New wife and first-time mom Eldorét Visser was able to receive a vital oncoplastic surgery this week thanks to the empathy and kindness of 85 donors who gave whatever they could to restore her hope and health.
Franschhoek, South Africa (07 May 2025) – The kindness of 85 hearts has restored hope for a young mother during one of her most life-altering health battles yet.
As a 38-year-old newlywed and first-time mom, Eldorét Visser was at the start of an exciting new chapter, looking forward to immersing herself in her new roles as mommy and wife. However, one month before her little girl turned one, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer after thinking that the lump in her breast was a side effect of breastfeeding.
“As you can imagine, this came as a massive shock, being a full-time mom whilst working full-time and heading into wedding season as a wedding coordinator,” Eldorét recalls.
She underwent one session of chemotherapy every three weeks for four months, followed by one session a week for 12 weeks.
“Each session came with the side effects of nausea, exhaustion, mouth sores, skin breakouts, needles and pins in my feet, and an extremely compromised immune system, which left me feeling drained, yet there is no chance to rest with a now 18-month-old toddler at my feet, the light of my life.”
Her father, also being diagnosed with colon cancer around the same time, came as yet another heartbreaking blow. This prompted Eldorét to do a genetic test, which confirmed the likelihood that her cancer would return, forcing her to consider a double mastectomy.
This was when she turned to the kindness of those who would care enough to hear and empathise with her story.
After launching a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, Eldorét was met with heartfelt compassion as funds, totalling R77,800, poured in to help cover her oncoplastic surgery scheduled for this week.
The advanced procedure involved a double mastectomy, followed by an advanced microsurgical process which not only removes the cancer but ensures quality of life after this dreadful disease.
The surgery, powered by caring hearts, has afforded this wife and mom the priceless gift of living to see her little girl grow with her husband by her side.
Sources: BackaBuddy
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