Kerryn is a paediatric registrar at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. While on holiday she found lumps in her neck. Working in the medical field, she knew what that meant and later tests confirmed her worst fears. South Africans have raised funds to help with her Cancer Treatment.
Kerryn received the worst news when she found lumps in her neck. The mother of two was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL). She is a medical doctor specializing in paediatrics. She has dedicated her life to caring for others, she has an enormous amount of compassion for people.
Her diagnosis was a serious blow to her family. Kerryn has had to spend much of the last 9-months in isolation, unable to see her children, Ashton (4) and Isabella (9). When she’s home, Kerryn often has no immunity and is very prone to infections. Her children have had to learn to always wear face masks around her and wash their hands before touching her so that she doesn’t get sick.
“While chemotherapy is physically taxing, the mental toll that being in isolation has, has been equally difficult to deal with.”
“After her first cycle of chemotherapy Kerryn was in remission. As time passed we found a stem cell donor in the US. Everything was in place for her bone marrow transplant in December. However, after her 5th-month long cycle of chemotherapy, her leukaemia returned.”
“Kerryn has since been treated with a further three cycles of chemotherapy, but none of the regimens that we have attempted have been successful. The incredible team treating Kerryn have not given up hope however, and have suggested a drug that is not available in SA. This campaign is to raise funds for this chemotherapy drug and her treatment as a whole. This drug is incredibly expensive but it is likely our last chance to save her.” – Sheldon Neilson, Kerryn’s Husband
Sheldon, Kerryn’s husband, set up a crowdfunding page to help raise money for her cancer treatment. The treatment is really expensive so the goal has been set at R2.5 million. Thankfully people have been incredibly generous and the fund has reached over R1.1 million so far.
The family are waiting on the section 21 application for MCC to be cleared. As soon as that happens, they will be able to purchase the first round of the new chemo drug.
“All the while Kerryn is bubbly as ever. You’d never guess she is enduring all this. She is the strongest girl I’ve ever known.”
Sheldon and Kerryn met when they were 12-years-old. Their love story is timeless and incredibly moving. Sheldon will do anything to make sure his wife recovers from this diagnosis.
“I have known Kerryn since I was 12 years old. We grew up in the same street. She has always been beautiful. Wide-eyed, confident, smart, bubbly, adventurous… she’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember.”- says Sheldon.
You can help Kerryn get her new cancer treatment here.
“There is no guarantee that this drug will get me into remission, but my doctors feel like it is worth a shot and complete responses have been achieved with this medication in other patients around the world. Right now, there is nothing else that can be offered to me in order to achieve remission and it really is my last hope. If it works, I will be able to have a bone marrow transplant from a donor in the United States who has already been matched for me and this is the only thing that is potentially curative. “ – says Kerryn
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