No obstacle can stand in front of the people who have strong self confidence, incredible enthusiasm and on top of that – faith in The Almighty. A living example of this is 28-year-old Durriya Kapasi, a budding author, creative writing teacher and a Cancer Survivor.

Durriya was at loss of words when she came to know that the swollen lymph nodes on her neck were actually Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

But the negative thoughts were just for time being as Durriya gathered her confidence to fight the battle and got ready to face the circumstances bravely. She completed her chemotherapy sessions with all ups and down until doctors pronounced her fully cured. Durriya came out as a new person.

Durriya said, “Some 2 years before getting diagnosed with cancer I used to write stories as a pastime. I wrote two fiction books which I published on an online platform, wattpad.com, both of which were very well received.”

“After my cancer treatment I got stuck with a Writer’s Block. I could not think or write anymore. I was determined not to give up and it was only a matter of time that I started writing again” she explained.

“The first thing I thought was to finish my book which I left incomplete. It was indeed a dream come true when a publisher, Half Baked Beans, said yes to my book and that too in the first attempt.”

When questioned about the times of bad health and how she overcame it, Durriya said “Those 6 months of treatment were like a boxing match where my opponent was cancer and I had to beat it.”

Durriya said, “During those chemotherapy sessions I lost all my hair, lost weight, lost appetite but gained a lot of positivity. Though I used to cry alone at times, but my inner strength grew tremendously in these times and my husband was my ultimate companion through these trying times.

“My faith in God gives me confidence that whatever I am going through is a nothing but a test and I have to pass it. I was always thankful to God in all circumstances. It is only through His (God)blessings that I am cured completely.”

While informing about her book Durriya said, “My book “Once upon a Genie” is an extraordinary love story of a girl and handsome genie. The story takes you to the undiscovered land of Djinns, bonding between the Jinn and his love, and how their lives changed”. The book is expected to be released in March.

Durriya teaches creative writing in a private school and contributes to the writing community as a wattpad ambassador.

Today, on this World Cancer Day, UT salutes the brave warrior and wishes her all the very best for her book release and a healthy life ahead.