The Steenkamp family from Luipaardsvlei is appealing to the community for support as they care for their 87-year-old grandmother, Susan, who has been diagnosed with stage four lymphoma.

According to her granddaughter, Chantel, Susan has been battling cancer for more than a year. The diagnosis has placed emotional and financial strain on the family as they work to ensure she receives the care and treatment she needs.

Susan was initially admitted to Helen Joseph Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she would require ongoing medical care. However, the family says the costs associated with treatment, transport and daily care have become increasingly difficult to manage.

“The doctors confirmed that her age also makes it very difficult to determine what measures can be taken without making her illness worse,” said Chantel.

The family said Susan’s condition has affected her health significantly. She has experienced swelling in her neck, recurring fevers and noticeable weight loss over the past six months.

Without medical aid, the family relies primarily on public healthcare facilities. In addition to medical expenses, they are also facing costs related to transport, food and essential care items.

To help ease the financial burden, the family recently launched a BackaBuddy fundraising campaign.

“At this moment, we don’t know the exact costs yet. We are still waiting for results following her radiation treatment and we don’t know whether she will require surgery. Until then, we want to raise as much money as possible to help her,” Chantel explained.

The family hopes the campaign will assist them in covering Susan’s ongoing medical and care-related expenses while she continues her fight against cancer.

Those wishing to support the Steenkamp family can do so through their BackaBuddy campaign.