Cancer is a disease that can strike when you least expect it.
Affecting the young, the old, the vulnerable, the affluent and any individual from different walks of life, the one common denominator is the feeling of incurable loss when death claims the life of a loved one.
Dawn Viljoen, a Northmead resident, lost her daughter Daniella Snyman (22) to acute myeloid leukemia in May 2018.
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A teary-eyed Dawn recalled the events of her daughter’s fight against cancer and how there is never a time-frame allocated to grieving but rather acceptance and the will to face adversity and persevere still.
“Daniella was diagnosed in July 2014, she was 18 and in matric at the time,” said Dawn.
After going into remission in December 2014, Daniella had a relapse in August 2017 and died in May 2018 after succumbing to a cardiac arrest due to her treatment.
“Leukemia is not hereditary and when she first showed symptoms of cancer we thought it was something related to her general diet and took her to a doctor.”
After blood tests were done, the doctor was concerned about an unusually low white blood cell count in Daniella’s body.
After a bone marrow biopsy revealed the cause for concern to be leukemia, a determined Dawn refused to let her daughter believe she would lose the battle of her life.
“I refused to ever read the prognosis of her condition because nobody has the right to tell you how long your child will live for,” said Dawn
“Thereafter, I did everything to become knowledgeable on the disease.
“I became strict with what she ate, who could visit her (due to Daniella’s low immune system and being at a higher risk to viruses) and what she could do.
“The treatments would last three to four weeks at a time and mostly took place at a hospital in Pretoria where she was in complete isolation.
“I would travel out 50km a day to see her and whenever I did see her or was with her I told her she was not allowed to be depressed and that she was stronger than anything that afflicted her.
“I felt I needed to be her strength.
“I would cry in the shower but not once did I let her see me cry.
“Daniella was very child-like, she never did grow up and we were involved in some many initiatives ranging from her being a guest speaker at SANBS, to radio shows and even joining Cupcakes for Cansa which I’m still a part of.”
Dawn explained that her daughter was a lively individual. Even during her time of treatment she would always try her best to make those around her feel better about the situations they faced.
“She would visit other patients who were suffering from cancer in the same ward as her.
“Of course I was scared but I couldn’t focus on the bad because if you think bad things then bad things will happen.
“As a Christian I believe despite whatever you may be facing you have to get up, dress up, show up and never give up.”
On the topic of grieving, Dawn said the loss is never something you get over but something you learn to gradually accept.
“I have days where it really gets to me but I’m blessed to have an amazing support structure around me starting with my two boys, the school I teach at, the Cupcakes which I’m still very actively involved in, Daniella’s ballet school, the rowing club I’m part of in Jeppe and of course my church.”
Dawn’s message to those who are experiencing the plight of the battle against cancer with loved ones is to always be courageous.
“It’s hard to understand why your child or the person you love so unconditionally is taken away from you.
“But you have to accept and believe that there is a reason why they are taken away so young.
“I tell people to live their lives five minutes at a time because you can’t live beyond that as anything can happen and remember no-one has the right to put a timeline on your life.”
She added that February 15 marks International Childhood Cancer Day and said cancer in children is something that should be highlighted as it affects scores of little ones across the world.
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