David (6) beats fight against cancer
David van Niekerk made a public declaration of being cancer-free during the Netcare Alberton Hospital’s momentous event of ringing of the bell.
It was rather a celebratory mood at the paediatric oncology unit of the Netcare Alberton Hospital when David van Niekerk joyfully rang the bell, which marked the end of his treatment.
The six-year-old cancer survivor who was diagnosed in 2019, daringly declared his conquest of defeating leukaemia and marking the end of his treatment.
The ringing of the bell mainly signifies the last time a patient would be visiting the facility for their treatment on their condition and being declared cancer-free.
It was an emotional day for his mother Sune Harmse and his granny Drika Harmse together with loved ones as they stood alongside him during the momentous occasion.
After what she described as ‘the longest three years ever’, Sune said when her son was first diagnosed, his nails lifted from the back.
“We thought it was an immunodeficiency. After doing a bone marrow test the cancer was then picked up. When he was admitted, he was a healthy and active boy. He then started with chemo and eventually went into a diabetic coma and was in the intensive care unit for three days. When he got out we noticed his leg started becoming blue,” she said.
Sune said after a shaky journey, David eventually became a healthy boy again.
Dr Tanya Schickerling of Netcare Alberton Hospital’s paediatric oncology unit reiterated that from the beginning David kept surprising them.
“He didn’t present the typical symptoms of leukaemia. When we diagnosed him, he had good genetics and it was a favourable outcome at that stage and he started on treatment quite quickly. He also developed diabetes secondary to the treatment and required insulin,” she explained.
Like a champion, David conquered leukaemia and he is now in remission.
Schickerling also urged parents to investigate any symptoms they might pick up in children if they do not get better with time.
The memorable day ended with David being pampered with the end-of-treatment cancer champion medal in honour of his bravery, accompanied by gifts from his doctor as well as from Cupcakes of Hope.
