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After learning their 7-year-old son, Muhammed had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, Zaahid and Ameena Cassim’s world came crashing down around them.
Looking back, the couple shares the gut-wrenching emotions which ravaged them upon hearing their son had Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. Wrought with emotion, Zaahid says, “It felt like the world had suddenly opened up beneath us.”
Following this, Ameena adds a feeling of utter despair and hopelessness descended upon them, with no amount of comfort bringing them solace. In addition, she states, “Then the panic set in and it does not go away.”
However, Muhammed valiantly fought against the cancer, before sadly succumbing to the disease on 31 December 2019. He was only 8-years-old.
As his parents and siblings now deal with their catastrophic loss, Muhammed has left a proud legacy behind, touching the lives of several Newcastillians.
Ameena explains, “When he was in hospital, he would go without food for 12 days at a time. But, he would collect his sweets and then give them to the other children in the ward. Some days, he would ask me to buy him food, thinking he was hungry and that he would eat, I did. However, he would give his meals to others.
Despite facing overwhelming odds, this courageous young boy’s first thoughts were to always place others’ needs above his own. Zaahid and Ameena explain this is who he was, always dreaming of helping other children and the destitute. Such was his passion for helping, Ameena says, “The week before he passed away, he made us drive around town, looking for the homeless people so that we could give them some food and money.”
Zaahid adds, “While he was in the hospital, he would tell us that when he gets better, he wants to help others.”
Now, over a year later, his family are living out Muhammed’s dreams of helping others. Ameena and Zaahid have established an NPO named Superhero Mojo’s Legacy in honour of their son.
While still in its formative stages, the organisation reaches out to people of all walks of life and ages.
Ameena points out, the movement started with a man asking for help in acquiring a wheelchair. However, by the time the Cassim family were able to make contact with him, he had already received assistance. “Then a woman with a three-year-old son who has cerebral palsy contacted us, asking if we could help them with a wheelchair,” Ameena explains.
Her and Zaahid immediately jumped into action, searching for a wheelchair to donate to the youngster. It is here, Ameena says, the Superhero Mojo’s Legacy kicked off, explaining, “Daniel Couper of Majuba Rotary D9370 contacted us, explaining how the Rotary helped people through wheelchair donations.”
Since then, the couple has helped numerous families and less fortunate community members in Newcastle through the assistance of business owners and the Majuba Rotary. While touching the lives of those in need, the couple has high hopes for their organisation.
Ameena explains that while Muhammed underwent treatment for cancer, the family was facing severe financial constraints. “Having a sick child affects the whole family. We didn’t have work, and we needed help with transport to get Muhammed to his treatment in Johannesburg. When we were there, we then needed help with accommodation and food.”
They also had to make arrangements for their other children to be transported to and from school, while they were with Muhammed.
Due to the above, Zaahid and Ameena are looking at bringing oncology treatment to town, so families and cancer patients do not have to travel far or neglect their families.
The family also wants to assist those who need to travel out of town for cancer treatment—through either; food, accommodation, transport or any other form of support. “This is everything we experienced first-hand, and we know what it feels like to need help,” Ameena enthuses.
In conclusion, with the family on a mission to assist others, they affirm they only require one thing in return from those they help. “Now that Muhammed is gone, we are fulfilling his dreams. All we ask is that when people are able to, we would like them to pay it forward and help someone else.”
Pixelfish Marketing and the Newcastillian – Online News salutes the Cassim family.
For more information on how to get involved, visit Superhero Mojo’s Legacy on Facebook.
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A hero who will be always remembered. Thanks to the incredible parents he will be alive in his awesome dream of reaching out to others. Remain blessed.