Manama: A Saudi woman who shaved off her hair in compassion with cancer patients has said she did it to show compassion with them on humanitarian grounds and not because she had been a patient herself.
A video clip of Maha Al Wabil having her head shaved went viral on the internet and generated numerous comments that ranged from full support for her courage and compassion to a description of her act as useless and frivolous.
However, Maha stood her ground and told Saudi news site Sabq that an experience she lived 15 years ago had a deep impact on her.
“I got sick in 2001, and doctors were concerned amid speculation that it was cancer,” she said.
“However, more thorough analyses and check-ups showed that it was not cancer. However, for some days, I went through a terrible experience and the lesson I learnt from it was that cancer patients needed great support from the family and society. They do not need tears or pathetic expressions. The patient does not a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of perfume. The patient needs support, smiles and prayers from the community.”
Maha said she had her hair shaved off to show cancer patients that she genuinely cared and felt for cancer patients.
“I was not at all embarrassed to shave off my hair because my deep convictions are driven by noble humanitarian principles and are not hindered by external looks. It was a challenge that I gladly undertook,” she said.
“The positive reactions and messages I received from cancer patients have certainly reinforced my convictions. I was glad to hear from them that my attitude helped uplift their spirits.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and several patients and activists have been pushing for a greater awareness in the community about the disease.
In neighbouring Bahrain, Dayana Al Shaikh, a cancer fighter, appealed to people’s compassion and called on them to promote awareness among women about breast cancer.
“She might be your wife, your mother, your sister, your daughter or maybe your friend, and they may forget to consider taking the steps of making plans to detect this awful disease in its early stage,” she said “Please encourage them to do it and together we help to spread the word. Wear it Pink.”
Dayana who has been fully committed to fighting the disease regardless of the formidable challenges said that people should never give up and that they should cling to hope.
“Cancer may have started the fight, but I will finish it. After all, if cancer thinks that it is strong, God’s will is way much stronger, and we do have deep faith in God,” she said.
