‘We just have to hope’
The couple's lives now revolve around Macayla's treatment, which started shortly after she was diagnosed.
Having your child fall ill with a life-threatening disease can only be described as a parent’s worst nightmare.
Add the stresses and hardships of a global pandemic and the impact is twofold.
For one Brakpan couple, this terror is their reality after their daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoma leukemia.
After months of being ill, three-year-old Macayla Coetzee was diagnosed with this type of cancer in December.
While relieved to have answers about their daughter’s condition, the diagnosis has been devastating for her parents, Daniel Coetzee and Tarryn Hurter.
The family lives in a flat along Prince George Avenue.
Explaining the onset of Macayla’s symptoms, Tarryn (33) told the Herald her daughter first became sick in October.
“She was very pale, had flu-like symptoms and would run very high fevers,” she said.
“We were told she had everything from flu to pneumonia. At one stage, we were told to have her tested for Covid.”
Medication would help Macayla improve, but she would soon fall ill again.
“Her skin became blotchy after taking her to a park one day and I thought it was maybe a reaction from playing outside on the grass,” said Tarryn.
Leukemia sufferers are prone to a range of skin-related problems, including rashes and bruising.
When Macayla’s health declined again, she was referred to the Pholosong Hospital in Tsakani.
“I was told it might be tonsillitis and should take her to the hospital,” said Tarryn.
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“She had swollen glands and they did all sorts of tests. It was there we were told she probably has cancer.”
The family was referred to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Parktown and Macayla was admitted on December 1.
After tests, she was diagnosed with leukemia the following day.
This type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow affects white blood cells and hinders the body’s ability to fight infection.
“It has been tough, but we’ve just got to hope,” said Tarryn.
“There are good and bad days.”
The couple’s lives now revolve around Macayla’s treatment, which started shortly after she was diagnosed.
A port has been inserted into her chest and she is undergoing a six-month course of chemotherapy.
This is the second phase of her treatment and has resulted in hair loss.
She’s also had three blood transfusions and a blood platelet transfusion.
Her treatment plan is a three-year programme.
The first phase of her treatment, which was a month long, included bone marrow tests, as well as chemotherapy.
“The first six months are very intense and now during the second phase of treatment we are at the hospital Monday to Friday,” said Tarryn.
This has impacted on the family’s finances as Tarryn, who works at a local fishing supply store, is now only able to work over weekends.
Daniel (35) works night shift as a security guard in Anzac.
Tarryn’s mom, Felicity, who is a pensioner, lives with them and helps look after Tarryn’s son, Donavan (12).
The petrol and parking fees required for the daily trips to the hospital have added to the family’s expenses.
“I get up in the morning at around 4am and get ready for when Daniel gets home at 5.15am and then we get into the car and drive to Joburg,” said Tarryn.
“Macayla often sleeps in the car and when we get to the hospital, Daniel sleeps.
“Somedays we are done by about 9am or 10am, while other days it can be as late as 1pm depending on whether the doctor wants to do additional tests. We just sit and wait.”
Macayla is involved with her treatment and helps administer the medicine through the port.
“They explained to her that she has a ‘gogga’ and the medicine will help her,” said Tarryn.
In addition to losing her hair, Macayla suffers other side-effects such as mouth sores and stomach cramps.
“After she was initially hospitalised, she battled to walk and there was a time when her whole body was just so sore that you couldn’t touch her,” said Tarryn.
“She is not allowed any over-the-counter medication and is only allowed Panado for pain relief,” said Tarryn.
“Some days she just cries, while other days she is her usual self and is all over the place.”
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Tarryn described her daughter as a daddy’s girl who loves music, playing with blocks and who misses being at crèche.
“She is not allowed to go to crèche because of her immune system and when she hears the children playing outside, she just wants to go out,” she said.
Tarryn praised the Pholosong Hospital and told the Herald staff at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital have been very helpful.
She extended a thanks to her employers, Adel and Bokkie Meyer, and to Belinda Coetzer from Little Minions Daycare for their support.
As for Macayla’s prognosis, Tarryn stated they will only have answers after the six-month course is complete.
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