DIAGNOSED with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma at just 20 months old, Ahana Dhanuk went from being a bubbly toddler who loved playing with her dolls to spending hours in the hospital being probed with needles.
Neuroblastoma, which is a form of childhood cancer, is often found in the small glands on top of the kidneys (adrenal glands). It can develop in the stomach, chest, neck, pelvis and bones.
Children aged five or younger are most commonly affected.
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Fearing the worst, her parents Aveen and Avanya Dhanuk, who live on The Bluff, are now hoping to raise about R7 000 000 in order to seek medical treatment abroad.
They have started a GoFundMe page and appeal for assistance.
Aveen, her father, said their world came crashing down after noticing a lump on her back in October.
“We decided to take her for a check-up, and not long after that, we were told that she had a large malignant tumour measuring 15cm in diameter. We were shattered.
“The tumour had wrapped itself around her aorta, forcing her heart and airway to be pushed outwards and was compressing her spinal cord. Her left vocal cord is paralysed.
“The cancer, which started out in Ahana’s chest cavity, has now infiltrated her lungs and spread to her bone marrow and other parts of her musculoskeletal system,” he said.
Aveen said Ahana’s medical team gave her an initial survival rate of 30%.
“Even if remission is achieved, the chance of relapse is extremely high, making the survival rate less than 5%. Ahana has commenced high-dose chemotherapy and is on her third cycle. Her treatment plan includes multiple high doses of chemotherapy, surgeries, autologous stem cell transplants and immunotherapy, followed by further treatments if the first line of treatment is unsuccessful,” he said.
Avanya, her mother, said that out of desperation, they have sought various options with the hope of saving their baby.
“After much research, we found the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Hospital in New York, USA, which is running a vaccine trial to reduce the risk of Neuroblastoma relapse.
“This is the only hospital in the world that is running a clinical trial for Neuroblastoma and provides hope to prevent relapse of this dreadful rare cancer in children.
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“Right now, this is our last and only option as it gives us hope for Ahana’s best chance of survival. We urgently need to get her into the clinical trials. Time is of the essence as Ahana’s body is being ravaged by the progressing cancer,” she said.
Avanya said they started the GoFundMe page with the hope of raising the large amount needed.
“Ahana deserves a chance to fight back as she is doing so with all her strength and might now. To assure us of a chance for a future for Ahana, we are pleading with the public to consider contributing towards her medical expenses.
“Every cent donated will bring Ahana one step closer to an improved chance of living. We have received a letter from MSK International Centre which has provided the details of the physician who will be allocated to her care. The letter also makes it clear that the full payment is required in advance before any treatment can commence.
“The trial is conducted over 156 weeks. Ahana will have to travel to New York regularly for treatment and monitoring. She will stay in the ICU, and the costs include the medication, medical professionals, tests and of course, the ground-breaking vaccine.
“We were also told that Ahana will be a trailblazer, being the first child from Africa to be accepted for treatment. This will open the doors for many other children in a similar predicament. We would like to thank everyone in advance for their kind contributions and prayers,” she said.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-baby-ahana-in-her-fight-against-cancer
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