The family of six-month-old Mackenzie Friedman have announced that she is in remission.
The young girl, who is being cared for at the Wits Donald Gordon Hospital in Parktown, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia earlier this year and been on a roller-coaster journey with her health since diagnosis.
In a statement to the Mighty Mack Army, Mackenzie’s aunt Amy Stanton announced that Mackenzie’s latest bone marrow biopsy revealed that her cancer blast count was at 0.1%.
Mackenzie’s grandfather David Harrington-Johnson, who is a Blue Hills resident said, “I’m delighted and celebrate this news. We feel bewildered that no-one can explain why this happened since there is no logical reason for it. It is a miracle.”
This means that Mackenzie is technically in remission and is able to receive a bone marrow transplant soon.
Stanton said, “We still have a way ahead of us, though, as because of the genetic mutation in her cancer, it is extremely likely that she will relapse without a transplant.”
Stanton said Mackenzie would therefore complete the current round of chemotherapy and then undergo a transplant.
Mackenzie’s mother Megan Harrington-Johnson said the team was still searching for a donor on the database in South Africa and abroad.
“It is an in-depth process that involves DNA testing. There are some potentials, but the best match is still being looked for,” said Megan.
She encouraged members of the public to donate blood and platelets and register to become bone marrow donors.
“In particular, we would like people of African descent to register as whilst Mackenzie may be able to rely on a European donor, they [people of African descent] can’t and there is a huge shortage of these registrants in Africa.”
For more information and updates on the Mighty Mack journey, follow @MightyMack21 on Facebook or Instagram.
