Parents need urgent support to help Jandré fight leukemia

On May 29, Angélique van Coller, a teacher at Woodlands International College and her husband, Pierre, received the devastating news that their youngest son, Jandré (3), is battling cancer.

Jandré has been diagnosed with early precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

He had been very ill for a long time as doctors struggled to diagnose him.

“His body responded in a very unique way to his condition since the beginning. The blasts (the bad cells) could not be seen in the peripheral blood, and therefore it was difficult to diagnose leukaemia with a normal blood test. He also had a very low white blood count and a normal platelet count. Usually platelets are low and the white blood count high,” said his mother.

Dr Nadia Beringer explained to them that Jandré would need different kinds of chemo, and that the standard chemotherapy protocol tries to get them into remission in the first 33 days (phase one of chemo).

This, depending on his response, would be followed by another six months of chemo through a port inserted under his skin.

“This chemo is very intense and dangerous. We were told that it could kill Jandré but that this high-risk chemo is sometimes necessary,” said Angélique.

“Unfortunately, Jandré’s sub-type of leukaemia is difficult to get rid of. And phase one didn’t get him into remission.

“Doctors in London strongly suggest that he should now be treated with two types of chemo, Peg Laspar and Nelerabrine, which has only recently been approved in America.”

Angélique and Pierre were told that this treatment is his best chance to get in remission and to stay in remission.

“When he gets in remission, he still has a long road of bone marrow transplants to go through, but he is very blessed as the national stem cell registry has come up with 100 matches.

“Both national and international match results are so high that the doctor was worried there might be some mistake.”

She said it is a miracle and means that Jandré will be spared the six months of intensive chemo and, ultimately, the three years of treatment they were initially looking at.

“We can do the transplant as soon as he goes into remission.”

She added that they are trying to raise the money for him so that the doctors can order the above chemo in time in order for Jandré to stay on his treatment schedule.

A BackaBuddy (backabuddy.co.za/charity/profile/jandre-van-coller-leukemia-cause) and GoFundMe (ie.gofundme.com/f/jandre039s-cancer-medication) pages have been created for people to make a contribution.

The family has also created a Facebook page (facebook.com/JandrevanCollerFunds/) in order to create awareness.

For more information on how to make a contribution, contact Pierre on 072 277 6033 or Angélique at vancollerangelique@gmail.com

“We still have many difficult times to face and we do not know what tomorrow will look like, but with God’s strength, we will overcome. This journey has been very tough, but God’s goodness and presence in every difficult time has made this journey more bearable.

“He gives us hope for a stronger Jandré and He gives us hope for the future.”

She also expressed the importance for mothers to trust their instinct.

“Mothers should trust their gut feeling. There were doctors that sent me away, thinking I was paranoid, but I knew something was wrong with my boy.

“One of the paediatric oncologists treating Jandré said she has come to learn that when a mother is concerned, she should take them seriously. She has diagnosed many children with a path similar to ours, having been misdiagnosed for too long.”