Let's get Disa well again!

Hello dearest supporters!

We are launching this fundraiser on behalf of our friend Disa Duminy to help her fight against a rare liver cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) that is trying its hardest to take her life. Disa is a fighter; we want to help her in that fight.

Those who know Disa well will know that her universe orientates around her boys. She has done a fantastic job; she homeschooled both Luc and Marc, both of whom are developing into balanced, intelligent and self-driven young men. Now she needs our help, which means that she needs our help to get treatments that will give her the chance to beat this disease!

Unfortunately, the location of the cancer and its proximity to blood vessels meant that the tumour is inoperable, leaving Disa no option but to turn to chemotherapy. After two rounds, it became clear that the chemical toxins were taking their toll, and the treatment offered little in solving things. Hope was fading.

That is when we discovered that new cancer treatments, ones that offer greater hopes for healing, are being developed and showing significant promise in their trials, such as immunotherapy. Presently, the tumor can hide from the body’s natural immune system, as a natural growth within the body. Immunotherapy works by adding chemical flags onto the tumor surface, alerting her immune system to the presence of the tumor, so that her own guardian cells can attack and destroy it.

In the meantime, the cancerous mass is causing a blockage that requires a stent (a special pumpable valve) to drain the abdominal fluid, which makes digestion and weight gain an issue. In short, treatment needs to begin as soon as possible.

Living in South Africa means that Disa is at the mercy of her health insurance regarding the treatments they will cover. Unfortunately, they do not cover immunotherapy, and the family will have to pay the costs of this treatment. She is looking at an approx £20, 000 bill. We want to fundraise these costs to give Disa and her family a chance to get through this treatment and remain financially afloat. Johan, Disa’s husband, used to go for a couple of months to the UK to try to earn more funds but this obviously cannot be an option now that he is needed at home. Hence we are turning to this fundraising action.

This is Disa’s last chance to be the mother she wants to be for her boys. Join us. Let’s raise the money to get her well!