Under the headline "Egyptian Girl Moves Everyone to Tears with Heartbreaking Will Before Her Departure," Sky News reported that with a message that was unimaginable, the Egyptian girl Marina increased the sorrow of her loved ones over her departure after saying goodbye to life under the pressure of cancer pains. This will served as a wake-up call about mistakes in dealing with sick children that could hasten their demise or make them suffer the bitterness of despair and sadness while waiting for death to knock on their door. The 8-year-old girl left a handwritten note where her attention to issues that many at her age do not notice, such as washing and shrouding, was striking. She wrote in child-like handwriting on the page of her notebook: "I'm going to die very soon; I'm sure of it. A voice is telling me I'm going to die soon."
She asked her mother that only the family members she named should see her or participate in washing her. It was also notable that she urged her mother not to grieve or cry: "Don't wear black or cry, and turn on the television," she requested, along with asking her family to distribute cakes, biscuits, and a type of baked goods.
Marina had been suffering from cancer under her tongue for several years, and doctors tried to save her with several surgeries and chemotherapy sessions, but to no avail.
**Consideration for the Psychological State of Patients**
This note, which she wrote months before her passing and surprised her family after her death, reveals unexpected thoughts in a child's mind and highlights the importance of attending to the proper way to treat children suffering from serious illnesses; so as not to add psychological burdens due to feelings of despair or obsessive thoughts.
According to mental health consultant Walid Hindi, obsessive thoughts affect at least 3% of patients, particularly those with serious conditions such as cancer, which generates a constant feeling of anxiety about death. Hindi points out that this feeling can hasten the patient's demise, causing them to dwell on death, dying moments, and funeral rituals, accompanied by mental images and a sense of the presence of angels or voices, as experienced by Marina.
Hindi explains Marina's writing of her will while still a child as a form of projection, which children use to express their internal feelings either through writing or drawing.
**Obsessive Thoughts and Immune System Effects**
Hindi warns that the efficiency of the immune system is affected by anxiety, depression, and feelings of despair regarding treatment, negatively reflecting on the healing process. Dr. Heba Ali, a mental health and behavioral counseling consultant, agrees with Hindi and adds that a child is influenced by the despair and emotions of their parents, especially in chronic illnesses like cancer. Marina's feelings and will may stem from her sense of responsibility towards her parents to not be sad about her; she realized death was near and sensed the signs of an ending from those around her, expressing it through her will.
**Fostering Hope**
Walid Hindi conveys a message to everyone with a sick patient: "Do not despair or show signs of despair. Teach children to plant a small seed, bring joy and hope to these patients' souls, and do not let them feel the inevitable end. Plant hope in their hearts so that their immunity strengthens and they can resist the illness."
