GMA: The brave children beating cancer
In June 2014, our very good friends at Cell C committed to helping to create a "Believe Room" at the Steve Biko Paediatric Oncology Unit. The "Laminar Flow cleanroom" is a space where a recipient of a transplant, like bone marrow, can spend up to 100 days, with a care-giver (like a parent) in isolation. This is to make sure that they are kept away from any germs, while recovering from the transplant and for the body to accept the new bone marrow or organ. Without a facility like this, these life-saving transplants cannot be done.
Cell-C committed some R80 000,00 to the project - and a second room of its kind at the hospital, with COWS contributing a matching amount. Today, this room is launched! It means that up to 6 more children can be helped with these kinds of transplants every year.
Today The Complimentary Breakfast went to go do a live broadcast from the "The Boys' Workshop" room in a morning dedicated to celebrating the launch of the lifesaving rooms of hope at the Steve Biko Paediatric Oncology Unit.
They were joined by various guests throughout the show who have had first experience with this unit. Have a listen to their incredible stories about how their paths crossed with this unit here:
Little Deane's tale of survival
Deane from Amsterdam in Mpumalanga was almost two years old and fighting for her life when we first met her and mom, Colette. She was diagnosed with Leukemia and needed an urgent bone marrow transplant. With the help of our Jacaranda FM listeners, we collected all the funds needed for the transplant, which she had two years ago this time, in the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria. The donor was, as we understood, also a listener who decided to sign up to the bone marrow register. Little Deane is healthy and strong and came to visit us on this special day.
Little brother, big hero
11-year old Mpilonhle (left) and his parents Elliott and Cynthia join The Complimentary Breakfast in the The Boy's Workshop room. Mpilo was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia at the end of 2012. Unathi, his brother, who is but 7-years old was identified as a perfect tissue match and he received a bone marrow transplant in the middle of 2013. Mpilo is now currently well, back at school and thriving.
Prof David Reynders, the man who saves little lives
Prof David Reynders is the head of Pediatric Oncology at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. He has been a savior of children for many years. He also treated little Deané, and 16-year old Ruben from Limpopo, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in March 2011 and spent a great deal of time in one of the isolation rooms.
An angel in the hallway with a message of hope
One of the brave leukaemia fighters here at the Steve Biko Paediatric Oncology Unit. Little 5-year old Andrea just wanted to come say hello to Dianne and share some happy news: she's hoping that today is the day her baby brother arrives!
COWS and Cell-C Believers bring a dream to life
Thank you to these two sponsors for providing the funds to make the "Clean room" a reality. Cell C and COWS teamed up and each donated R80 000,00! Karin Fourie, Cell C Executive Head of Communications and Richard Laskey from COWS join the team to tell them why this unit is so close to their hearts.
About COWS:
The COWS were started in 2008 by a group of 8 friends who wanted to ride a Cycle Challenge, dressed in fancy-dress costumes to raise funds for CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation. Since then, they have gathered momentum and had a herd of over 400 crazy cows at last year’s Challenge.
Today, the COWS remain committed to extending their success throughout South Africa and you can be sure to see the synonymous black and white kit at most running, cycling and swimming events. Find out how you can be a COW by visiting their website – www.thecows.co.za.
On behalf of The Complimentary Breakfast and Good Morning Angels, thank you to the doctors and staff of Steve Biko Paediatric Oncology Unit and to our two sponsors, Cell C and CHOC Cows, who teamed up and each donated R80 000,00 the funds to make the "Clean room" a reality!
And finally, to the little fighters here, thank you for inspiring us with your brave hearts.
