SOUTH Africa is home to over 7 300 individuals grappling with blood cancer, and for many, the promise of life lies in the hands of matching stem cell donors.
While the number of registered potential donors rises, the reality remains stark: matches are rare. This grim statistic is personified in the heart-wrenching stories of two teenagers, Thando, 17, and Amahle, 15, who each face the daunting challenge of fighting for their lives amid the uncertainty of finding a compatible donor.
Thando’s story: From dancing to diagnosis
A year ago, Thando was a lively teenager whose world revolved around school and dancing. However, in June 2022, persistent abdominal pain and unusual paleness hinted that something was amiss. After a series of frustrating hospital visits and numerous tests, she received the devastating diagnosis: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
Her once-vibrant life has since been transformed into a relentless cycle of hospital visits, exhausting treatments, and the anguish of missing her beloved activities.
“Caring for a child with cancer is incredibly tough, but you have to stay strong and patient. It’s not an easy road, but you are not alone,” says Thando's mother, who is now actively advocating for greater awareness surrounding the dire need for blood stem cell donors.
Amahle’s journey: Searching for hope
For Amahle, her 2024 was meant to be filled with excitement; selecting Grade 10 subjects loomed on the horizon. Instead, her health took a precarious turn. What began as fatigue and a significant loss of appetite was repeatedly misdiagnosed until doctors ultimately confirmed she was battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).
Now, as she endures grueling sessions of chemotherapy, she waits with bated breath for a matching donor who could transform her fate.
“I have accepted my daughter’s situation, as difficult as it is,” reflects her mother, Nombuso. “I remain hopeful that she will find a match.”
Why finding a match is so complex
“The complexity of finding a compatible stem cell donor cannot be overstated,” explains Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa. “For a successful transplant, the donor and patient must share at least eight out of ten HLA markers—proteins integral to the immune system's ability to differentiate its own cells from foreign ones.”
HLA types are notably specific and vary widely among individuals and ethnic groups, complicating the search for suitable donors, even among relatives. Close matches are paramount, as they markedly enhance the prospects of successful transplants while lowering the risk of complications.
How you can help
Patients like Thando and Amahle are relying on the kindness of strangers for a second chance at life. The call for young, healthy South Africans, particularly from diverse ethnic backgrounds, to join the registry has never been timelier. Registering is a straightforward process—a simple cheek swab could reveal whether you are the match that Thando or Amahle desperately needs.
To learn more and to register, visit www.dkms-africa.org/save-lives.