GMA and Miss World help save little Anke's life

Request from:

Charlene Fouché

  

Request for:

Anke Jansen van Vuuren

 

Angel:

Rolene Strauss, Miss South Africa/Miss World 2014 

 

Sponsoring:

Rolene donated R25 000,00 from her Miss SA fund for "Random acts of kindness" towards the costs of Anke's medical treatment  

 

Background:

Baby Anke Jansen van Vuuren is 18 months old and fighting for her life. At the age of 10 months, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She has already spent many months in hospital and received three rounds of chemo. Her mom, Elaine had to resign from her job to be by Anke's side 24/7, which has left the family with an enormous financial burden, even though they have a medical aid. And then, there is the stem cell transplant ... Read more on Facebook “Anke’s Graceful Journey”.

 

Original request:

Goeiedag,
 
My naam is Charlene Fouché en ek stuur die e-pos, omdat my vriendin (Elaine) se baba dogtertjie (sy was in April 1 jaar oud), baie siek is met Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. Ek glo klein Anke en haar ouers, het al die hulp en bystand nodig, wat hulle kan kry.  En hierdie is al wat ek kan doen om te help.
 
Hieronder is ‘n dokument wat haar Ma getik het. Daar is ‘n facebook blad ook vir haar – Anke’s Graceful Journey.
Ek hoop julle sal kan help, op enige manier.
 
Haar Ma, Elaine, werk nie op die oomblik nie, so, hulle het regtig finansiële hulp nodig om vir Anke se mediese kostes te betaal en ek glo ook vir persoonlike uitgawes om die huishouding te laat hardloop.
 
Baie dankie!!
Charlene Fouché

 

YOU CAN HELP:
 

Banking details: E Botha
Standardbank Brits
Branch code: 052546
Savingsaccount: 037187678

Reference: Please use your company name or your name and surname
 

“Anke’s Graceful Journey”

 

Anke Jansen van Vuuren was born on 16 April 2013 as a healthy baby girl.
 
At 10 months, Anke was diagnosed with tonsillitis, a month later; she developed a high fever and started to vomit excessively. We went from the one doctor to the other to get answers. Eventually, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to hospital where she spent a week. It was not a nice experience, they struggle to get proper veins to put in a drip for Anke, and she had several drips that week. It was a terrifying experience to stand outside the treatment room and hear your child scream with pain as they tried to put needles in her for the drip. At the end of the day with no luck to find the proper veins the doctor gave her oral antibiotics instead. During this visit to hospital, we celebrated her first birth day. It broke my heart; I just wanted to give her a happy first birthday with friends and family. She just started to learn to walk, but with the trauma she went through she started crawling again.

 
After two weeks at home, her health deteriorated and she was eventually diagnosed with a bladder infection. Following numerous tests the doctor raised concerns over her high infection count and on 15 May 2014, a month after her previous hospital visit, admitted Anke to hospital once again. I was devastated as I didn’t want her to go through the same pain with the needles again.

A series of blood tests were performed on Saturday 17 May 2014, largely to determine if Anke’s medication was effective. Later that same morning, the doctor ordered more extensive blood tests. Our concern grew in multiples. I refused further tests until we understood the reason for these tests and the potential concerns the doctors might have. I was informed that the doctors were extremely concerned over Anke’s health and I allow them to do the third blood test.

 
Shortly after the results of the blood test, I received a call from the doctor, confirming our worst nightmare. Our daughter was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and that an Oncologist will come and see us the next day. I immediately informed my husband, he was devastated! This was the worst moment of our lives!

With the help of the nurses, we spent the entire night reviewing the results of the blood tests in the hope to find a mistake. Anke’s school teacher was also there for support. We were unsuccessful and the following day, the Oncologist confirmed the diagnosis. We were thankful that our parents were with us when we got the final news.

Although financially we could not afford it, I resigned from my job in order to take care of Anke on a full time basis. It wasn’t long before reality struck, trying to make ends meet on a single income with mounting expenses and medical bills. Everyday expenses became financial burdens.

 
During the ensuing days, numerous visits to the operating theatre and various tests followed, including bone marrow tests and the insertion of a portacath, through which the chemotherapy could be administered.

By Wednesday 21 May 2014, Anke started her first chemo treatment and ended up spending a month in hospital. She was not allowed any visitors and was in isolation in ICU for most of her time in hospital. Support from friends and family carried us through this time.

 
Following this first chemo treatment and while still in hospital, Anke experienced all of the devastating side effects and a tube was inserted through her nose to administer food and fluids. Her blood counts were very low and she often required emergency blood. She lost significant muscle mass and weight and her complexion became greyish.

After about 3 weeks, she started losing her hair. At this stage, my husband and I, together with friends and family decided to shave our heads as a gesture of our love and support for her. We experienced a plethora of emotions and the real meaning of life and how a parent’s love for a child conquers all.

 
On 13 June 2014, we were allowed to take Anke home. This was a small victory in a long process still ahead, thankful not to be close to needles and other medical equipment for the moment. Only order; no visitors due to her high risk of infection. .

 
During her time at home, she started eating and drinking normally again.

 
On 23 June 2014 she started her second chemo treatment, a 56 day program, where she would get chemo treatment every 8th day for 24 hours administered in hospital, followed by 4 days of intravenous chemo at home. Only on 1 July 2014, her doctor allowed a visit from Anke’s grandparents. This was a great moment for both Anke and her grandparents and we had a wonderful weekend.

 
Anke unexpectedly developed a high fever during chemo treatment and underwent further tests to determine the cause. The doctors decided to remove the portacath and as a result her chemo was to be administered intravenous. This delayed her treatment with two weeks. She also got blood and platelets again during this time and they used head veins as her little body don’t have proper veins.

 
Anke had the last of her second session of chemotherapy on 26 August 2014 and is getting chemo tablets for 6 days until 1 September 2014 and over weekends she gets antibiotics to prevent infections. During this time Anke did start to walk.

 
Anke is again scheduled for theatre on 11 September 2014 for a Broviac line to be inserted for her next session of chemo treatments.

 
On 15 September 2014 Anke will start her 3rd session of intensive chemotherapy scheduled to last 5 days in hospital.

 
With this letter we are requesting your consideration to ride or donate for the cause “ Anke’s Graceful Journey”. The funds to be raised will be to cover:

 
1. The shortfall between our single income and our monthly expenses of approximately R12 000 a month;
2. Uncovered hospital bills currently running at between R1000 and R1500 a month; and
3. A stem cell transplant.
 

We have created a facebook page for Anke; “Anke’s Graceful Journey”. We encourage you to visit her page and follow her path to a healthy little girl.

 
Contact person: Elaine Jansen van Vuuren [email protected]