OUR STORY

11 DECEMBER 2020

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Kindly see HOME for more information and all the previous posts.

This is my 8 year old son, and his best buddy Bailey. In the crazy world we live in, I wish to protect my son's identity.

This site is set up as a plea for your help.

Please also pray with me for total healing.

On 6 October 2020, my son was diagnosed with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma Cancer, this after being misdiagnosed numerous times.

His primary tumour is located on the left adrenal gland. Bone marrow biopsies, bone scans and MIBG scan have shown metastatic spread to the bones throughout the skeleton and into the bone marrow. (See also)

The MIBG scan done on 14 October 2020 confirmed the cancer metastasized to:

1. The skull

2. Both scapulae

3. Both humeri

4. Both proximal ulnae

5. The sternum

6. Most of the vertebral bodies

7. The pelvis

8. Both femora

9. Both tibiae

10. The left patella

His CURIE SCORE is 22/30 - this score must be below 2.

Bailey’s Buddy is a very, very sick little boy.

The cancer is aggressive and therefore the treatment will be aggressive. The treatment will weaken his immune system making him susceptible to life threatening infections and therefore he will be unable to attend school for the duration of his treatment.

Treatment will include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and autologous stem cell transplant.

He immediately started with his first chemo treatment on 9 October 2020. His bravery and cheerful disposition had all the nurses in awe. My boy was more concerned about the other children than his own discomfort.

There are 7 chemotherapy sessions consisting of two different sets of chemotherapy protocols (OPEC / OJEC) which he will receive every 21 days - but only if his blood count is of an acceptable level and there is no need for a blood transfusion. Every alternate chemo, he will be hospitalised for approximately a week. This chemo treatment (OPEC) has very severe side effects: permanent kidney failure and hearing loss, thus before each alternative treatment he is required to go for GFR and an Audiogram tests. He has already had three chemo treatments and the fourth is the week of 22 December 2020.

In January he has to go for a MRI, a MIBG scan and a bone marrow biopsy to find out if the chemo has killed the cancer. This will take place at three different hospitals and he will be hospitalised in two of them.

Only if NO cancer can be found:

Will they surgically remove the original tumour,
He will receive the last three chemo treatments,
The autologous stem cell transplant will be done during four weeks in isolation in hospital,
and only thereafter, Radiation.

I am very much aware that 2020, Covid-19 and lockdown have been very challenging for all of us worldwide. I am a single mom and have been self-employed for the last 9 years. My company, as well as the whole industry I am in, came to a complete stand still - when we went into lockdown. I have had no income since April 2020.

We have been in and out of hospital for the last three months, and if you opened all the links - you would understand that we still have a very long, painful and unknown journey ahead of us.

All these contributing factors make it very difficult for me to try to generate an income to provide for the basic needs for my son, and at the same time try and cover all his medical costs.

I am unable to do this on my own and I am therefore desperately appealing to anybody who is able to assist in any way, to please help. No contribution is too small. I am on the verge of losing everything, and although I am extremely embarrassed, I have no other option but to ask for financial assistance to help me cover my son’s medical expenses, his specific dietary supplements and to keep a roof over our heads. The various hospitals where he is receiving treatment, scans and tests, are 50km away from home.

Please help me raise my son with some form of normality during this unknown journey we are going through.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated. If you are not in a position to make a donation, please could you share this link about our journey with a friend on Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram and ask them to do the same. Together we are stronger.

Deposits can be made into the following bank account which will be audited by:

BDJ Auditors Incorporated

Back Baileys Buddy

Account type: Transaction Account

Account number: 15542929349

Bank name: Discovery Bank

Branch code: 679000

PAYPAL:

link below

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/backbaileybuddy

Use the email: baileysbuddypaypal@gmail.com

You can also contact me via email: backbaileysbuddy@gmail.com