Most four-year-olds are busy exploring the world, playing with friends, and starting their first years of school. But for Salim Bwagu, age four marked the beginning of a battle that would span more than two decades.
It began in 1987 with small swellings on Salim’s neck and wrist. His father, Mzee Sengoba Bwagu, initially thought they were simple boils. However, when a private clinic couldn’t provide answers, the family was referred to Mulago Hospital. A biopsy revealed a daunting diagnosis: Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that attacks the lymphatic system.
By 1988, Salim began chemotherapy. Like many cancer patients, he endured the brutal side effects of hair loss, vomiting, darkened nails, and constant pain. Yet, the treatment worked. Within two months, the swellings disappeared, and Salim felt like a normal child again.
Thinking the “miracle” was complete, his parents stopped the treatment four months early. This is a common and dangerous mistake in many households. Because Salim looked healthy, he was sent to school, and life went on for a while.
The cancer returned in 1996. For the next decade, Salim lived in a cycle of relapse and partial recovery. His family, humble peasants from Iganga, struggled to raise the Shs500,000 required monthly for his medication. Poverty became as much of an enemy as the disease itself.
It wasn’t until 2006, nearly 20 years after his first diagnosis, that Salim met a “Good Samaritan” named Gilbert Kevin Jimmy Kwizera. Through Kwizera’s charity, Salim finally received the financial support needed to complete his full dosage. In 2007, he was finally cleared by the National Cancer Institute.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Salim’s 24-year battle changed him forever. Today, he isn’t just a survivor; he is an advocate. He founded the Chronic Disease Support Organisation to help other cancer patients navigate the hurdles he once faced, specifically the lack of funds and the lack of information.
- Early Detection is Key
- Finish the Course
- Community Matters
