Lerato Seroke, a fighter of note
“The first time you hear your child has cancer, you think he is going to die. However, you need to accept it, because you have to be strong for them,”
Cancer is not a death sentence, but a journey that requires love, faith, support and even the smallest glimmer of hope.
Lerato Seroke was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in March 2014, when he was eight years old. A mere two months later, his right leg was amputated above the knee to prevent the cancer from spreading.
“The first time you hear your child has cancer, you think he is going to die. However, you need to accept it, because you have to be strong for them,” said Lerato’s mother, Nonkululeko Nyembe.
Looking tenderly at her son, Ms Nyembe said while her heart was filled with sadness after Lerato’s diagnosis, it was important for parents to never give up.
“You need to show them that you love them and go the extra mile. I told Lerato nothing about him has changed and I love him just as much as I did before, but that God has decided to make him even more special.”
David Seroke, Lerato’s father, concurred with his wife, saying it was imperative to stay strong.
“I did not know what to feel after Lerato was diagnosed, but I realised that as a father, I needed to be there for my son and my wife. I needed to be strong so I could encourage Lerato. As a parent, you need to be assured everything will be all right and that there is life after and during cancer. If you as a parent cannot accept it and stress about it, your child will stress about it,” he emphasised.
Lerato is currently in remission, something his parents are ecstatic about.
“What was important for me, was that the doctors saved his life. An amputation is nothing. Lerato could have gone to the store and be involved in an accident and still have lost his leg. Lerato knows the amputation has not changed who he was or is and that his father and I still love him dearly,” Ms Nyembe said.
What truly touched his parents’ hearts was his attitude during his fight against cancer.
‘He was so strong. Lerato actually sent me to his school, so that I could get all his school books and help him learn at home. He told me I helped him so much already, I could easily help teach him,” she laughed.
Now more than a year later, Lerato is every bit of the fighter he was after the shocking news.
“I did not ask for this to happen to me, but it did. I stayed strong because my mom and dad helped me so much. I also kept smiling because I knew everything was going to be okay,” Lerato concluded.
