Demi celebrates 11th birthday with successful operation

Demi Labuschagne has reason to smile as she celebrated her 11th birthday on Thursday after a successful operation on her cancer ridden leg.

The Queenswood girl was diagnosed with an Ewing Sarcoma in her right knee in December last year.

Her mother, Belinda, figured something wasn’t right when Demi frequently lost her balance and fell over.

Desperate for answers, the family went from one doctor to another in a search for the source of the problem when they were given the devastating news.

Demi was immediately taken for chemo treatment Steve Biko hospital.

The procedures made her nauseous and she was subsequently unable to attend school.

She is unable to walk and is bound to a wheelchair.

The news became even more dreadful when a doctor told Belinda the only way forward was to amputate the leg.

“We want her to have a normal life as a child and not be left in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.”

Fortunately there was light in the tunnel when Belinda heard of a doctor in Cape Town who specializes in Ewing Sarcoma.

Through the help of donations through backabuddy, Belinda was able to arrange for Demi to be flown down to Cape Town.

Here she was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital where she underwent special surgery while staying with her grandfather

“He made sure she was never alone,” Belinda told Rekord.

“He was with her all the time, he slept next to her in the hospital and was there every time she woke up.

During her time in the Cape, Demi enjoyed visits to the beach and was given the opportunity to do some sight seeing.

These excursion were a welcome break from the long hospital stays.

She and Belinda were constantly talking on the phone as well for emotional support.

On Tuesday she went in for the operation.

Currently she is still in High Care for a high heartrate and a fever, but the operation was a success.

“She will be doing physio therapy for a week and we are waiting for her to recover and come back home.

“I want to thank everyone who supported us on the backabuddy page, and for all the prayers that helped us through this difficult time.”

ALSO READ: Toddler, two adults die in horror crash on N1 in Menlyn

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram