By Maryam Al-Jaber
MADINAH — Hala Al-Marwani was only 22 years old when she passed away last Thursday, giving up to cancer, which she was battling for the last five years.
Hala finished her university studies from home. She suffered from bone and lung cancers, but despite her delicate health she was known among her family and friends and the bigger network of supporters on social media as a patient and courageous soul.
Hala’s short journey in life is inscribed in her diary, chronicling her support work and activism in cancer awareness campaigns among patients she came to know through her regular visits to hospitals in Madinah.
When Hala was first diagnosed with bone cancer in her left leg she was very calm, accepting the news with patience and courage.
After her first treatment she established with a group of cancer survivors — the Madinah network of cancer survivors — to provide moral and social support for cancer survivors in collaboration with an existing group in Riyadh.
Hala’s activism raised awareness and created networking channels between cancer patients and their families and educating them about the disease and the best methods to beat it, in addition to raising awareness in the community about cancer and the importance of early diagnosis.
The young girl who was very active in her efforts among the people of Madinah, soon was informed by her doctors that the cancer had spread to her right leg and to her lungs.
Despite spending more than eight months between chemo sessions and hospital visits, young Hala was very active with helping amputated cancer patients, thus attracting huge support from Saudis, in addition to her activism on social media portals and cancer conferences.
Hala’s diary is a testimony of her short life with happy and sad memories, to be remembered among her family and friends. Many Saudis took to social media to express their grief at her loss, and the fact that she will always be remembered for her positive attitude in the face of adversity and her spirit of service. — Al-Arabiya English
