Receiving the gut-wrenching news of a child’s cancer diagnosis is every parent’s worst nightmare. For Arthie Ishwarlal, this nightmare turned into a devastating reality when her two-year-old daughter, Preshthi, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer that strikes at the very core of the body’s vital functions.
Despite undergoing grueling inpatient treatment, hope was short-lived for Preshthi as she recently experienced a relapse. Doctors have delivered a heart-wrenching verdict: her only chance for survival lies in a stem cell transplant from a matching donor. However, the cruel twist of fate reveals a stark truth – there is currently no match for her on the country’s stem cell registry.
As the world commemorates International Childhood Cancer Day on 15 February, Palesa Mokomele, head of community engagement and communications at DKMS Africa, sheds light on the urgent need for stem cell donors to potentially save lives like Preshthi’s.
While the South African registry boasts over 73 000 donors, the grim reality remains – each donor has only a 1 in 100 000 chance of being a match for a blood cancer patient in need.
Need for ethnic stem cell donors is great
Compounding the challenge is the scarcity of Indian donors, as the best chance of a match often arises from within one’s own ethnic group. Preshthi’s plight serves as a poignant reminder that ethnic diversity within donor registries is paramount to increasing the odds of finding suitable matches for patients battling blood cancer.
Mokomele emphasises that Preshthi’s struggle is not isolated. Stem cell transplants offer a glimmer of hope for children grappling with various blood cancers, including lymphomas, where it is often the only treatment avenue offering a chance of cure.
“This is often the only treatment offering children with other blood cancers, like lymphomas, any hope of a cure.”
Palesa Mokomele
Leukaemia and lymphomas rank among the top five most prevalent cancers among South Africa’s youth, with leukaemia alone accounting for a staggering 34% of childhood cancer cases and lymphomas 11%. In light of these sobering statistics, Mokomele urges South Africans aged between 17 and 55, in good general health, to step forward and register as stem cell donors.
The process is simple and entirely free, taking less than five minutes to potentially make a life-changing impact. By registering at DKMS Africa, individuals have the power to offer hope, courage, and a lifeline to children like Preshthi, whose future hangs in the balance. Don’t wait – register today and be the beacon of light in a child’s darkest hour.
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