Celebrating life by giving back

Cancer has brought tears in many families and deprived some people of their loved ones.

A Linden resident Naz Abib, lost her wife Lihandra Lee Ihlenfeldt, to cancer on 16 December last year.

In celebration of Ihlenfeldt’s life, Abib hosted an event at the Firlands Salvation Army in Linden where she treated the children to lunch, goodie bags and face painting.

“The point of doing this event is to remember Lihandra and carry on her legacy, but also [for] me [to] give back to the children and offer my time to those who aren’t used to getting much as they can’t afford to be treated like most children on a daily basis,” Abib said.

“I may not be a registered charity but what I do is with my own funds and from the bottom of my heart and it’s something that I have started in her name and memory and wish to continue with other children’s homes in the future,”Abib added.

According to Abib, Ihlenfeldt was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome – which occurs when the immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system – after three sessions of chemotherapy for a sarcoma cancer recurrence.

Abib said the syndrome left her wife paralysed from the waist down.

“The doctors lost hope and told us to spend as much time with her as possible, as June 2013 could be the last time she would be alive and that she was critical and could pass away at any time.”

Abib remains grateful for the six months she spent with Ihlenfeldt as they are memories she will hold in for as long as she lives.

“I lost my spouse, my best friend, my world and still this day nothing amounts to this pain and this is a pain which will never go away.”

The event ended with 40 helium balloons being released into the sky, in memory of Ihlenfeldt.

Details: Naz Abib 011 501 200, www.firlandschildrenshome.org.za