Bearing the scars of an aggressive form of lymphoma, Lesego Shaweni has emerged from one of the toughest battles of her life with a renewed appreciation for life, family and the sport she loves.

The 33-year-old teacher and mini-cricket coach shared her cancer journey with KFC mini-cricket volunteer coaches at Willowmoore Park on August 14, leaving many in the room emotional as she recalled the moment her seemingly healthy life was turned upside down.

Shaweni, of Wattville, had always considered herself a healthy and active person. She went to the gym, ate well, did not smoke or drink and only occasionally visited her general practitioner.

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But in September last year, everything changed.

“I first discovered that I was sick last year, at the end of September, and then I started my chemotherapy on October 7,” she said.

Shaweni had experienced body soreness for about a week before visiting her doctor. Blood tests were conducted, but when the results came back positive, her GP asked her to undergo another test.

“I said, ‘What’s wrong, doctor? Is it HIV?’ Everyone is scared of HIV. Then the doctor said, ‘No, let’s do it again.’”

When the second test produced the same result, Shaweni was referred to an oncologist at Glynnwood Hospital, who confirmed that she had lymphoma and explained that she would need to begin chemotherapy.

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The diagnosis was accompanied by the emotional weight of knowing that her life, and that of her two children, was about to change.

Doctors referred her to a psychologist and social worker to help her and her family prepare for the difficult journey ahead.

Chemotherapy started soon afterwards, with treatment every Friday.

The effects were devastating for the single mother.

“After chemo on Fridays, I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t speak. I slept on Friday and woke up Sunday,” she said.

With her children aged 14 and seven, Shaweni had to teach them to become more independent, including preparing their own meals when she was too weak to do it herself.

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The financial burden also compounded her difficulties, as her medical aid covered only part of the treatment.

Yet, even while undergoing chemotherapy, Shaweni refused to completely step away from the sport that had become an important part of her life.

Believed cancer would claim her life

A teacher at Lesabe Primary School in Wattville, where she teaches English to Grades six and seven as well as Creative Arts, she is also passionate about developing cricket among young learners.

Mini-cricket became more than just a sporting activity. It became a source of hope.

She remembers attending a festival in November despite already being on chemotherapy and knowing that she would struggle to stand for long periods.

“I forced myself to be there. Even my kids encouraged me when they saw me in the field. So without me, they’ll never play,” she said.

“It actually calmed me down. It gave me hope.”

Behind the determination, however, was a woman battling fear.

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Shaweni admitted that in November she reached a point where she believed the cancer would claim her life.

“I actually gave up. I told myself, ‘This thing is definitely going to kill me. I’m definitely going to die,’” she said.

She worried about her children growing up without their mother and about the learners at school losing their teacher.

Her chemotherapy journey eventually came to an end on March 21. She spent a month in hospital and was discharged towards the end of March.

Although the treatment left some lasting effects on her body, Shaweni said she has felt considerably better since completing chemotherapy.

She remains on medication and undergoes regular blood tests as doctors continue monitoring her condition for the next 12 months because of the possibility of the cancer returning.

A source of encouragement

Despite everything she endured, Shaweni now looks back at her journey with pride.

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“At first, I thought, ‘No, I’m going to die.’ You can’t just tell a person that they have blood cancer, and then they survive,” she said.

“But only to find out that the doctor said, ‘No, your stage is not as bad. You’re still in the early stages, so we can fix it with chemo and some medication.’”

The battle also affected her confidence. The physical changes brought by treatment, including losing teeth, changes to her skin and weight fluctuations, left her struggling with her self-esteem.

Through it all, her children remained a source of encouragement.

“They reminded me all the time, ‘Mommy, we love you. You’re going to be fine,’” she said.