15 year-old cancer survior scores 91% in SSC examination

Pune: A 15-year-old boy in Pune who is suffering from a type of blood cancer has cleared SSC board examination with 91 per cent.

Mihir Shashank Joshi (15), a SSC student studying in Abhinava Vidyalaya English Medium High School (AVEMHS) suffered some injuries on his left leg while playing basketball. He was later diagonosed with a type of blood cancer known as Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Mihir's mother Bharti (42), a volunteer with Pune based school for special children recalls, "Mihir is our only child and in spite of his important academic year, it was his dream to be a part of district inter-school basketball competition. Once after falling down while practicing, he started complaining about pain in left leg. So, we approached a doctor and while his treatment was on, the doctors found two tumors near his spine."

She added, "On July 17, he underwent a surgery and the tumors were removed. The tumours were then tested, and it turned out to be a type of blood cancer known as Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. We devastated when the doctors informed that in a span of six months, Mihir will have to undergo six cycles of chemotherapy. His chemotherapy sessions started in July till November. In December, we brought him home. We were relieved to find out he was out of danger but suddenly his hemoglobin levels shot down and his health started deteriorating again. Two weeks later he was discharged from hospital."

Mihir took his condition as a challenge and hence decided to pursue medical studies, "My father is an engineer and was keen to join engineering but when I learnt I was suffering from cancer, I decided to pursue medical studies and do an in-depth study on Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and cure people. I didn't want to see my parents suffer. I took inspiration from cricketer Yuvraj Singh and made up my mind."

He went on, "I, hardly went to school and later due to surgery and six cycles of chemotherapy I could not attend my school altogether. But my friends use to visit my house and they used to update syllabus for me. A home tutor also used to come to my house to teach mathematics and science classes."

Where his parents suggested that Mihir focus more on his health than studies, Mihir was adamant not to lose out on academics. With a complete time-table in hand, Mihir put his entire focus on studies.

However he didn't expect to score 91 per cent, "My mathematics paper and science was tough so I was expecting my score to be around 80 per cent but now I could not believe that I have secured 91 per cent," he beams.