Little Janique, lovingly called Princess Janique, has finally received the life-changing, tumour-removing surgeries she’s been waiting six years for… made possible at a specialised facility in the USA! Thanks to her family’s unwavering determination and the kindness of her community, her journey is a beautiful reminder that real-life fairytales do come true.
Global (19 March 2025) — There’s a little girl affectionately known as Princess Janique. And this princess just so happens to be one helluva fighter.
Diagnosed with Stage 3 Neuroblastoma as a tiny tot, Janique spent what is often the softest stage of life undergoing treatment after treatment, battling what was considered a rare tumour.
“But none of them were successful,” Cupcakes of Hope’s Sandy Cipriano says.
Sandy first met Janique when the girl was just a few months old at a high tea picnic held for their littlest patients from Bloem in 2018. Cupcakes of Hope is a non-profit that supports children with cancer, helping their families raise funds (often through delicious treats) that often save lives.
“After extensive consultations with international experts, Janique’s diagnosis was updated to Ganglioneuroma, a growth pressing against her airway [that made] it necessary for her to have a tracheostomy,” Sandy explains.
Princess Janique is 7-years-old now. And after a roller-coaster start to life, hope has finally turned the page for her.
“After months of hope and waiting, Janique’s parents, Nadine Mukheibir and Jacques Venter, received a glimmer of hope when a team of doctors in Memphis agreed to remove the tumour,” Sandy beams.
Janique’s family wasted no time in organising their papers to travel to the USA. By January this year, Janique was looking at two surgeries: one that would close off her right carotid artery to ensure her left artery can provide healthy blood flow to her brain, and one to remove the tumour at St Jude’s Hospital—a 21-hour marathon of a procedure.
“After nearly six years of waiting, our courageous Princess Janique is finally set to undergo life-saving surgery in America to remove a ganglioneuroma tumour,” her mom Nadine shared at the time.
Despite the sheer joy that came with knowing this fighting chance was possible, the financial burden of it all loomed in the background. But, with Cupcakes of Hope and their community in the wings, this would not be a burden for long.
The non-profit team quickly spread the word and got to fundraising. And, the response was nothing short of moments that rivals fairytales. Cupcakes of Hope managed to surpass their target of R30,000 for Princess Janique to raise an incredible R61,560.
This would cover her medical expenses and follow-up care and allow her family to stay in Memphis while Janique recovered.
“[The fundraiser] was made possible by the generosity of so many, including a heartwarming, large donation from cancer survivor Rosalind, who truly went above and beyond,” the team shared.
In even better news, Janique’s surgeries were a success and she is back home in South Africa.
Cupcakes of Hope shared:
“Janique is surrounded by love as she heals. If all goes well, in two months, Janique will need another operation to address damage to her trachea.”
“It’s been such a rollercoaster ride for us all, with so many lows, but finally she got the miracle that she desperately needed,” said Sandy.
You can find out more about Cupcakes of Hope here.
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