Nuus/News
Woensdag 24 Oktober 2012
TygerBurger Goodwood Bladsy 23
Brave face as cancer reappears While children all over the country wished to get a bandana in their favourite colour to wear to school last week to raise money for the Sunflower Fund, all a little girl of Oakdale wished for is not to be sick so that she can just go to school. The parents of Emma Fourie (9) are still trying to absorb the devastating news that her aggressive cancer has returned after almost four years of ongoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Emma was first diagnosed with cancer in 2008 – only six months after her sister, Alex (5), was born
with an abnormal heart condition. “We were still frail from the first bad news, when I discovered one day, whilst bathing Emma, that she had a hard lump in her left buttock,” Emma’s mother, Natalie, said. “After an MRI scan and biopsy, the lump turned out to be cancerous – a sort of cancer of the soft tissue.” Twenty weeks of chemotherapy followed, of which Emma spent 14 weeks in hospital. That was followed with six weeks of radiation therapy. “By week three the top layer of her skin looked like third degree burns. The skin was so raw, we had
All 64 children of the Kids Can PrePrimary School bought a bandana for Bandana Day and raised R1 300 for the Sunflower Fund. One of the children in the school is Emma’s cousin – Emma suffers from cancer. In the photo are (front from left) Benjamin Burke, Octávio Ribeiro, Tristan Boyd and Con nor Boyd, (back) Gareth Gomersall, Louie Colquhoun, Aimeé Arendse, Da nyelle Stephenson and Alexia Vavatzanidis.
to give her strong pain medication just to let her go to toilet,” she said. After radiation, more chemotherapy followed, totalling 16 months of treatment. Thereafter, Emma had to go for a three-monthly MRI scan, X-rays and blood tests. “Everything was going well. Emma started Grade 1 at Gene Louw Primary and enjoyed her dance lessons. We were planning to go on a trip with some friends,” she said. When Emma went for her normal MRI scan and check-ups in January 2011, they suspected nothing. However, another tumour was discovered and Emma had to be operated on for the tumour to be removed. “Due to financial reasons, as we were still trying to recover from last time, we had to change medical aids. Our new medical aid has given us a 12 month exclusion on cancer for Emma. So, we then had to fund everything ourselves. “The expenses were big. In only five months our hospital account ran up to almost R100 000. I’m so terrified that they will stop Emma’s treatment as we cannot afford to pay,” she said. She had six sessions of intense chemotherapy. However, it was decided radiation poses major risks as the tumour extended into the pelvic wall. In October that year another tumour was discovered. She went for surgery in November to try and remove the tumour in five and a half hours of surgery. Emma had then undergone 23 sessions of radiation. This was once
Emma is bravely trying to keep up with her schoolwork. again followed by chemotherapy. “She was able to go to the first day of Grade 2 this year – she really enjoyed it. Due to her treatment schedules, she was only able to go to school until the end of February.” In the last week of February she commenced with chemotherapy. She suffered very bad side effects. The final chemotherapy session was completed in July this year and the radiologist confirmed that all the scans are clear. However, in September, Emma started complaining that her back was sore. Another tumour was found in the bone of Emma’s spine. “We immediately had to start her on steroids to try and reduce the swelling. Shortly after, they discovered another tu-
mour in the bone of a vertebra, that is busy encroaching on the nerve of her spine, causing the pain in her back. They also found a recurrence of the old tumour in the pelvic region. There are also three visible lesions in the liver – one the size of a golf ball. “The oncologists and radiologists do not see any cure this time around. They gave her 10 sessions of radiation. “We are exploring some alternative non-invasive treatments. Also to keep her on a good diet and pray, pray, pray for a miracle,” she said. Financially this puts strain on the family. Anyone who wishes to assist, can send an email to Natalie at natalief477@gmail.com.