Help family raise funds for daughter battling cancer
The community of Springs is going the extra mile to help Delarize Stevenson, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September.
A Strubenvale family is pleading with the public to open their hearts and pockets to help them raise funds for their 14-year-old daughter.
Delarize Stevenson has been diagnosed with stage three osteosarcoma, a type of cancer that affects the bones. She was diagnosed after she fell at school in September.
“Delarize had been complaining of never-ending pain and was referred to Pholosong Hospital by her doctor for X-rays.
“She was then transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital for further tests, which confirmed the diagnosis,” said her father Willem.
“We were told that Delarize needed to start chemotherapy for 10 weeks and an additional 19 weeks of chemotherapy, with a chance of a hip amputation.
“This is so hard for us. I don’t think any parent knows how to find the words to explain it to their child. This means she will never be able to walk or she will have a prosthetic.”
Although the Stevenson family is happy with the treatment their daughter is receiving from the hospital, they are exploring all avenues to get her to walk after the amputation.
With that, they are pleading with the public to help them raise funds for Delarize to have a chance of walking, running and playing again.
“As things stand at the moment, my wife had to resign from work to be there for our daughter and I run a small business,” said Willem.
“At the moment, business is quiet and going to the hospital every day is making it impossible for me to work as normal.”
The family is planning on getting a second opinion from a specialist in Cape Town who has treated a patient with the same condition.
“Rotationplasty surgery is a procedure where they take a shin bone and rotate it 180 degrees and use it as a thigh bone, then the heel will form part of the knee,” Willem explained.
“With this surgery, Delarize will have a chance to get a prosthetic leg. We are very grateful for the fundraising that schools, individuals, and churches have been doing. To take something from someone knowing that you might not be able to return it is very hard.
“They are making the burden easier for us because we at least know that other people are thinking of us.”
Anyone wishing to get in touch with the family may contact Willem at 083 671 1630.
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