Help Joshua share his journey

Roodepoort, meet Joshua Coetzee, 11, who wants to share his journey — living with and through a diagnosed Ewing sarcoma — with you all.

Two friendly fellas from Mengelmoes Media, Hendré van der Berg and Ryno Smook, have decided to help him, but they in turn need the community’s assistance to fund the documentary project.

Ewing’s sarcoma, or Ewing sarcoma, is a rare disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone or in soft tissue; in Joshua’s case, near his lower spine. He was diagnosed on 20 July this year with the rare disease and has since undertaken a series of six chemotherapy treatments at the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, the last of which he will undergo in December. Next year, he will also have to undergo radiation therapy, mother Francesca and grandmother Mary Lourenco told the Record.

At first the family thought he sustained a sport injury from playing rugby when he complained his leg hurts. He was taken to the Morningside Mediclinic where tests were done and he was finally diagnosed. In the USA, statistics show 2.1 out of a million children are diagnosed with this form of cancer annually. He has a 99.1% chance of recovery, given his young age.

Joshua attends Laerskool Helderkruin and was surprised with the massive support from his peers. He regularly received cards and gifts, even though he hasn’t been able to attend school in the past two quarters. The school held a drive where, for one day, the children took the money they would’ve spent at the tuck shop and donated it to his cause.

To date he has had nine blood transfusions and four platelet transfusions and would need many more. He’s been relying on family and friends for blood donations but is on a mission to create awareness about blood donation, small as he is. According to the South African National Blood Service (SANBS), need exists for more platelet donations, otherwise known as apheresis donations. A ‘whole’ blood donation can be split into red blood cells, platelets and plasma to donate to those who need it most, but residents can also donate platelets only. The process of extracting blood, extracting platelets therefrom and transfusing the rest of the blood back to the donor takes about an hour and a half.

“I have to stay positive and be positive,” Joshua told the Record.

Van der Berg and Smook started an Indiegogo campaign to raise money for the documentary they want to shoot with him. They’re looking to collect $4 500 to fund the 40-minute documentary, documenting his journey through cancer and blood transfusions. It’ll take them around a month to complete the documentary and they first want to make it available to the immediate community before distributing it further. By the time of publication, $355 have already been raised.

For more information or to get in touch with the family and production team, visit www.joshuasjourney.co.za (redirects to his facebook page) or www.joshuasjourney.co.za/donate (redirects to Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign). Hendré van der Berg can also be reached on 082 789 9355.

Donate blood and save a life at these local donor centres:

• Roodepoort: Westgate Shopping Centre, Ontdekkers Road. 011 768 0283 or 011 768 8736.

• Florida: 31 Beacon Road, Building 5, Florida. 011 670 8600.

• Krugersdorp: Monument Shopping Centre, Voortrekker Road. 011 954 0229 or 011 954 6804.

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