Words no parent wants to hear.

 ‘The treatment has failed. There’s nothing more that can be done’.

These are the chilling words that no parent wants to hear when their child has cancer.

Elsa is one of these children, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

When Elsa (now just 12 years old) was diagnosed, she was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. She was also a perfect candidate for a bone marrow transplant with her 16-year-old sister as the donor. The family’s hopes for Elsa’s full recovery ran high.

 

As one of the compassionate people who cares about our CANSA services like our Tough Living with Cancer (TLC) rooms for children, your kindness has been behind the scenes in Elsa’s cancer journey.

 

It was in the TLC rooms that Elsa and her mom were accommodated and cared for during themonth of her radiation treatment.

 

And when the time came for Elsa’s stem cell transplant, generosity like yours – and donations made online here – meant that we could supply both the donor and the recipient blood transfusion lines.

 

Support for Elsa and her family continued during her isolation period until we could welcome them back to Tygerberg Hospital for the monthly check-ups.

 

Things were going really well . . . until Elsa was rushed to hospital after a weekend of loss of appetite and vomiting.

Elsa had relapsed!

 

Two weeks on antibiotics and more chemotherapy followed. But sadly, the treatment was unsuccessful, resulting in those chilling words that no parent wants to hear.

 

Elsa has now been referred to our TLC programme at Tygerberg Hospital. Here she’s receiving palliative care which is about ensuring that patients live with the highest possible quality of life, for as long as possible.

 

Your kindness and gifts made online here also allow us to give the family food support.

 

Anthea Lewis, our TLC Co-ordinator, reports how Elsa still shares her beautiful smile and is always ready to give a hug. The bond that’s grown between the two allows Elsa to ask hard questions of Anthea – like “Am I also going to die? Because I really miss my friends”.

 

There’s a precious sisterhood and brotherhood that exists between young children and teenagers fighting cancer. And the friends Elsa misses are Marie-Lee and Abranecia – two brave little warriors who lost their battle with cancer.

 

We don’t know how long Elsa has left.

But we’re committed to keeping her as

comfortable and happy as possible for

every moment of that time, as well as

giving her family much needed support.

 

And this is why we’re hoping that you’ll give another donation, by clicking here right now.

 

We thank you, most sincerely, for all your heartfelt generosity, and wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful festive season.

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