Good Morning Angels: Giving hope to a young cancer fighter
Updated Nov. 20, 2019, 7:35 a.m. | By Breakfast with Martin Bester
Cancer survivors give hope and assistance to a young cancer fighter.
BACKGROUND: 18-year old Willie van Sittert was supposed to write matric this year - instead he is fighting cancer - Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.
He was diagnosed last year, when his single mom, Lesley, took him to the doctor to check out a lump in his neck.
They thought he had mumps, but the diagnosis was devastating... They are from Stilfontein near Potchefstroom, but Willie is treated in Pretoria.
After months of chemo and radiation, a temporary “clean bill of health” - the cancer was back and Willie needed a bone marrow transplant.
Miraculously, his 24-year old sister, Marisa was a 100% march and in October, Willie had the transplant. The road to ultimate recovery is still a few months long and hopefully Willie will be able to go back to school in April next year.
Willie’s 21-year old cousin, Talisa wrote to Good Morning Angels to ask for assistance for this young, positive, brave fighter and his rock steady mom.
REQUEST FOR: 18-year old Willie van Sittert and mom, Lesley van Sittert
REQUEST FROM: 21-year old Talisa van Sittert, Willie’s cousin
ANGEL: Gerhard van der Westhuizen and Rayno Strauss on behalf of “The Survivors” Golf Day
SPONSORING: Cancer survivors, Gerhard and Rayno will be hosting their fifth annual Survivors Golf Day at Pretoria Country Club this Friday 22 November. They’ve been hosting this day to celebrate their recovery and also to raise funds to help families battling cancer. On behalf of the players and sponsors of the day, they’ve donated R50 000,00 to Lesley and Willie, to help with costs related to his treatment and recovery.
Goeie môre, Good Morning Angels.
Ek is Talisa van Sittert, ek wil graag vra vir julle hulp met 'n donasie vir my nefie, Willie van Sittert. Die volgende is die rede hoekom ek julle hulp vra:
Willie is 18 jaar oud en nog 'n Hoërskool leerling by Klerksdorp Hoërskool en sou dié jaar matrikuleer. Hy is die 17 de Februarie 2019 gediagnoseer met Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma en het van 23 Maart 2019 in Pretoria chemo behandeling ontvang vir 6 maande waar hy moes bly vir die 6 maande. Die volgende behandeling wat hy moes kry, was 'n beenmurg-oorplanting en vir ons dankbaarheid was sy sussie, Marisa Potgieter, vir hom 'n "match” gewees. Hy het die 25 ste Oktober 2019 die oorplanting gehad en moet vir nog 'n hele maand in die hospitaal bly en dan daarna moet hy vir nog 'n 100 dae naby die hospitaal bly indien hy enige mediese hulp nodig sou hê. Hy moet ook in die 100 dae elke Woensdag ingaan vir toetse om seker te maak alles verloop soos dit moet.
Hy het sedert Februarie deur 'n vreeslike emosionele tyd gegaan, maar hy het positief gebly en het die beste ondersteuning van veral sy ma en ouma (Tannie Wendy en haar man Oom Mike) gekry en ook die familie en sy vriende. Die donasie is nodig vir verblyf vir hom en sy ma vir die verdere 100 dae wat hulle in Pretoria moet bly naby die hospitaal, asook vir brandstof waarvan daar al so baie uitgery is tussen Stilfontein en Pretoria-Oos. Willie moet ook 'n spesiale dieet volg vir die behandeling wat hy ontvang en die fondse is nie altyd daar om hierdie alles moontlik te maak nie.
Asb as julle kan help is ek baie seker my nefie se ma (Lesley van Sittert) sal dit baie waardeer. Sy sal enige iets vir haar seun doen en het tot dusver alles in haar vermoë probeer om vir hom alles moontlik te maak, maar die finansiële stremming begin nou rof raak na die afgelope 9 maande.
Talisa van Sittert