Help Save Sonja

In 2015, Sonja was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a rare blood disorder. After chemotherapy, she achieved a fragile remission and carried on with her life. Then, in April of this year, the disease returned with a vengeance, evolving into myelofibrosis.

“The pain was unimaginable,” she recalls. Her spleen had swollen to three times its normal size, she lost 20 kilograms, and even eating became impossible. On top of these physical struggles, she fought her medical aid to cover the medication essential for her survival. “It was a massive fight,” she says. But the treatment worked, reducing her spleen’s size and giving her a small window of hope.

A 10/10 donor was identified earlier this year, but the timing wasn’t right for a transplant. By the time her body was ready, the donor was no longer available due to medical reasons. “There’s a 9/10 match in South Africa,” she shares, “but the risk is too high. I can’t afford to take that chance.”

Sonja’s focus now is on finding a new donor while undergoing radiation to shrink her spleen further. Time, however, is running out. “I’m on borrowed time with my medication,” she admits.

Sonja’s message to the world is simple yet profound: “The greatest gift you can give is life. It’s within each of us to make that possible. Donating stem cells isn’t as daunting as people think, and it could save someone like me.”

Act today. Register as a stem cell donor and allow someone to see another sunrise.

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