Save the lives of children with cancer in Zimbabwe

Words from a Father about his son: 

 He is 3 years old. He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2012. He had been ill for sometime. He was losing weight and wasting. He deteriorated so fast that my wife and I did not know what was going on. We went to Hospital to seek treatment, and for 3 months they thought the child was suffering from Kwashiorkor (malnutrition). We did not believe that, because we had been feeding him well. Then one day we observed that he was swollen.   At the hospital they thought the child had a broken bone. His condition began to get worse, and then we were referred to Mpilo Hospital. At that time he was so thin, he could not talk, eat, play or bend. We were emotionally drained. Even his siblings were no longer happy; they could not play with him. He was spending time with his mother and crying all the time. He was not talking either, so it was really difficult for us to know what was going on. We spent more and more time crying and wondering what was wrong. The whole family was stressed. We didn’t believe the diagnosis of kwashiorkor. When the swelling showed up, we got even more puzzled as we had never seen that before. The thought that he has a broken bone was also not making sense because we had not seen him falling as he was not even playing with anyone except crying and lingering around his mother.

 When we were referred to Mpilo Hospital, we did not have the money for transport, consultation fees and accommodation. I left formal employment a year ago due to the child’s illness so l could help my wife who was pregnant then. I rely on piece jobs now. We had to wait for the day the hospital ambulance was going to Bulawayo. We stayed for abouta week before we could go to Mpilo. When we got there, we stayed for two weeks then a doctor referred us to Parirenyatwa Hospital. It was on the 26th of October 2012. But again there was no transport to take us to Harare, so I had to leave the child at Mpilo Hospital with his mother and go back to Tsholotsho to look for money. 

 On my way back, I was told that the child had been ferried by an ambulance that was going to Harare via Gweru, so I followed. He was first seen in Parirenyatwa on the 28th of October. I did not know anything about Kidzcan at that time. Even when the doctor said we should go to Parirenyatwa, he did not mention anything about Kidzcan.

 Kidzcan has been a lifesaver for my child. As you can see him now, he can play, talk and bend. I came with him alone, I don’t need his mother close-by now. He is much better. I can say he is well because he was bedridden when he first set foot here in this ward. I am very grateful for their support. They supported us with scans, transport, food supplies, blood and medicines. This has changed our life. 

 We come here once a month. The transport money they give us is helpful because it would be difficult for me to raise that every month. Here in Harare, I do not have relatives, so when I arrive, I stay here in the hospital until my boy is seen, then we wait for his medicines which arrives 24 to 36 hours after they book for us. 

When I look at everything that Kidzcan has done for my family and I, I am happy.  Their help is adequate for now. What can I say? Maybe if they could assist with child’s diet. It is hard to comply with given where I come from. My boy has not been in any pain ever since he started his medications. The most important thing for me now is that he is well and not in pain. 

Kidzcan has given life to my son, I am grateful. I hope their support will always be there to save lives of many other children.

To our family of Kidzcan supporters spread all over the world, 2013 has been a year of year of tremendous growth and success.  You gave us, through your donations, time, support and prayers, the tools to make this happen.  

And because of this, we continue to work to ensure all children in Zimbabwe are given the right to the fight to survive childhood cancer. 

Here’s where we are at from January to December 11, 2013:

443 total children received assistance.

359 total children were newly diagnosed. (This number exceeds the number of children we assisted last year in total - amazing!)

152 total children underwent and received support for various and numerous laboratory tests.

202 total children received chemotherapy and related medications.

168 total children underwent and received support for various and numerous diagnostic tests.

71 total children were supported with multiple blood and blood products.

107 total children received transport assistance to support them to return to A4 Special Ward for each of their chemotherapy treatments and other required follow-up tests.

More than 1,200 medical practitioners were educated by Kidzcan about the early signs and symptoms of childhood cancer.  We have reached into all provinces and will begin in January to each out to district level practitioners.  There are 59 districts in the country, and after we reach all districts, we will continue to spread the information on into the 1,200 municipal wards.

Know that every one of your contributions is gratefully appreciated.  Your support is translated into the giving of hope to families who ordinarily would not have this real chance for their child to survive cancer.

 God Bless and Merry Christmas from,

Andrea Whatman, all our volunteers and staff, and especially the kids.

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