Student Defies 1% Survival Odds to Complete Class XII Exams During Leukemia Battle
NEW DELHI: For Ankita (name changed), the past year has been defined not by textbooks and classrooms, but by the sterile environment of hospital wards and the relentless rhythm of medical treatment. Her journey through the crucial Class XII board examination period was conducted from a hospital bed, a testament to extraordinary resilience in the face of a life-threatening diagnosis.
A Sudden Onset and Dire Prognosis
Ankita's ordeal began in early 2024 with a persistent fever that initially seemed unremarkable. When preliminary tests revealed little, she attempted to dismiss her concerns. However, her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to a terrifying prognosis from local doctors: her chances of survival were estimated at a mere 1%. She was subsequently admitted to the hospital, where she spent nearly a month, including extensive time in the Intensive Care Unit. Her world shrank to the confines of medical interventions—needles, medications, and profound uncertainty about the future.
"While my classmates were preoccupied with marks and formulas, my mind was consumed with the basic will to survive," Ankita recalls, describing the surreal experience of being transported to her practical examinations via ambulance, with IV drips in her arms instead of study notes in her hands.
Intensive Treatment and Personal Hardship
By August 2024, Apollo Hospital had become a second home. Under the dedicated care of Dr. Amita Mahajan, Senior Consultant in Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Ankita began an aggressive treatment regimen involving steroids and multidrug chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The treatment exacted a heavy physical toll. At one critical juncture, severe complications led to significant weakness in her legs and a loss of bladder control. Her medical team promptly adjusted her therapy, incorporating neurological care and physiotherapy, which gradually helped her regain strength and mobility.
Outside the clinical setting, Ankita faced immense personal challenges. Having lost her mother the previous year and with an absent father since childhood, she lived with her aunt while grappling with significant financial strain. "There were countless days I navigated the journey from one diagnostic lab to another entirely alone, striving to balance the demands of my treatment with the necessities of daily life," she shares.
Unwavering Academic Resolve
Despite these overwhelming circumstances, Ankita maintained a steadfast connection to her academic goals. As the 2025 Class XII board exams approached, her ability to participate was highly uncertain. Yet, she refused to surrender her aspirations.
Her practical examinations were scheduled and completed between grueling chemotherapy cycles. Each trip from the hospital to the exam center was made in an ambulance, accompanied by a doctor and nurse. She would finish her paper and return immediately to her hospital bed for continued care. Later, during brief periods of recovery, she managed to complete her theory exams from home.
When the results were announced, revealing a score of 64%, Ankita was overcome with emotion. "To others, this percentage might seem modest, but for me, it represents everything—my struggle, my survival, and my hope," she stated.
A Path to Recovery and Future Aspirations
Dr. Amita Mahajan emphasized the medical context of Ankita's achievement. "Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is an aggressive condition, but outcomes can be positive with prompt and appropriate treatment. In this case, what truly distinguished the journey was Ankita's remarkable determination and willpower," the doctor noted.
Now, a year later, Ankita's condition is stable. She is on a maintenance therapy protocol, visiting the hospital monthly for injections and monitoring. In the interim, she has begun reconstructing her life, having enrolled in a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) course and moving forward with cautious, deliberate steps toward her future.
Her story stands as a powerful narrative of human spirit, illustrating how profound personal courage can intersect with academic pursuit under the most daunting of circumstances.
