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Alessia’s fight with cancer is over

To her last breath, Alessia never gave up. 

It is heartbreaking to report that 10-year-old cancer warrior  Alessia Tolmay passed away this afternoon.

Mom, Luzaan Tolmay, said, “Our brave warrior fought with everything she had, but the time has come for her to go home. Thank you for your unwavering support and prayers during this time. You pleaded with us tirelessly for Alessia, and we are deeply grateful. God has answered, though not in the way we had hoped. Our hearts are broken, yet we take comfort in knowing she is free from pain, running and dancing with Jesus in heaven.”

Alessia won her battle against cancer in so many ways. She has touched countless lives and brought eMahleni together in prayer.

She fought courageously until the very end.

Alessia’s battle began when she was rushed to hospital in October 2023 after  weeks of experiencing severe back pain,
One morning she woke up without any feeling in her legs

After undergoing CT scans and MRIs, doctors discovered a large mass growing in her chest that was intricately connected to her spine.

After surgery the mass was sent in for testing doctors diagnosed her with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer.

For the next year, Alessia was in and out of the hospital, undergoing draining chemotherapy that broke down her frail body.

Through it all Luzaan and dad Nelius kept their eyes fixed on God.

Early in December Luzaan posted, “She has been doing very well but recently stopped eating, after some tests it seemed to be a stomach virus, but because of the weight loss her body is under a lot of stress, she was placed on a lot of different IV medications and received a blood transfusion last night. This afternoon she was placed on a feeding tube, due to her weight being dangerously low. Her stay at the hospital will now be longer, we hope to have her home before Christmas.”

Pray for Alessia mom asks in emotional video:

“Please continue to pray for a speedy recovery. She has conquered so many battles we know that she’ll overcome this one as well,” Luzaan asked.

A month later, they received the devastating news that Alessia’s cancer had spread, and treatment was no longer an option.

“The doctors have encouraged us to focus on building memories,” Luzaan said.

WITBANK NEWS’s deepest sympathy goes out to the Tolmay family.

“May your happy memories give you peace and comfort during this challenging time. Thank you, Alessia for the footprint of faith you left in our hearts” – WITBANK NEWS editorial team.

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Zita Goldswain

News Editor at the Witbank News Caxton stable. Witbank News has been my ‘home’ for the past 24 years. Journalism is the ability to meet the challenge of filling the space true words said by Rebecca West. I meet challenges, get the better of them and fill space with true words.
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