors’ face.”
Despite her health challenges Amina “lives every day to its fullest”. She loves scuba diving and is in the process of getting her PADI license as a professional diver.
Amina decided to share her story to help break stereotypes, taboos and create awareness. She can not stress the importance of getting screened, even for those following a healthy lifestyle. Her inspiring story is a reminder that cancer can happen to anyone, at any time, and that early detection saves lives.