Sooran’s story: facing a rare cancer with family by his side

Sooran Noroozi, his wife Samaneh and their newborn daughter, Nika, are living at the MUHC—a first for the hospital—while he undergoes treatment for sarcoma.

Six-week-old Nika Noroozi has spent her entire life on the adult cancer ward at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). To explain why, we need to go back to nearly a year before her birth.

Nika’s parents, Sooran Noroozi and Samaneh Poursaman, will never forget June 16, 2022. Sooran had noticed a concerning lump on his abdomen, and was going to see a doctor. On his way to the appointment, he confided in Samaneh his worries that it could be cancer.

“I told him that not every single thing could be cancer,” says Samaneh. “And even if it was, it’s not such a big word anymore—there are advancements in science and treatment.”

Sadly, Sooran’s hunch was correct. After seeing a doctor and going through several tests, the family received a call to go to the emergency room right away. The scans had revealed a large mass in his abdomen, which turned out to be a rare cancer called sarcoma. Within a few months, Sooran was in surgery to have the tumour removed. The procedure was successful, and the couple were able to return to their busy lives.

“After Sooran recovered from surgery, the doctors told him everything was back to normal. We were so happy,” says Samaneh.

Elated, the couple began to make plans for the future. Sooran put the finishing touches on his PhD thesis in engineering, and the couple became pregnant with their first child. In December 2022, Sooran successfully defended his PhD. Just days later, he was back in the emergency room. Tests revealed the couple’s worst fear—the cancer had returned.

“The second time it was even more difficult because we were in such happy days. Sooran had just finished his PhD with great comments and we had our baby on the way. Everything was planned out and going forward,” says Samaneh.

Sooran’s illness advanced quickly and he was admitted to the MUHC’s cancer ward on February 1, 2023. Samaneh never left his side. The couple spent every moment together and prepared to welcome their daughter to the world. Nearly four months later, Samaneh went into labour. Determined to witness the birth of his daughter, Sooran asked the MUHC’s staff to wheel him from his room to the MUHC’s birthing centre.

“The moment he came to the room, I burst into tears. He was there for the whole experience. He got to cut the cord and have skin-to-skin contact with our daughter. Just having him there, all the problems in my mind were solved,” says Samaneh.

It was a beautiful and emotional moment for the young family, one that was made possible thanks to the compassion of the MUHC’s staff. After over 100 days of getting to know Sooran and Samaneh, they were honoured to help Sooran witness the birth of his daughter.

“We were all happy to accommodate his wishes,” says Dr. Ramy Saleh, Sooran’s oncologist and a sarcoma specialist at the MUHC.

Determined to keep her family together, Samaneh worked alongside the MUHC’s staff to bring Nika to the cancer ward. In a first for the MUHC, the family is living full-time in Sooran’s room. An extra bed and bassinet were provided, and the room is adorned with photos of the couple—happy memories from before Sooran’s diagnosis.

“The most important thing for us has always been to stay together. It's not home here, but it’s home in the sense that home is where we are together all the time. The hospital staff went above and beyond to make that happen,” says Samaneh.

“We get to see each other every day, and that helps me be more positive,” adds Sooran.

The MUHC even helped arrange visas to bring both of Nika’s grandmothers to Canada from Iran. Both are at the hospital daily to help with the baby and their presence is a great comfort for the young family.

“Without them, none of this would be possible. We’re so lucky to have them both here,” says Samaneh.

Sarcoma is a rare and difficult-to-treat cancer that most often affects people aged 16–40. A disease of the muscles, bones and connective tissue, this complex cancer has few treatment options because of its rarity—pharmaceutical companies are not willing to invest time and money into a disease that is so uncommon. Sarcoma is the disease that took Canadian icon Terry Fox’s leg, and eventually his life. Shockingly, treatment options for the disease have barely changed since Terry’s Marathon of Hope in 1980, over 40 years ago.

Dr. Ramy Saleh has seen too many young people lose their lives to sarcoma. Determined to help more of his patients overcome this terrible disease, he is launching the Sarcoma Research Consortium of Quebec (SaRC-Q). This new program will bring sarcoma research and care under one umbrella across the province, helping more patients access innovative treatments.

“SaRC-Q is about sharing knowledge among specialists to provide the best care possible throughout the province. Our main priority is to make sure that patients who are diagnosed with sarcoma know about all the clinical trials going on in the province,” says Dr. Saleh.

Clinical trials are often the key to beating sarcoma—with so few established treatment options, brand new treatments available through clinical trials are sometimes a patient’s last hope. The MUHC Foundation is raising funds to support SaRC-Q and ensure the 250–300 people diagnosed with sarcoma in Quebec each year have access to cutting-edge treatments that could save their lives.

Though SaRC-Q is still on the horizon, Sooran has benefited from the expert and compassionate care of Dr. Saleh. Most important of all, he has had the opportunity to spend every day with his baby daughter as he goes through treatment.

“I feel lucky to have such a beautiful daughter,” says Sooran.

Nicknamed the D10 baby for the floor where she lives, little Nika is surrounded by love—from her parents, her grandmothers, and the many MUHC staff members who are helping the family stay together during this difficult time. In the face of uncertainty, love and togetherness give the Noroozi family hope.

You can help the MUHC Foundation fundraise to ensure better care for the hundreds of young people diagnosed with sarcoma each year. To learn more about the Sarcoma Research Consortium of Quebec (SaRC-Q) and to donate, visit https://muhcfoundation.com/wor...

Update: Sooran Noroozi’s determination to see his daughter born into this world is a testament to his beautiful resilience and strength. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts from his care team, Sooran passed from his advanced cancer in July of 2023, with his loving family by his side. Samaneh was so moved by the care her husband received from Dr. Ramy Saleh that she was determined to give back to the MUHC and to sarcoma research.

Together with the MUHC Foundation, Samaneh is raising funds for the $10K annual Sooran Noroozi Sarcoma Research Award, which supports talented young researchers focused on sarcoma. On her late husband’s birthday, Samaneh visited the MUHC Foundation office to present Dr. Joseph Petrucelli with the inaugural award. It was a beautiful moment filled with a myriad of emotions and a collective sense of hope for a future where nobody will go through what Samaneh’s family has experienced.

Importantly, the Sooran Noroozi Sarcoma Research Award stands as a beautiful legacy for little Nika, ensuring that her father’s spirit and impact live on through this incredibly important initiative.

Dr. Petrucelli was incredibly honoured to be the first-ever recipient of the award. His innovative research involves artificial intelligence to improve sarcoma patient outcomes.

“I’m so incredibly blessed and honoured, for this award, but also to be a part of this battle, fighting against this type of cancer. It takes an entire community,” says Dr. Petrucelli.

To help Samaneh honor the memory of her beloved husband, visit https://muhcf.akaraisin.com/ui....