When Ramabele Tsolo faced a life-threatening illness, a selfless stranger halfway across the world extended a lifeline.
South Africa (14 August 2024) – Ramabele Tsolo’s harrowing battle with leukaemia took an unexpected turn when a miracle arrived from across the world.
The emotional story of how Ramabele received a second chance at life when things seemed bleak is enough to tug at anyone’s heart.
Ramabele, who works as a civil engineer, told Good Things Guy that he was 22 when he was diagnosed with leukaemia, which started off as experiencing painful tonsillitis that just wouldn’t go away.
“Some months later I got a job offer. On the day of signing my contract I just felt weak and drove myself from work and went to the hospital where the doctor confirmed that something was definitely wrong. They ran a lot of tests on me and confirmed that I had leukaemia. I had no reaction because I didn’t know what it was,” shared Ramabele who later googled the disease that led him to believe he was dying. – Ramabele Tsolo
After his diagnosis, Ramabele was told he would need a stem cell transplant and was introduced to the South African Bone Marrow Registry.
The odds were against Ramabele. While 60% of total cancer deaths in the country affect black South Africans, only 10% of them are registered as potential stem cell donors on the SABMR database.
After the Johannesburg resident could not find a match for a stem cell transplant in his family, a global search was initiated by the South African Bone Marrow Registry, which led to a life-saving connection with Pete Johnson, a 62-year-old donor from Texas.
Johnson’s selfless gift offered Tsolo, who had been in and out of hospital at the time, a lifeline, transforming a desperate situation into one of hope and resilience.
According to the Dallas Morning News, in 1996, Johnson joined the U.S. National Donor Program, led by a desire to do good in the world. He found his purpose in service and a desire to make a meaningful difference.
20 years later, he got a call from NMDP in early 2019 asking if he was willing to be a stem cell donor.
Johnson expressed that he felt blown away by the fact that it had been so many years that he had almost forgotten he’d signed up for the program.
Reflecting on the life-changing surgery, Ramabele said:
“The transplant happened and it literally took a few minutes and then I stayed for about a month in the hospital. They monitored me very closely and slowly started to recover. I’m very blessed to say that I am happy and well. I’m at a loss for words when it comes to thanking my donor.”
A heartwarming video shared online captured the priceless moment when Tsolo met his donor, Johnson, at the World Marrow Donor Association’s annual International Donor Registry Conference.
Unable to hold tears back, Tsolo is seen giving Johnson a warm embrace which speaks volumes of his gratitude.
Their unique story and reunion is a living example of the enduring spirit of humanity and the miracle of life, which we cannot help but appreciate.
Sources: South African Bone Marrow Registry
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