Help Class Captain Zoe Find Her Match

Eight-year-old Zoe needs a matching stem cell donor

Zobuhle, affectionately known as Zoe, went from being a confident class captain who loved school to facing an aggressive form of blood cancer after weeks of fevers and headaches. Now, she faces intensive treatment and needs a matching stem cell donor to help her get back to the life she loves.

School was a big part of Zoe’s life. Outgoing, confident and naturally social, she loved being around people and was proud to be her class captain. But then Zoe started getting sick more often.

At first, her family thought it was an infection. She was taken to private doctors and prescribed antibiotics and other medication. At times, she seemed to improve, but the symptoms kept returning.

“We kept thinking it was an infection, but it just wasn't getting better. Something was not right,” says her mother, Ubokeng.

Then her symptoms became more severe. Zoe developed persistent fevers, worsening headaches and began losing weight. Her stomach became increasingly swollen, and one of her eyes started to protrude.

By April this year, Zoe could no longer attend school as she normally did. Concerned by the weeks of symptoms, Ubokeng took Zoe to a paediatrician, who ordered further tests, where then the family was then told that Zoe would need to be admitted to hospital for a bone marrow biopsy.

The results brought an answer no parent expects.

Zoe was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL), an aggressive form of blood cancer that affects the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells.

“It was very difficult to hear that your child has cancer. You never expect to hear something like that about your own child.”

For Ubokeng, one of the hardest parts has been watching her daughter miss the life she loves.

Today, Zoe is undergoing intensive treatment and finding a matching donor could give her the chance to return to the life she loves.

By registering as a potential stem cell donor, you could become Zoe’s match and give this young class captain hope for what comes next.

Register as a stem cell donor and help give patients like Zobuhle hope for a second chance at life. You could be the match someone is waiting for.

Remember, all costs related to the donation process are taken care of by DKMS Africa.

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