Nothando Needs a Life-Saving Stem Cell Donor

Earlier this year, Phindile noticed alarming changes in her daughter. “The first time I realized something was wrong, Nothando fainted. When I looked at her eyes, they were white, not pink like they should be,” Phindile recalls. “I immediately knew this was serious.”

Nothando was taken to the hospital, where doctors conducted tests to determine the cause of her sudden illness. On 16 April 2025, she received the diagnosis: severe aplastic anemia. “The doctors told us that Nothando’s bone marrow was no longer producing enough blood cells,” Phindile explains. “It was devastating. I felt helpless and scared for my child.”

The diagnosis has turned the family’s life upside down. “It has been emotionally overwhelming. We never thought this could happen to us, and it’s hard seeing your child so vulnerable,” says Phindile. At this stage, Nothando’s siblings have not been tested for donor compatibility, meaning her best chance now lies in finding a match through a stem cell donor from outside the family.

Nothando’s story is a reminder of the life-saving impact that donors can have. “Somewhere out there, a simple cheek swab could be the key to giving my daughter a second chance at life,” Phindile says. “We need people to register. You could be the one who saves her life.”

You can make a difference today. Register as a stem cell donor and help give Nothando, and children like her, a second chance at life. Every registration matters. Every swab counts.

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