One Day at a Time: A Young Girl’s Cancer Journey
In July 2022, sixteen-year-old Priscilla Chikhanda was living in Mtsiriza Village, a rural community about 10 kilometers from Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi. What started as a seemingly ordinary sore throat didn’t go away.
The fourth of six children, Priscilla had always been healthy. Her family wasn’t wealthy, but they managed. Soon, her hands began to swell, her body ached constantly, and her menstrual periods became unusually long. She grew pale and weak.
Priscilla’s mother knew something was terribly wrong.
Doctors eventually referred Priscilla to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, which is supported by Texas Children’s Global HOPE, because of severe anemia. After several tests, she received a life-changing diagnosis: acute leukemia. Treatment would take 26 months — more than two years of chemotherapy, hospital visits, and uncertainty — for even a chance at survival.
For Priscilla and her mother, the decision was clear: this was life or death. The first few months were especially difficult. In addition to painful mouth sores and relentless vomiting from chemotherapy, she developed pancreatitis, causing excruciating abdominal pain. She struggled to understand why the very medicine meant to save her brought such intense suffering, leaving her frightened and overwhelmed.
Yet amid the challenges, there was a silver lining. LCIF had just completed the construction of a state-of-the-art pharmacy and laboratory.
“It was a relief to know that anti-cancer drugs and laboratory tests were available when we needed them,” Priscilla said.
Priscilla completed her treatment in November 2024 and has remained in remission for three years since her diagnosis. But surviving cancer as a teenager involves far more than medical care. For Priscilla, some of the hardest struggles weren’t physical.
“I lost my hair. I lost so much weight. My skin complexion changed. I felt like a laughingstock because of my appearance. I dreaded seeing my classmates at school. I withdrew from many social activities and became bitter with life.”
As her classmates continued with their education, Priscilla fell behind. She couldn’t sit for her exams, and while her peers advanced, she was left struggling to catch up.
The teams trained through Texas Children’s Global HOPE program, with support from LCIF, recognize that cancer treatment must go beyond medicine. In Malawi, the team provided Priscilla with encouragement, social support, and recreational opportunities to help her rebuild confidence.
Recently, she attended a cancer camp where she met other children and families with similar experiences. For the first time, she could share her story openly, laugh without feeling self-conscious, and — most importantly — feel normal again.
“Through it all, I have learned to appreciate life and take each day as it comes,” Priscilla says.
Today, Priscilla continues with follow-up care. She’s healthy, but cancer treatment doesn’t end with the last round of chemotherapy — it requires ongoing monitoring.
Her career goals have shifted. Once aspiring to be a doctor, her experience as a patient has inspired her to pursue nursing. She hopes to care for children facing the same challenges she endured, offering them the hope and support she once received.
Although her education was disrupted, Priscilla says she gained something invaluable: perspective on what truly matters in life. She is building a future that looks different from what she once imagined—shaped by her cancer journey, but not defined by it.
At nineteen, Priscilla has survived something extraordinary. Now, she is moving forward—one day at a time — grateful for each new chapter ahead.
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