International bone marrow donor is Barry’s only hope

For the past five years Krugersdorp resident Barry van der Merwe (44) has fought chronic myeloid leukemia with chemotherapy.

Now facing a more aggressive form of the cancer known as lymphoblastic leukemia, he is down to one option in his arsenal: a bone-marrow transplant.

Fighting to stay alive, however, is only one of the challenges Barry has to face.

Waiting for a suitable donor and then having to cover the high costs of a transplant also stare him in the face daily.

According to Barry’s mother Vi van der Merwe the family’s biggest concern at this stage is that the South African Bone Marrow Registry has not been able to find a match for her son and that the search for a suitable donor has been extended internationally.

“We hope and pray every day that a donor, from any country, steps up soon,” she says.

She goes on to explain that while expenses have been covered by his medical aid up to now, it will not be covered if an international donor was to be found.

“We were told that Barry would have to pay an amount of R390 000 from his own pocket,” says Vi.

When one spends time with Barry the cancer patient – as he his labelled in a medical file – he seems unaffected by his challenges.

Despite suffering a skiing accident in 1988 in which he lost permanent use of his right arm and brought an end to his international sporting career, he adapted a winning attitude and started a career as a skier for the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation for disabled skiers.

Soon he began to rake in the medals and won gold for South Africa in 2007 and silver medals in 2005, 2009 and 2011.

It is clear that he approaches his medical condition with the same victorious mindset and stays hopeful that a donor will knock on his door soon.

For further information or to assist Barry contact 081 492 8270.