Little warriors make good progress

ARIELLA Cocorozis and Ian Neethling, two children dianosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) brain tumour, are making good progress.

Family friend, Anastasia Kougianos said since Berea Mail’s last article in January, Ariella has shown significant improvement. Ariella’s father, John, returned from Germany on Christmas eve and was successful in obtaining a promising drug for Ariella.

“Ariella is talking and even trying to feed herself. She recently got a new best friend, a puppy she has named Chloe. Ariella is no longer staying at frail care and the family has moved to a townhouse which will be easier in terms of caring for Ariella,” she said.

She said the family are still requesting assistance with funds after their medical changed her status to “palliative” in November last year when she slipped into a coma. “Although Ariella is awake and talking, this status has yet to be changed back. As a result, Ariella’s costly medication and physical therapy are not being covered by medical aid,” she said.

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The story about Ian’s plight was published by Berea Mail in January, when he was in the ICU at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital. Since then, he has improved, said his aunt, Donna Neethling.

“Ian’s progress really is a miracle. He was fitted with a new drain for the fluid on the brain and made it out of surgery with superhero strength and within an hour was drinking and happy again. This little boy’s strength and will to fight is beyond words and he has become a superhero star to so many. Ian carried on with his treatment, physio therapy and occupational therapy, his speech has been going from strength to strength and he is saying so many words clearly. He loves telling long stories to all his family and friends. His laughter is so contagious and he laughs all the time and is so happy and not in so much pain, a totally different little boy that just touches and melts everyone’s hearts who meet and follow him,” she said.

Ian was moved from the ICU to the paeds ward on 30 January, where he got to meet little Ariella, and the two became fast friends. The family was also given the amazing news that one of his tumours was no longer visible and the tumor on the pons of the brain had shrunk.

On 31 January, Ian was discharged from hospital and allowed to go home. On 2 February Ian and his parents Terrence and Bridget made the long journey back to their home in Johannesburg, where they are finding their feet again after being away from home for over a month and settling Ian into his new routine. He has been given the chance at last to play with all his Christmas presents.

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“Ian will still carry on with physio therapy and occupational therapy in Johannesburg and will be required to go back and see his doctors at Netcare Umhlanga for checkups and progress tracking. The family are still so thankful to everyone for all the prayers, help and contributions that they have been so blessed with,” said Donna.

If you would like to make a donation towards Ian’s medical or day-to-day expenses, contact Sandy on 073 208 6757 or Sandy@cupcakesofhope.org. Visit www.cupcakesofhope.org to see how you can become a Cupcake Angel and ‘bake’ a difference in the lives of little cancer warriors.

To help with continuing fundraising for Ariella, visit the Facebook page: For the love of Ariella. To donate on the BackaBuddy page, visit: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/ariella-help-us-beat-dipg.

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