Zishan finds life-saving stem cell donor
When Zishan relapsed with leukaemia and needed a bone marrow transplant, a stranger 7 295km away turned out to be the perfect match.
When nine-year-old Zishan Reddy was diagnosed with leukaemia for the second time and needed a bone marrow transplant, his mother Goolshun, family friends, and the Ashton International College community sprang into action in the hopes of finding a donor.
Goolshun issued a heartfelt plea for potential donors to register with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), while Ashton hosted a stem cell donor drive on May 30.
In a show of solidarity, teacher Robyn Daniel also dedicated her June 8 Comrades Marathon run to Zishan’s fight.
While Goolshun says she is “eternally grateful for the support from South Africans”, she never imagined that her son’s match would come from nearly 7 300km away, in India.
“When Dr Kate Bennett shared the news with Zishan, he just threw his hands up in the air and said, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’ I could just see the excitement in his face,” said Goolshun.
“But with all the excitement also comes some anxiety. We are just taking it day by day,” she added.
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“All we know is that the donor is from India, and we are eternally grateful to them for giving so selflessly and being willing to save another life. We are relieved it’s a great match for my little warrior, Zishan.
“We continue to pray the transplant will be an easy and painless journey for him. We trust his strength, courage and fighting spirit will carry him through.”
She extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported them during this journey:
“We are eternally grateful for all the love and support and hope you will continue to help others still waiting for a transplant. Thank you, and God bless, from my family to yours.”
She had special words for her daughter:
“To my daughter Thuraya, thank you for being the best big sister. You are such a strong, beautiful girl, and I am super proud of you. We love you very much.”
She also praised Robyn Daniel for her dedication and continued support:
“A very special thank you to Robyn for her love and support of our family. It is so heart-warming and means so much to us. She has continued to keep in touch with Zishan’s treatment through regular messages. She has a heart full of love and care.”
Zishan recently spent five days at Netcare Unitas Hospital receiving radiation and has since been transferred to the Wits University Donald Gordon Medical Centre, where the next phase of his transplant will begin.
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