Support JP Bruwer (5) on his journey to recovery
Little JP is left with four sessions to finish his treatment as he bravely conquers his fight against cancer.
Following JP Bruwer’s operation earlier this year, Cupcakes of Hope is appealing to Albertonians to help raise funds for the shortfall needed to pay for his operation.
The five-year-old’s family urgently needs to settle R9 390 for his operation including blood tests.
JP is an active and outgoing five-year-old boy bravely combating cancer after being diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumour, also known as nephroblastoma.
His journey toward recovery had Cupcakes of Hope hosting a fundraiser towards settling this shortfall. Their fundraiser is also part of a Mandela Month commemoration, aimed at assisting patients.
Lori-Anne Hill of Cupcakes of Hope appealed to the community and businesses to bake 67 cupcakes to raise R670 for a child with cancer.
“JP is one of our patients and he had a fundraiser this past weekend to raise funds for an operation that was done earlier this year. We are appealing to Alberton angels to help this family pay off this account. We currently have 223 patients that we take care of as the demand has doubled from last year. We need to increase our funds to help families,” she said.
JP’s journey
In December 2021, JP started having severe pain in his left side and back. He was taken to the doctor and at first, was diagnosed with constipation.
After about a week of treatment and with no improvement, his parents took him to the hospital for scans and testing.
JP’s mother, Carla, said he was admitted on December 13 and had a CT scan and sonar done.
“They noticed a tumour on his left kidney, and we were sent to the then Clinton Hospital where they had to do a biopsy. We met Dr Tanya Shickerling and Dr Charles Carapinha who informed us that it looked like cancer. They assured us that it is very treatable and that the survival rate is very high,” she said.
Brave little warrior
On December 19, JP had a strange feeling in his legs and he could not stand up.
According to Carla, they went back to the hospital where it was confirmed that he cancer Wilms’ Tumour.
“He had to go for another CT scan to determine what was causing the paralyses of the legs. They found another tumour on his spine. JP had to start chemotherapy immediately. He had to go to the theatre on December 22 to have his port inserted and to do a biopsy on the spine,” explained Carla.
After days of being hospitalised, JP was sent home on December 29 for two days to be with his family.
“We went back to the hospital and had to work out a treatment plan as he still had the tumour on the kidney. The plan was to get chemo once a week every week, until the end of January 2022. He had to go back to the theatre to have his kidney removed on February 4,” she explained.
While having treatment, he still could not walk and his legs were weak. However, his parents helped in getting him back to his feet.
“He still had to get treatment to make sure that cancer will stay away. Our plan was for another chemo to take place over the next six months and to do 17 sessions of radiation therapy. With everything that happened he was still staying strong and never gave up on walking again,” Carla said.
With a lot of practice and effort, JP started walking by the end of February and is doing better by the day.
Carla confirmed that JP only has four sessions to complete his treatment.
To kindly assist JP’s family, send an email to admin@jpfundraiser.co.za or contact Carla on 081 537 3993.
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