Dianty Needs a Stem Cell Donor to Survive Leukaemia
Dianty (4) is a bright and joyful little girl whose smile can light up any room. Her mother, Claudine, describes her as “always smiling, always friendly. She likes painting, drawing, and playing with clay.” But behind her cheerful demeanor, a life-changing health journey began last year.
“It started with random high fevers and stomach pains,” her Claudine recalls. “I took her to a GP, and he told me something that didn’t make sense, he said her sinus was causing her tummy ache. I knew that wasn’t right, so I took her to a pediatrician.” Initially, the doctor suspected reflux and put Dianty on medication, with plans for further tests if her symptoms didn’t improve.
Within two weeks, new symptoms emerged. Dianty began complaining of leg pain. “Her teacher called me one day, saying she couldn’t walk. I thought maybe she had injured herself at school during an activity, but the teacher confirmed she hadn’t.” Concerned, her mother returned to the doctor, who suggested it was “growing pains” and prescribed pain and fever medication, but something still felt wrong.
As Dianty’s condition worsened, she was finally admitted to the hospital. “We carried her everywhere because she couldn’t walk,” her mother says. Blood tests revealed extremely low bone marrow counts, and she tested positive for COVID-19. Despite this, doctors quickly began investigating the cause. On 26 September 2024, Dianty underwent a biopsy, and the devastating diagnosis came: leukemia. Chemotherapy began immediately.
“The ups and downs were relentless,” her mother explains. “She did well under the circumstances, but when she started maintenance therapy this year, just after her 4th birthday, she relapsed. We had to start treatment over, and it came with many complications.”
Finding a stem cell match has been another hurdle. Dianty’s sister was a partial match, and her parents were only 50% compatible. “The doctors explained transplant from her sister if she was a match would've been her best chance, but she wasn't compatible. She was only 20% match,” her mother says. “The best option is finding a donor from the registry. But despite being hopeful, they haven’t found a match yet.”
This journey has taken an emotional and financial toll on the family. “Our life changed dramatically. It has impacted us financially and emotionally. She has two other sisters who need care. Our whole world was turned upside down. You never think it will happen to you until it does.”
Through all the challenges, Dianty’s resilience shines. “She’s missing her school, her friends, and her sisters, but she’s always smiling. Even though she doesn’t complain, it’s difficult to see her miss out on a normal childhood,” her mother shares.
Her message to the public is urgent and heartfelt:
Remember, all costs related to the donation process are taken care of by DKMS Africa.
