Brave toddler wages war on tumour
The tumour has been removed and she has responded well to her first doses of chemotherapy.
A Toti toddler is continuing her brave battle against brain cancer, after being diagnosed at the beginning of April.
Sixteen-month-old Emma, the daughter of Michael and Tanya de Vries, was diagnosed with a tumour on the brain and has spent the last six weeks in and out of various hospitals. The tumour has been removed and she has responded well to her first doses of chemotherapy.
“Thanks to the Amanzimtoti community, as the support has been truly special,” said Tanya. “There are no words to personally thank each and every individual for their valuable input, prayers and donations.”
“Thanks to the Sun’s article and Facebook page, the raising of funds to cover the gaps after medical aid payments has gone well,” said Emma’s aunt, Debbie de Nysschen.
At the time of going to print previously, Emma had still not undergone any chemotherapy as she had suffered the setback of numerous fevers and infection.
As the chemotherapy could not happen as soon as the oncologist would have liked, what had remained of the tumour had started placing more pressure on her brain, which led to further complications.
After only five days back at home after the original brain operation, where 95% of the tumour was removed and a port was inserted to administer the chemotherapy, Emma was admitted back to Parklands Hospital to undergo treatment for an underlying infection and eventually received her first dose of chemo.
After many setbacks and eventually slipping into a semi-coma, doctors performed an operation at Ethekweni Hospital to fit a shunt in her head to alleviate pressure build-up and fluid on her brain. On recovering from the operation, Emma got to return home for less than two days before she was admitted to Capital Hematology Hospital for a further week of new antibiotics, due to a second infection found in her blood, as well as another dose of chemotherapy.
Because her immune system has been so jeopardised – and in a bid to fortify it – she is now undergoing treatment to receive her next dose of chemotherapy while under strict quarantine.
Tanya has since given up work, as she has been at the hospital day and night. The De Vries family have been drained emotionally and physically, but continue to fight this battle alongside Emma as she has shown such a strong fighting will to pull through this ordeal.
“Since the shunt operation, Emma has gone from strength to strength and is showing progress daily,” said Debbie. “When the setbacks of infections come, she has still been able to crack her cheeky smile, and is giving her parents a fine time of trying to keep her busy and occupied in their isolated room.
Last Thursday Emma wasn’t able to receive chemo as the doctor discovered she has a fungal infection, possibly due to her port. They are trying to get it under control, but only managed to do the third dose of chemo on Monday. For now she is okay, but weak and losing her appetite.”
Follow her story on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emmas-Dream/1483704061859698
For more information, contact Debbie on 083-254-1590.
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