From Bone Cancer to Running Blade: A 10-Year-Old’s Recovery on a Prosthetic Leg
Reading Time: 3 minutes
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Summary:
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Saif Mubarak, 10, runs on a prosthetic blade after bone cancer and an above-knee amputation
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Diagnosed with osteosarcoma at age five, Saif is now in remission
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Rehab progressed from walking without crutches to movement skills to running, per coach Mike Antoniades
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Surgeon Jonathan Perera says Saif now walks and runs mostly without limitations
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Saif lost his father during chemotherapy recovery and hopes his story helps others in similar situations
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Saif Mubarak, 10, runs on a prosthetic blade. At age five, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma after pain in his legs and a limp developed. Now he is in remission from bone cancer, has learned to run and walk with a prosthetic leg, and hopes to inspire others facing similar challenges.
A limp that led to a bone cancer diagnosis
The first sign was pain. Saif shared with the BBC that his legs began hurting when he was five and that he started limping. He became seriously ill and went to three different hospitals before doctors diagnosed him with osteosarcoma, a cancer that can develop in any bone.
His orthopedic oncology surgeon, Jonathan Perera, told the BBC that the cancer began in the bone just above Saif’s knee joint. Treatment involved chemotherapy, an above-knee amputation, and more chemotherapy. Despite being so young at the time, Perera said Saif coped exceptionally well.
Learning to walk, and then run, on a prosthetic leg
Saif received his prosthetic leg when he was six, and his rehabilitation followed a clear progression. According to Mike Antoniades, performance and rehabilitation director at the Movement & Running School, the first step was teaching Saif to walk without crutches. Then they worked on movement and gross motor skills—the large muscle movements involved in standing and walking.
Antoniades said his goal was for Saif to move confidently and not feel that he had a problem. And this happened quickly, thanks to Saif’s strong personality and positive outlook. Saif now trains at the school twice a week.
Saif also shared that he joined the school's running club, where Antoniades helped him use his running blade properly. He said he practiced a lot, took a few tumbles, but he kept pushing through.
Today, Perera said, Saif walks or runs most of the time without limitations. He credits Saif’s grit and determination for this progress.
Using his own experience to help others
In the midst of all this progress, Saif shared that his father died while he was recovering from chemotherapy. At that point, he not only needed to heal physically but emotionally, too. He shared that although it made him sad, he felt that he needed to be brave and get through it.
And he did emerge on the other side. Saif described life in remission as a chance to enjoy life. This year, Saif was also nominated in the Young Hero category at the BBC Make a Difference Awards. What keeps him going is his sense of purpose. After going through a difficult time in his life, he hopes his experience can help others in the same situation.
Related Reading:
14-Year-Old Mia Lloyd: Living With a Disability Has Not Held Me Back
A Beginner’s Guide to Amputee Running: Part 1
