Young cancer victim seeks helping hand

The family of a 11-year-old girl diagnosed with stage 4 cancer has started a campaign to spread awareness and to help fund her treatment.

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Cape Town - The family of a young girl diagnosed with stage 4 cancer has started a campaign to spread awareness about young children living with the disease and to help fund her treatment so she can get back to what she loves most - school.

Naaziyah Manuel, who was diagnosed with cancer two months ago, has not been in school this year.

“Naaziyah was always up so early, ready to leave for school before any of us. She loved going to school, seeing her friends and learning new things,” her mother, Zureena Manuel, said on Wednesday.

Naaziyah is a typical 11-year-old girl. She loves dressing up, playing games and making new friends.

But last year, her life took a drastic turn when doctors discovered a 2.8kg tumour on one of her ovaries.

While they were able to remove the tumour safely, it had released cancerous cells into her blood and in February she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

“There are many tiny tumours in her abdomen and one bigger one on her spleen,” said Manuel.

Naaziyah is about to undergo her fourth and final round of chemotherapy, after which her doctors at Red Cross Children’s Hospital hope to be able to remove the largest of her tumours.

If the chemotherapy hasn’t proved effective enough for the operation, she will have to undergo six more sessions.

Despite her gruelling treatment and missing her friends at school, Naaziyah’s spirits have remained high.

“She has up and down days, but she is dealing with it so well. I think it’s because we tried to prepare her as best we could. We sat her down and told her about the chemo and how she would lose her hair and feel sick. So I think it helped her to adjust,” she said.

Manuel says that one of the most difficult things about the sickness for her daughter has been missing school and her friends.

“She loves school and she doesn’t want to repeat any grades. She even wants to do the schoolwork her friends are doing, but from home,” she said.

As her daughter’s treatment progressed, the family’s medical bills have slowly started to pile up.

“I have hospital bills coming out of my ears,” said Manuel.

The struggle to keep up financially, as well as all the lessons about living with the disease that the family has learnt, prompted Manuel to start a crowdfunding campaign.

“Above the finances, I also want to spread awareness of what it’s like when your child gets sick. I have learnt so much and I hope that what I have learnt can reach other parents and children living with a similar situation,” she said.

- To help Naaziyah, see banking details: Capitec Bank. Account number: 353239207. Branch code: 470010.

iman.latief@inl.co.za

Cape Argus