Cancer survivor Joshua Adams Waite at a drive to get people to sign up as stem cell donors.
Image: Supplied
As the world observes National Cancer Survivors Day on June 7, stories of triumph over adversity come to the forefront, shining a spotlight on the journeys of those who have faced the harrowing challenge of cancer. Among these narratives is that of 29-year-old Joshua Adams Waite, a resilient survivor from Cape Town, whose personal battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) has transformed him into a beacon of hope for others fighting the disease.
It was a typical sun-soaked afternoon on a boat in Langebaan in 2015 that marked the beginning of his fight. The cheerful ambience of fishing and laughter quickly turned into a life-changing moment when Waite received a call from his doctor. “I was sitting on a boat drinking beers in the sun, struggling to catch a single fish, when the doctor called and said I needed to come back in for more tests,” he recalls, a wave of emotion coursing through his memory. “My life changed from that moment on and has never been the same.”
Like many young adults, Waite had dismissed the troubling signs leading up to his diagnosis. Symptoms like extreme fatigue and unsightly dark circles under his eyes were easily attributed to the rigorous demands of university life, where juggling studies and socialising often leaves little room for self-care.
A routine blood test revealed a different reality, and within days, Waite’s world turned upside down with his diagnosis of ALL. His family was thrust into a relentless cycle of hospital visits, balancing responsibilities at home, with his parents managing their two restaurants and a younger brother preparing for matric finals.
“After my diagnosis, everything stopped. My world shrunk down to three places: an apartment in Cape Town with my mom or dad, the hospital, and home in Franschhoek,” he said, reflecting on days that felt long and heavy under the weight of his condition. “And worst of all, the car between those three places.”
Joshua Adams Waite undergoing treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Waite is now turning his experience into advocacy and hope for others facing blood cancer.
Image: Supplied
As Waite began rigorous treatment, which included six rounds of intensive chemotherapy and more than 30 blood and platelet transfusions, his medical team sought a stem cell donor. An urgent search began, and tragically, none of his siblings matched. However, a breakthrough came when they identified a match — an unrelated young woman from his own city, Cape Town. This serendipity marked the first South African-on-South African unrelated stem cell match in over five years.
In November 2018, through the efforts of DKMS Africa, Waite underwent the life-saving stem cell transplant he had desperately awaited, emerging from the experience with minimal complications and a renewed zest for life.
Today, Waite embodies the spirit of survival and is committed to giving hope back to the community that supported him. He actively participates in donor drives and awareness campaigns, motivated to encourage young South Africans to register as potential stem cell donors.
This mission gained profound significance for Waite following the tragic loss of a young matric pupil he mentored, who fought bravely against leukaemia but ultimately succumbed to the disease. “If I can be the reason one person in a room signs up, and that person goes on to save someone else, then it feels like the right way to honour both him and my donor,” Waite said.
As National Cancer Survivors Day unfolds, Waite’s heartfelt message resonates more than ever: “You hold the power to change and save a life. A few minutes of your time could one day mean a lifetime for someone else.” By sharing his journey and advocating for donor registration, Joshua is not only transforming his own life, but potentially changing the destinies of others who find themselves in similar battles.
To join the movement and register as a stem cell donor, please visit https://www.dkms-africa.org/register-now.
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