More challenges ahead for ‘little superman’ Teagan
WATCH: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to confirm some changes in his lymph nodes that has the doctors very worried.”
A three-year-old boy from Pretoria North, being treated for neuroblastoma cancer at Steve Biko hospital, suffered a setback this week.
“It is with a heavy heart that I have to confirm some changes in his lymph nodes that have the doctors very worried,” said Maggie van Wyk, mother of Teagan.
Teagan van Wyk (3) completed chemotherapy after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer and receiving treatment at Steve Biko academic hospital.
Teagan proudly rang the bell to symbolise the completion of his therapy alongside eight other patients battling other forms of childhood cancers in August.
After Teagan was cleared of cancer, his family moved from Pretoria North to Ermelo for a fresh start and new job opportunities. But after a recent routine check-up with his doctors, the family will need to travel back to Pretoria to do further testing like an MRI and biopsy.
“The oncologist wants to examine the growth to see if they’ll be able to do a non-invasive biopsy, unfortunately, if the growth is too big and grew further, they will have to operate and do a biopsy in that manner,” Van Wyk explained.
In July this year, Teagan and his family got the all clear on his health status, hoping to put this awful experience behind them and move on.
“It’s hard to see the kind of symptoms he is showing at the moment. He suffers from tremors, or shakes, that people often associate with Parkinson’s patients,” she said.
“Initially we suspected that the symptoms were withdrawal symptoms from going off his medication. We ran out of meds and were just about to get new stock. But the doctors informed us that it is probably worse than that.”
At this stage, the biggest challenges facing the family is money for petrol, toll gates and Maggie’s car maintenance.
“My husband and daughter will have to stay in Ermelo, to keep things going this side and for my husband to keep his job. But my car is not in a position to drive the three and a half hour distance to Pretoria each time. Everything costs money and we were just getting used to our new normal after having our son cancer-free.
“We really hope that whatever the doctors find is not serious, we just want to move on and have my little man be a child,” Maggie concludes.
If you would like to lend a helping hand to Teagan and his family, visit the Teagan Van Wyk – Little Superman Facebook page here.
www.facebook.com/SupermanTeagan
Watch the video of Teagan’s journey here:
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