Anika Benade – A tale of hope

IMAGINE, if you will, a life plagued by constant fear of infection or illness.

Imagine living through that fear at a time in Vryheid where unsafe water flows from the taps and the risk of infection is greatly increased. This is a constant concern for young Anika Benade, who first featured in the Vryheid Herald in February 2015, and for her family, who will stop at nothing to ensure a normal and healthy life for their little girl.

Since Anika was first diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a dreaded blood  cancer, which starts from the white blood cells in bone marrow and can spread to other organs such as the liver, spleen and nervous system, this little fighter has braved her illness, going through more than most people several times her age could possibly imagine dealing with, and the medical bills have reached mammoth proportions, far exceeding R500 000-00 in the last year.

Despite being in and out of hospital on a regular basis, with the unwavering love and support of her family, this spirited 4 year old is beating the odds and proving that cancer is by no means a death sentence.

Although Anika is on a maintenance treatment at the moment and still undergoing regular check ups in Durban, doctors discovered in August last year that Anika’s bone marrow is currently clear of the cancer and they have confirmed that she is in remission.

“Don’t ignore the signs,” says Anika’s mother, Nanette, who has fought a brave battle for her beautiful, blue-eyed little girl. “It feels like a death sentence. It’s difficult, but you get through it.” Nanette maintains that, even through Anika’s illness, “she must still function normally as a child” and is working towards preparing Anika for her coming school years.

Nanette’s mission in the coming year is to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

“If you can make a difference in just one person’s life, it’s worth it.”