Help for Tabita
Donation protected
On behalf of my little 3 year old niece, Tabita Vermaak, I am reaching out to Australia and beyond.
Tabita, once a healthy, energetic toddler, was unexpectedly diagnosed in June of this year with Nephroblastoma (a cancerous tumour on her kidney). Her hometown is Somerset West, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. The tumour grew to the point that it was restricting movement through her colon causing her to be unable to keep any food down. Her parents - my youngest sister, Michelle, and her husband, Gerrie - were in and out of emergency until a week later the diagnosis was made. Before this she was a bubbly, busy, happy, healthy toddler with no signs of illness.
After 4 weeks of chemo treatments her kidney was removed on the 8th of August, 2016. When the pathologists examined the tumour they found very aggressive cells leading to the doctor's decision to place her on 6 months of chemo with 5 heavy doses spread amongst the weekly lighter doses. As a three year old her little body is struggling with the side effects, there is a limit to how much she will drink and eat while feeling nauseous from the treatments. Her mouth is also full of ulcers giving more reason to refuse any food or drink.
I'm appealing to you to help Tabita and her family. Mom Michelle and Dad Gerrie had been preparing earlier this year to go to Madagascar as missionaries when Tabita was diagnosed. Gerrie has some part time work in Somerset West as a talented handyman, and their family (including the older 2 homeschooled girls) are living in a one bedroom flat. They are struggling through this ordeal in many ways. Life in South Africa is tough on a regular day, but added to this the burden of extra financial needs, time for hospital travel and treatments, and attempting to hold onto a form of normality, is a big feat.
Being under 7 years of age, Tabita is given free treatment at the Tygerberg hospital. She has excellent doctors attending her, and God’s hand has been seen all the way through from diagnosis to surgery to current treatment. Tabita is taking some extra nutritional supplements and essential oils (approved by her doctors) which have allowed her to somewhat maintain her energy levels and stand out as a shining light amongst the other sick kids in the Pediatric Oncology ward. Her doctors are amazed at her tenacity and determination, always smiling. Some days she even ‘helps’ give her own injections.
Some family and friends have given donations from Australia where we are living, but the day to day costs of their situation is more than what the donations have been able to cover. Please consider donating to help this family in their time of need as Tabita still has at least 3 - 4 months of chemo treatment left. The financial relief for Michelle and Gerrie will be appreciated as well as any words of encouragement and especially your prayers. Please help to keep the beautiful smile on Tabita's face.
The funds donated will be used towards:
- maintaining her supplement regime,
- petrol for hospital visits,
- supplements to keep the family healthy during this time of extreme stress,
- and some regular day-to-day expenses due to loss of work time for Gerrie.
Thank you and God bless.
Mandy
Tabita, once a healthy, energetic toddler, was unexpectedly diagnosed in June of this year with Nephroblastoma (a cancerous tumour on her kidney). Her hometown is Somerset West, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. The tumour grew to the point that it was restricting movement through her colon causing her to be unable to keep any food down. Her parents - my youngest sister, Michelle, and her husband, Gerrie - were in and out of emergency until a week later the diagnosis was made. Before this she was a bubbly, busy, happy, healthy toddler with no signs of illness.
After 4 weeks of chemo treatments her kidney was removed on the 8th of August, 2016. When the pathologists examined the tumour they found very aggressive cells leading to the doctor's decision to place her on 6 months of chemo with 5 heavy doses spread amongst the weekly lighter doses. As a three year old her little body is struggling with the side effects, there is a limit to how much she will drink and eat while feeling nauseous from the treatments. Her mouth is also full of ulcers giving more reason to refuse any food or drink.
I'm appealing to you to help Tabita and her family. Mom Michelle and Dad Gerrie had been preparing earlier this year to go to Madagascar as missionaries when Tabita was diagnosed. Gerrie has some part time work in Somerset West as a talented handyman, and their family (including the older 2 homeschooled girls) are living in a one bedroom flat. They are struggling through this ordeal in many ways. Life in South Africa is tough on a regular day, but added to this the burden of extra financial needs, time for hospital travel and treatments, and attempting to hold onto a form of normality, is a big feat.
Being under 7 years of age, Tabita is given free treatment at the Tygerberg hospital. She has excellent doctors attending her, and God’s hand has been seen all the way through from diagnosis to surgery to current treatment. Tabita is taking some extra nutritional supplements and essential oils (approved by her doctors) which have allowed her to somewhat maintain her energy levels and stand out as a shining light amongst the other sick kids in the Pediatric Oncology ward. Her doctors are amazed at her tenacity and determination, always smiling. Some days she even ‘helps’ give her own injections.
Some family and friends have given donations from Australia where we are living, but the day to day costs of their situation is more than what the donations have been able to cover. Please consider donating to help this family in their time of need as Tabita still has at least 3 - 4 months of chemo treatment left. The financial relief for Michelle and Gerrie will be appreciated as well as any words of encouragement and especially your prayers. Please help to keep the beautiful smile on Tabita's face.
The funds donated will be used towards:
- maintaining her supplement regime,
- petrol for hospital visits,
- supplements to keep the family healthy during this time of extreme stress,
- and some regular day-to-day expenses due to loss of work time for Gerrie.
Thank you and God bless.
Mandy
Organizer
Digby Mandy King-Adams
Organizer
Cooranbong, NSW