Save the lives of children with cancer in Zimbabwe

This year has been one of tremendous growth for Kidzcan. In 2012, Kidzcan provided assistance to 415 children.  It is only the beginning of June, and we have already reached more than 580 children! Many of the newly diagnosed children arriving to Paririenyatwa’s pediatric oncology ward are doing so because of Kidzcan’s education and outreach programme aimed at informing medical professionals and traditional medical practitioners about the early signs and symptoms of childhood cancer, and the services Kidzcan provides.

One of these children is Gerard. He is 4 years old and comes from the high density area of Kadoma, where he lives with his parents. When Gerard began to seem unwell and show signs of a swelling head, his parents brought him to the nearby hospital. They found themselves having to sell personal belongings to pay for the mounting medical bills they couldn’t afford, and yet Gerard’s symptoms continued to worsen.

In desperation, they visited a Pentecostal faith healer to ask him to cure their son. Around this time, this paster attended Kidzcan’s education and outreach workshop held for Traditional Medical Practitioners in Kadoma.

That was in January of this year. 

At the workshop, the paster approached Prosper, Kidzcan’s education and outreach officer who was conducting the workshop. He told him about Gerard, and that after learning about the symptoms of brain cancer, he thought Gerard needed to be sent to Parirenyatwa. It is ground-breaking for a traditional medical practitioner to be open to this conventional intervention.  This is not the first time we have seen this openness and willingness to collaborate to save a child’s life.  It has been an amazing process to experience this first-hand.

Gerard was brought in and admitted onto the neuro-surgical ward - A2.  Initially, doctors suspected that he was suffering with hydrocephalus - a build up of fluid on the brain. But, as a result of diagnostic investigations - paid for by Kidzcan - doctors confirmed that Gerard, in fact, had a brain tumour.

Surgery was performed to remove the tumour, but a small bit was left that could not be removed. Gerard subsequently underwent 3 sessions of radiotherapy to shrink the residual tumor.  He was also given a drug to reduce intercranial pressure. Kidzcan provided this drug, as well as a shunt - a tube that drains the fluids from the brain to reduce pressure. The shunts available at the hospital are only suitable for adults, so parents must purchase their child’s independently, at the prohibitive cost of $200. It is with the help of our amazing donors that Kidzcan is able to provide this support.

And it is through education that more and more children will find their way to the sole pediatric oncology ward in the country. Education, and instinct, empowered one paster to save the life of Gerard. We hope for Gerard that he will grow up healthy and, one day, tell his 4 year old son about the people who worked together to save his life. 

• Early Warning Signs & Symptoms of Childhood Cancer (PDF)
  

Why do I volunteer with Kidzcan?

Kidzcan volunteers play with the children in the hospital playroom every weekday morning. Play is what a child does best, and we find this a valuable tool for distracting them from their illness, loneliness, and pain.  Kidzcan’s group of dedicated volunteers who visit the children to play with them, read to them or lead them in activities are the back-bone of the work that Kidzcan does.

Sally is Kidzcan’s volunteer coordinator. She not only spends time each week playing with children in the ward playroom, but also attends to the needs of our volunteers - liaising with and registering new volunteers, keeping the group in communication, and leading our monthly volunteer meetings. 

Here is her feedback when asked why she volunteers - 

I had spare time on my hands and knew that I would like to be involved with Kidzcan, so offered my services. This has opened up a new world to me. Initially I was concerned that being with such sick children would be difficult. At the same time, I also knew that if in any way I could make their lives just that little bit better then I had to give it a go.

Going into the playroom and being with the children for a couple of hours a week is an incredibly humbling and uplifting experience.  I know it is important that these children get some 'time out' from what is happening to them and are able to participate in activities (whether it be painting, playing card games, playing 'quiet' physical games, singing, etc.) to take their minds off their illnesses. When I see their joy when we play with them, it makes my efforts to facilitate this all worthwhile.

I have always felt that it is important to give something to others, especially to those less fortunate than I am. But I realized it would be a commitment, and unless I was prepared to fully commit myself then I felt I should not offer my services, whatever they may be.   I am also a person who generally feels more comfortable when given specific tasks to do rather than seeing what is needed to be done so in the past have been cautious about offering my services.   

Volunteering at Kidzcan has put me in touch with amazing folk who give so selflessly of their lives/time and for this I am also very grateful.