Cape Town - While little Sufyaan Oostendorp suffered a health setback last week, delaying the administration of his chemotherapy, generous Cape Times readers, family and friends have managed to raise R85 000 to confirm a bone marrow match for the boy.
The four-year-old’s family, from Mitchells Plain, need to raise R650 000 for a bone marrow transplant for their son because the only suitable donor is in the US.
During his battle against leukaemia, Sufyaan has been receiving treatment at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, but he urgently needs a bone marrow transplant.
His mother, Nuraan, said Sufyaan went into remission in July 2013 after he was diagnosed in June. But he suffered a relapse in March this year and the family were told he needed the transplant.
The first step to ensuring the transplant is to make certain the donor is a perfect match, with additional testing costing R85 000.
The family collected R56 000 through fund-raising initiatives, and the balance, about R29 000, was paid by Solly Noor, of the Solly and Zohra Noor Foundation.
After meeting the family, Noor verified the expenses and donated the rest of the funds.
Sufyaan’s father, Zaakir Oostendorp, said his son went back into hospital last month to start his final course of chemotherapy, but had suffered a setback and was admitted to hospital for three days and released on Saturday.
“In his condition, he is not able to be in an environment where there are people. It is just a precaution. We don’t want him around anyone who could be sick,” he said.
The chemotherapy, which was due to end this month, will end in October if he does not get sick again.
“His spirit is up and down. He is like a normal kid even when he’s down and out, he wants to be active and kick a ball around,” Oostendorp said.
He said the family remained hopeful that the donor would be a match and that they would hear from doctors within three weeks.
He thanked those who had prayed, supported and donated towards their son’s treatment, and encouraged others to become bone marrow donors for other people in Sufyaan’s position.
If anyone is interested in registering as a bone marrow stem-cell donor, they can contact the Sunflower Fund on 0800 121 082 or visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za
Cape Times