The Cancer Association of South Africa No Images? Click here Can Cancer and Joy Co-exist?How could cancer and joy possibly go together? Our volunteer, Anthea Lewis, knows how. But she needs your support to do it. Anthea is our TLC (Tough Living with Cancer) Co-ordinator. And yes, TLC also stands for Tender Loving Care. Anthea’s no stranger to cancer. Not only has she journeyed with three family members diagnosed with cancer, she’s a three time cancer Survivor herself. But her story is much more than that. Because Anthea is also no stranger to the hardships of life. At the lowest point of her life, Anthea with her second cancer diagnosis, could no longer afford to pay her rent. She had no option but to take refuge in a shelter for the homeless. But Anthea’s spirit is unquenchable, and each day when residents were required to be out of the shelter, she volunteered at CANSA. As her palliative care skills developed, she qualified for a small stipend per month. She moved from the shelter into a tiny space provided by a friend. Then cancer struck again – this time stage four. But with faith and determination she pulled through to take up what she sees as her ‘calling’ in life. At Tygerberg Hospital alone, knowing each one by name, Anthea gives her love and support to up to 250 children receiving treatment in the cancer ward, as well as to their parents and siblings. It’s hard enough that a child has cancer, but most of these families also come from situations of desperate poverty – especially families from rural areas. In circumstances when nothing more can be done, part of Anthea’s work is to prepare the child, and the family, for death. So where is the joy?It comes when children go home to their families at Christmas. With them goes a food parcel – basic groceries to the value of R250, which will provide food for the whole family over the holidays. Nutrition – vital to successful treatment – must continue while children are at home. Each child also gets a care pack – not the latest ‘must have’ from the Christmas shop shelves, but a pair of socks, new underwear, toiletries like soap, a wash cloth, toothbrush and toothpaste, a simple colouring in book with a few crayons, and small toy, to the value of R100. Will you help to give this gift of joy by making your online donation? In addition, Anthea tries to give the children a small Christmas party. There’s good reason why Anthea has been named a Global Hero of Hope. Her love and support is free, but with the numbers involved, spreading the joy is costly. You may already have started your lists for Christmas – gifts to be chosen, special food to buy, with happy arrangements and outings to be enjoyed . . . But if you could add ‘some joy for children with cancer’, and make your donation now, it would mean so much to the children, and their families. Thank you in advance for spreading the joy… |